Recovery Specialist

Tittle: Recovery Specialist

Employee Working Location: Partially Virtual / Hybrid (Canada)

Employment Status: Temporary Full-time (12 months)

The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) - an inspirational not for profit organization, helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. As a Canada's Best Employers 2026, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment.

The Recovery Specialist contributes to the effective planning, coordination, and delivery of recovery programs and services that support the strategic priorities of the Canadian Red Cross.

This role provides subject matter expertise in disaster recovery and collaborates with internal and external teams to aid in the development, adaptation, and delivery of effective recovery programming. This includes being part of the team undertaking direct delivery and implementation of recovery programs, services, and initiatives.

The Recovery Specialist plays an instrumental role in working alongside internal and external partners-including governments, Indigenous communities, and community organizations-to coordinate information sharing, support service delivery, and identify opportunities for collaboration. The role maintains a strong focus on operational coordination, situational awareness, and program support to ensure effective and aligned recovery efforts.

The role also develops operational-level resources and provides guidance to support consistent application of recovery standards and approaches across operations, contributing to overall program effectiveness. Working in collaboration with Senior Recovery Specialists and leadership, this role supports coordinated, community-informed recovery efforts across diverse contexts.

In this role, you will:

Program and Service Delivery

• Support or contribute towards the successful implementation of recovery program or service activities by supporting internal coordination, assessment, situational awareness, communication, and service delivery.
• Support the implementation of recovery programs, services, and initiatives that align with organizational goals and industry best practices.
• Support operational and program planning through the assessment and analysis of recovery needs, identification of gaps in existing capacities, and working with internal and external stakeholders to identify areas for engagement and/or advocacy.
• Contribute as part of a service delivery team, supporting the operational implementation of recovery programming.

Operations, Coordination and Planning

• Coordinate information sharing, activities, and follow-ups across internal teams and external partners to support aligned service delivery.
• Participate in operational meetings, coordination tables, and working groups to support collaboration and situational awareness.
• Maintain awareness of recovery operations, partner roles, and emerging needs, contributing to effective coordination and decision-making.
• Support the transition from response (relief) to recovery in collaboration with Emergency Management and Recovery teams.
• Contribute to operational planning, tracking, and reporting to support effective program delivery.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent and speak to recovery programming within scope in presentations to internal and external stakeholders and operational discussions.
• Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with stakeholders, including governments, Indigenous partners, NGOs, and community organizations.
• Share specialized knowledge and provide practical support to colleagues and communities to strengthen collective understanding and effective delivery of recovery programming.
• Support Senior Recovery Specialists in stakeholder coordination, engagement, and facilitation activities, as required.

Tools, Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Produce quality materials, resources, and tools to further internal and external understanding of recovery approaches, methodology, and operations.
• Maintain awareness of current practices, trends, and innovations in disaster recovery and community resilience, and identify opportunities to integrate emerging knowledge into programming.
• Contribute to research, planning, analysis, and reporting to support continuous improvement and decision-making.

Risk, Compliance and Program Effectiveness

• Support quality assurance, compliance, and risk management efforts within recovery program and service delivery.
• Ensure adherence to established processes and procedures, proactively identifying opportunities for enhancement and escalating systemic challenges as needed.

What we are looking for:

• Minimum of 4-7 years of relevant experience and a college diploma or university degree in emergency management, social sciences, public administration, community development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience applying community engagement principles, participatory approaches, and culturally safe practices.
• Experience supporting program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Ability to identify, investigate, and analyze problems, identify root causes and risks, and apply technical, functional, and organizational knowledge to develop solutions.
• Strong communication skills, including diplomacy and empathy to interpret information, clarify stakeholder needs, and contribute to solutions in sensitive situations.
• Ability to research, gather information from credible sources, and summarize findings to support program development and improvement.
• Experience working with diverse communities, including Indigenous, rural, and underserved populations.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation methods, including collecting and analyzing data to assess program impact, is an asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and SharePoint is required.
• French language skills are considered an asset.

Working Conditions:

• This role is a response and operational profile that requires travel, deployment, and in-community presence.
• Work includes field deployments, emergency operations, and office or remote work during non-deployment periods.
• Domestic travel is required and may occur on short notice.
• Work requires the ability to manage multiple, competing deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.
• Interaction with individuals and communities experiencing stressful or crisis situations.
• In large-scale emergencies, personnel may be required to provide disaster relief and/or emergency field operational support.
• Will be required to work extended hours during peak periods on short notice.