Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. 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 government, 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. And Digitally Transforming the IFRC and its 191 members is a complex process which requires collaborative action and support across the membership. Therefore, the 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. 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 191 NSs, setting the vision, and drawing stakeholders together on this digital journey.

Job Purpose

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The incumbent reports into the AI and Data management unit (“AI & Data unit”), that is accountable to the Director of the DTD. The other units and teams reporting to the DT Director include the Enterprise Architecture, Strategy & Planning unit, the Digital development and management unit, the Infrastructure & Security Team and the Global Service Desk and Endpoint Management team. Under the leadership of the Director, these units and teams serve as members of the global DTD management team, along with the CISO and Regional DT managers.

The AI & Data unit is responsible to deliver greater value from IFRC’s data, and ensures the development and implementation of IFRCs data and AI governance and strategy, in close collaboration with the IFRC’s Data Protection Office and through indirect management of data professionals in other departments. The unit oversees all data operations, data product lifecycles and manages the organisation’s data platform, as well as the coordination and support to AI initiatives.

The Senior Full Stack Developer will also interact extensively with internal and external AI and data experts, private sector, academia, external suppliers, vendors and consultants who are sourced to deliver data-related activities.

Job Purpose

The Senior Full Stack Developer will be primarily responsible for the management and development of end-to-end data projects, from clarifying requirements with business requestors, to schema preparation, data modelling, data engineering, report development in PowerBI and facilitation of User Testing pipelines, to support IFRC’s operations in multiple sectors (e.g. Finance, Logistics, Human Resources mobilization, Project management and others).

The position holder will operate on IFRC’s Data Platform, based on Microsoft Fabric and Synapse using Data Vault and Dimensional modeling techniques for consumption in Power BI. He/she will lead a small (two to three) team of full stack developers, ensuring overall coordination, alignment in approach, management of priorities, improvements in data operations, and continuous learning and mentoring.

The role will collaborate and coordinate work with multiple cross-functional teams at a global level, on a variety of projects that support the internal and external-facing activities of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Data analytics and reporting:

• Analyze and understand business process and data models, business logics, modelling logics, and ways to identify missing data.
• Liaise with business contacts or business analysts to understand their needs, and translate these into specifications of requirements.
• Identify data requirements and data elements and ingest them in the data platform if missing.
• Design and implement complex dashboards and reports in Power BI to provide actionable information.
• Follow through on UAT identified issues and their resolution.
• Publish data and reports to production.
• Maintain dashboards and reports over time.

Data engineering on Microsoft Fabric/Azure Synapse platform:

• Develop database schemas, define relationships, and optimize performance based on the specific requirements of the data solution.
• Develop data products using SQL and PySpark.
• Implement data quality checks and processes to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
• Implement security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
• Optimize solutions for performance and scalability.
• Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, optimize SQL queries, and fine-tune data processing workflows.
• Document data engineering processes, system architecture, and data flow diagrams for knowledge sharing and future reference.

Team management:

• Oversee the operation of the full stack developers, managing priorities, interactions, and workload.
• Track and document the progress of the team through tools like devops boards.
• Propose improvements to processes and technologies, bringing efficiency to the team.
• Mentor the development of the team, including the development and refinement of skills.

General:

• Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including architects, data scientists, data analysts, and business stakeholders.
• Act as authority across the organisation in area of data engineering and report development, and as a mentor and guidance for colleagues to encourage the adoption of self-service analytics across the organisation.
• Provide technical guidance and training to colleagues on data management best practices and Microsoft data technologies.
• Support the Manager of the Data unit with regular progress reports on results against objectives and responsibilities.
• Work in close consultation and develop partnerships with colleagues with data roles across the secretariat in Geneva and in the regions.

Duties applicable to all staff

Education

Required

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.

Experience

Required

• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in data engineering with a focus on data modelling and 4+ years in data engineering (Microsoft Fabric or Azure Synapse) and report development (Power BI). Proven track record as a Data Engineer or similar role, and in Power BI development, including Paginated or SSRS reports.
• Core Expertise in the Microsoft Data Stack, in particular proficiency with Fabric, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics.
• Proven experience in Data Lake and Data Lakehouse implementation (e.g., Microsoft Fabric, Azure Synapse, Databricks, Snowflake, Microsoft SQL Server, Apache Spark/Hadoop, or other similar big data or SQL databases).
• Experience in Data Vault and dimensional data modeling techniques.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, SQL, or Java.
• Knowledge of Finance/Accounting logic in ERP, ideally with D365 F&O. Understanding humanitarian accounting logic is a benefit (appeals, pledges, projects, etc.)
• Experience in data governance, architecture, and handling large datasets and data pipelines.
• Strong knowledge of Azure Cloud architecture and networking principles.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines for data workflows (e.g., using Azure DevOps).
• Proven experience in leadership of a data science (or similar) team, with management of direct reports.
• Experience in management and delivery of technical projects.

Preferred

• Proficiency in the Apache Spark framework.
• Proficiency in cloud platforms and technologies, such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Experience with big data technologies, such as Hadoop, Spark, and distributed storage systems.
• Familiarity with data governance, data security, and data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
• Familiarity with AI-assisted development.
• Experience within the RC/RC Movement and/ or international humanitarian or development organisations.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Strong strategic and conceptual thinking; setting meaningful, long-term vision and strategy, consider long-term potential, propose challenging strategic goals.
• 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.
• Ability to drive results, and create culture that fosters proactive action, actively prioritize, set high standards.
• Developing others: Push autonomy and empowerment, view people development as imperative, create culture of accountability.
• Data modelling, statistics.
• Focused on quality and standards, results, and accountability.
• Proven teamwork and trust-building skills, including development of effective and efficient networks and partnerships within and outside of the organisation.
• Proactive approach to finding creative and constructive solutions to difficult issues.

Preferred

• Knowledge on applying artificial intelligence techniques, such as NLP and machine learning.
• Strong presentation, written and oral communication skills.
• Able to network effectively and influence and inspire others including peers, the membership and other stakeholders.

Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.

Preferred

• 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.

Managerial competencies: Managing Staff performance; Managing Staff development.

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.