IRC recruits Ebola response director

Bac+5 Deadline: not specified

• 0 comments IRC recruits Ebola response director Presentation of the IRC

Job overview

Responding to the world’s worst humanitarian crises in a wide variety of functions, International Rescue Committee (IRC) personnel are a force for humanity and hope. If you are competent and passionate, we would be happy to add your energy to ours. Through its Emergency Unit (EmU), IRC is one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, leading rapid emergency responses that provide life-saving assistance, early recovery and stabilization support to people affected by conflict, displacement, natural disasters and complex emergencies in multiple contexts around the world. We are committed to innovation, agility and strong partnerships to deliver rapid and effective humanitarian action. Active in the areas of public health, emergency education, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, youth development and protection and promotion of rights, we accompany people from danger to a The IRC recognizes that people affected by a crisis and those closest to them are in the best position, have the right, and must have the power and resources to respond to the crisis and drive lasting change. We are committed to increasing the share of funding for local actors in emergencies, asking ourselves “Why not partner?” each time we plan a program, and building equal partnerships. IRC recruits Ebola response director

Location

Location Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo Background The Ministry of Public Health Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15, 2026, after laboratory confirmation of Bundibugyo virus disease (MVB) in Ituri province. On 17 May 2026, the WHO declared the Public Health Emergency Outbreak of International Concern (PHEIP), and it has since become the largest Ebola outbreak ever reported in the DRC and the fastest growing on record. The epidemic is taking place in a very complex humanitarian and security context, marked by chronic insecurity, the activity of armed groups, repeated population displacements and significant cross-border movements, particularly with Uganda and South Sudan. The IRC supports the containment of the epidemic in Ituri and North Kivu. IRC’s priority action is to support existing primary health care (PHC) structures to ensure safe service continuity, strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and infrastructure, raise community awareness of behaviours that limit spread, and strengthen the protective environment, including through mental and psychosocial health support (MHPS). Scope of the post The Director of the Ebola Response (DRE) will lead IRC’s emergency response to the Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD) outbreak in DRC, based in Buniaby leading a fast, high-quality and responsible operation that ensures continuity of primary health care, strengthens infection prevention and control, and consolidates community protection, in line with IRC’s strategic priorities. The ERD will oversee all operational, financial and programmatic aspects of the response, including supply chain, safety and security, finance, human resources and culture, partnerships and programme implementation. He/she reports to the ERMT Emergency Unit Lead (Emergency Response Management Team), with a functional link to the DRC Country Director (CD) for coordination on critical incidents, security, legal issues, donors and media. — This link evolves towards a full hierarchical line to the DP once the transition to the DRC country programme is completed. As the external face of IRC for the response, ERD will be a compelling communicator to government officials, donors, UN agencies and coordinating bodies in order to increase visibility and funding for the response. He/she will also ensure that the programmatic strategy is clear and effectively implemented, and will participate in the DRC Country Programme Leadership Team (SMT) to keep the response aligned with, and eventually integrated into, the broader country programme. Succeeding in this position requires a strong and resilient leader, able to motivate and stabilize teams operating in a highly unstable and under high pressure environment, with excellent communication and program implementation skills. The ERD is directly responsible for overall coordination and guidance of the response, oversight and support to departmental Ebola response officials, effective management of emergency funding, as well as timely reporting to donors, the RFP and the LRTE.

Responsibilities

Direction and representation Ensure IRC’s key representation for the Ebola response, in coordination with the DRC RFP and the broader country programme as needed, and co-lead with the RFP all donor and media relations related to the response. Develop and maintain relationships with donors, UN agencies, international NGOs, the Ministry of Health and local partners to promote effective collaboration and increase visibility of IRC’s response. Participate in DRC Country Programme Executive Team (SMT) meetings and maintain regular coordination points with the RFP to ensure alignment with the broader country programme. Oversee the safety and security aspects of the Ebola response, immediately reporting any risk, incident or concern to the RFP and the LRA. Participate in weekly emergency unit ERMT meetings and ad hoc crisis calls, ensuring the production of a weekly emergency situation report. Promote a culture of effective and respectful partnerships, by encouraging partner-driven programmes in line with the IRC's "Why Not Partner?" and "Equal Partners" approach. Strategic Direction and Program Supervision Lead and contribute to the implementation of IRC’s Ebola Strategic Response Plan, ensuring that it reflects partnership considerations and active engagement of local partners in design and implementation. Oversee the implementation of the emergency programme throughout the Ebola response. Directly supervise the Ebola response department heads (Program Manager, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources and Culture, and Security), the Program Supervisor

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