Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member NSs and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

Background to the position
In virtually all countries, people increasingly rely on and expect a diverse range of digital services (e.g., through their mobile devices) to interact with local governments, companies, and community organizations and services. This disruption is already happening to humanitarian assistance. Yet, the Digital Divide remains a persistent and significant challenge at both national and local levels.

The need for a successful and large-scale digital transformation is urgent. Furthermore, digitally Transforming the IFRC and its 191 members is a complex process which requires collaborative action and support across the membership. Therefore, IFRC recently developed a Digital Transformation Strategy which was approved by the IFRC Governing Board in May 2021.

The Digital Transformation Department (DTD) has full leadership responsibility for the implementation of the digital transformation strategy and the positive impact it will have on the 191 National Society members of the IFRC.

Job Purpose

Background to the position (continued)

The DTD provides strategic leadership and guides the IFRC Secretariat as well as the members network to adapt and innovate humanitarian services, drawing on digital services, data-enabled decision-making, and other opportunities for digital transformation in support of the IFRC’s Strategy 2030. In addition, the DTD is responsible for the development and implementation of business transformation, information technology and digitalization services throughout the IFRC Secretariat, thereby supporting the same transformation in 19 NSs, setting the vision, and drawing stakeholders together on this digital journey.

The position holder manages the C2 Product, within the DTD’s Digital product development and management Unit, in close cooperation and collaboration with the managers and staff of the Enterprise Architecture, Strategy & Planning Manager, Data management and Service units, as well as IT Managers located in the five Regional Offices and functional reports within different departments with the IFRC. The Product manager will report to the Service Delivery & Support Manager, based in Budapest, Hungary.

The responsibilities of the Digital product development and management Unit include the digital strategy development, annual planning and development and continuity of the global digital products portfolio for the IFRC. Moreover, the unit ensures that digital opportunities are considered and requirements are adequately represented, and implemented in time and within the approved budget.

The C2 product line provides IFRC with a core platform that digitally enables new ways of working and knowledge sharing,
using and growing the capacities of the IFRC distributed network in alignment with the Agenda for Renewal and the IFRCs Digital Transformation strategy. It proposes solutions that enhance existing solutions and aims in that way to continually nudge the complex way in which we communicate and collaborate towards a better state.

The IFRC C2 product line is an integrated online platform that centralizes and streamlines access to knowledge and information resources across the Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) network. As a crucial tool, it fulfills the IFRC’s mandate by facilitating:

Knowledge Sharing:
• Easy Content Management: Content creators independently manage pages, sections, and sub-sites. Seamless integration of external content via APIs ensures up-to-date information.
• Intuitive Navigation: User-centric design with personalized dashboards and dynamic content discovery.
• AI-Assisted Search and Chat: Interactive search anticipates user needs, and a chatbot assists in navigation.
Community and Learning Integration:
• Community of Practice (CoP): The Extranet reinforces CoP initiatives by promoting CoP content, integrating it into navigation, search, and chatbot experiences.
• Learning Platform Synergy: Seamlessly access training modules, certification programs, and learning resources from the Extranet, which serves as a complementary resource library.
• Collaborative Tools: Shared workspaces, document collaboration, and project management enhance cross-organizational learning and innovation.

National Society Development:
• Reference Model: A detailed benchmark outlines essential National Society capabilities.
• Capability Blueprints: Comprehensive guidance for implementing core and service capabilities.
• Self-Assessment Tools: User-friendly assessments help National Societies improve their capabilities.
• Benchmarking and Tailored Knowledge Packs: Confidential data sharing allows benchmarking against peers, and customized knowledge packs connect National Societies to relevant resources

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Job purpose:

To develop the C2 product vision, roadmap and its service to provide IFRC with a global digital platform to increase efficiency and effectiveness in alignment with the Agenda for Renewal and IFRCs Digital Transformation strategy. To lead the organization-wide use and improvement of the C2 product to meet the organisation’s future needs. To ensure the C2 as the organisation’s core communication and collaboration platform, to drive agility and innovation, to deliver more value from data on C2 solutions or about usage of services provided through C2 solutions to increase efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the IFRC’s core processes. To rally up to 2 direct project bases and dual reports across the world to analyse and prioritize IFRCs business needs and product performance, manage and optimize the use of human and financial resources allocated to C2, in a collaborative approach. To drive communications and change management for continued engagement on and adoption and evolution of the C2 product.

Product vision, roadmap: Develop the C2 product vision and roadmap, ensuring it meets business needs and enhances user experience.

Product development: Lead the product development lifecycle, set goals, analyze business needs, prioritize features, and manage resources.

Human-centered design: Collaborate with the product leads, designers and developers to ensure all development initiatives follow a Human Centred Design approach. This includes understanding user needs, creating journeys, empathy maps etc.

Product service delivery: Collaborate with the Service team to ensure optimal service delivery and supplier mix. Support the “Support model” and oversee new releases/patches management.
Resource and supplier management: Manage the product team, budget, and financial resources for the product. Maintain relationships with suppliers and manage supplier processes. This includes analysis of license consumption and ensuring the license model is appropriate for current and future needs.

Product performance monitoring and optimization: Define and monitor product metrics, performance, and use data to improve future product de

Product governance and C2 product team management: Lead cross-functional teams, manage direct reports, and ensure efficient governance. Provides regular reports to C2 product team, DT department management team and other colleagues as relevant, including elements such as related to performance, capacity and availability.

IFRC (quality) standards and operating procedures: Apply ITIL and IFRC quality standards and ensure the availability of standard operating procedures and documentation.

Projects/Products: Steer C2 related products & projects to ensure they follow IFRC standards, and are in line with the product line vision.

Compliance and security: Ensure product compliance with laws and regulations and implement security measures to protect user data.

Continuous learning and improvement: Stay updated with industry trends, gather feedback, and seek opportunities to improve the product and process.

Innovation and integration with other applications: Leverage the C2 platform to support agile management, assess innovative approaches, and support integration with other applications.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Management and collaboration: Manages 7-10 direct reports, leads and guides up to 30 functional/dual reports as members of the C2 product teams dispersed across departments and geographic structures. Creates a collaborative working culture with C2 product team members, business and key stakeholders as well as C2 product governance for all areas of responsibilities.

Change management and communications: Drives organisational wide change management and communications in relation to the future evolution of the C2 product, in close collaboration with human resources and communications department.

Network: Build network of people within and outside of the IFRC-network to leverage digital experience and expertise to maintain and evolve the products’ vision, strategies and performance.

Shared responsibilities

• Partner with Data, Service and Architecture teams/roles to deliver on data management strategy, enterprise architecture and transition of digital products to production and maintenance.
• Collaborate with Planning team on DT Secretariat strategy development, application of project management standards.
• Collaborate with Service Unit for Service delivery as well as on Business value case formulation, feasibility analysis of product production and maintenance, in case of development.

Duties applicable to all staff
1. Actively work towards the achievement of the IFRC’s goals
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, computer sciences, project management, product management, or equivalent experience in managing organisation-wide communication & collaboration products

Preferred:

• Product management professional certification.
• Project management professional certification.

Experience

Required:

• Minimum 5 years of professional product management experience.
• Proven experience in leading & managing large teams in matrix-based organization.
• Minimum 4 years of professional experience in business requirements analysis.
• Proven experience in contract and supplier management

Preferred:

• Experience using M365, DXP solutions, Federated Identity and -Search solutions.
• Experience in managing Knowledge and content management systems.
• Three years of professional experience in business applications development and support.
• Three years of professional experience in roll-out, maintenance, upgrades and customizations of products.
• Experience in service management and reporting tools.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Strong analysis and problem solving skills.
• Solid strategic and conceptual thinking; setting meaningful, long-term vision, consider long-term potential, propose challenging goals.
• Effective communication, collaboration and negotiation skills.
• Ability to drive results, and create culture that fosters proactive action, actively prioritize, set high standards.
  
• Proven skills on digital product lifecycle.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; proven people’s management skills (staff and consultants), including conflict resolution.
• Proven teamwork and trust-building skills, including development of effective and efficient networks and partnerships in diverse cultures and language settings.
• Proven training, knowledge transfer and supervisory skills as part of the people’s management.
• Well organized, able to work under pressure and manage emergencies
• Proactive approach to finding creative and constructive solutions to difficult issues.
• Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Proven skills in production vision, business value and cost model development.
• Human centred design.
• Propensity for embracing change and ambiguity: anticipate emerging conditions and demands, embrace widespread organisational change, navigate complex dynamics, view uncertainty and disruption as an opportunity.
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust
Functional competencies: Strategic orientation, Building alliances, Leadership, Empowering others

Comments: This is a national staff position open to Hungarian nationals and others who are legally eligible to work in Hungary. Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in Hungary