Emergency Response Manager Central America

La Organización Plan International es una organización independiente de desarrollo y humanitaria que promueve los derechos de la niñez y la igualdad para las niñas. Creemos en el poder y el potencial de cada niña y niño, pero sabemos que a menudo se ven reprimidos por la pobreza, la violencia, la exclusión y la discriminación. Y son las niñas las más afectadas. En colaboración con niñas, niños, jóvenes, seguidores y socios, luchamos por un mundo justo, abordando las causas profundas de los problemas a los que se enfrentan las niñas y los niños en situación más vulnerable. Apoyamos a la niñez desde su nacimiento hasta la edad adulta y los capacitamos para prepararse y responder a las crisis y a la adversidad. Impulsamos el cambio de prácticas y políticas a nivel local, nacional y global gracias a nuestro alcance, experiencia y conocimientos. Durante más de 85 años, hemos reunido a otros optimistas determinados para transformar la vida de todas las niñas y niños en más de 80 países. No nos detendremos, hasta lograr la igualdad

HUMANITARIAN PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE MANAGER

Job Description / Position Profile Position Overview Title: Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Manager Functional Area: Programs/DRM, CA Cluster Location: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, or Honduras Travel Required: 50% field travel Contract Duration: 12 months (with possibility of renewal) Reports to: Cluster Management Technical Supervision: Regional Director of Humanitarian Preparedness and Response

BACKGROUND

Central America faces significant challenges due to high vulnerability to natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. These events often cause considerable damage, worsening persistent poverty and infrastructure deficiencies. Furthermore, the region deals with high levels of violence and crime—primary drivers of migration as individuals and families seek safer environments and economic opportunities.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Cluster Emergency Response Manager plays a central role in managing and coordinating emergency responses in Central America, involving multi-national collaboration to improve disaster preparedness and response capabilities. This requires strategic planning and the implementation of effective communication and logistics systems. Actions include training local emergency staff, establishing resilient technical and financial infrastructure, and improving community readiness. Additionally, developing strong alliances with donors and humanitarian agencies is essential to secure funding and support. These efforts are vital for immediate disaster response and the long-term stability of the region.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Programs and Strategy: Oversee the management and coordination of emergency programs across the four countries, ensuring alignment with international standards and organizational policies. Lead the development and updating of humanitarian response strategies, focusing on preparedness and immediate response to extreme weather events and other human crises. Manage multi-national initiatives and projects within the cluster, ensuring effective design and implementation through collaboration with regional and local teams. Preparedness: 4. Coordinate training and preparedness activities tailored to the regional risk calendar, emphasizing cyclone and rainy seasons, as well as periods of increased migratory flows. 5. Ensure compliance and support for Ready to Respond (R2R) activities across the four country offices. 6. Conduct proactive analysis and monitoring of hotspots to prevent and address potential crisis areas. Proposal Development: 7. Co-design project proposals for sub-regional initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and leveraging local knowledge. 8. Take responsibility for multi-national project proposals, ensuring coherence and alignment with broader regional strategies. 9. Assist country offices in designing proposals within their respective territories. Representation and Coordination: 10. Actively engage with donors and UN agencies to strengthen strategic alliances, especially with sub-regional staff within the Central America cluster. 11. Identify and develop multi-national initiatives, representing the organization at key thematic and sub-regional group meetings and events. Response: 12. Lead needs assessments and support country offices in developing response plans and securing necessary resources. 13. Provide direct emergency response support to countries within the group. 14. Manage Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities in country offices that lack dedicated humanitarian staff. 15. Oversee multi-national emergency projects within the group. Technical and Operational Support: 16. Develop technical capacities in Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE), Education in Emergencies (EiE), and other sectoral areas as needed (e.g., CVA, Food Security, WASH). 17. Ensure that operational support functions—such as finance, HR, and logistics—are managed according to organizational standards and local regulations. 18. Supervise the creation and maintenance of safety and security guidelines aligned with local contexts. Safeguarding: 19. Ensure that Plan International’s global policies on Child and Youth Safeguarding and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully integrated according to policy principles and requirements. This includes ensuring staff and partners understand their responsibilities under these policies and the Code of Conduct (CoC), and that concerns are reported and managed through proper procedures.

REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE

Advanced degree in Management, Humanitarian Aid, Disaster Management, or a related field. Extensive experience in managing emergency programs in diverse and complex environments. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and project management skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; fluent in Spanish with proficiency in English. Strong understanding of the humanitarian landscape and child protection standards in the Central American context.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND DEMANDS

The position will be based in any of the cluster countries with frequent travel to program sites and other countries within the group.

LEVEL OF

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