DISASTER MANAGEMENT ADVISOR

The Background to The Position

AusAID is the Australian Government agency responsible for managing Australia’s overseas aid program. The purpose of Australian aid is to help people overcome poverty. This also serves Australia's national interests by promoting stability and prosperity both in our region and beyond. We focus our effort in areas where Australia can make a difference and where our resources can most effectively and efficiently be deployed.

One of AusAID’s five core strategic goals is humanitarian and disaster response. We aim to enhance disaster preparedness and deliver faster, more effective responses to humanitarian crises, given the increased frequency and impact of natural disasters in recent decades.

AusAID has demonstrated its commitment to assisting Indonesia respond to disasters. This includes 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami up until the recent Mount Merapi eruption and Mentawai Islands earthquake and tsunami in 2010. AusAID also views the disaster management sector in a holistic sense, aiming to closely link disaster response, recovery, disaster risk reduction and longer term development goals.

The Disaster Response Unit, located in AusAID Jakarta, coordinates Australian Government humanitarian assistance to Indonesia during major humanitarian emergencies, particularly natural disasters. The Disaster Response Unit works closely with the Australia-Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction, which aims to strengthen national and local capacity in disaster management in Indonesia, and promote a more disaster resilient region.

The Disaster Response Unit and the Australia-Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction also engage closely with a number of regional organisations with a strong interest in disaster management in the Asia region. These include ASEAN, the ASEAN Regional Forum, APEC and the East Asia Summit.

The Position Description

As a member of AusAID Indonesia’s Disaster Response Unit, the Disaster Management Advisor will assist Australia to prepare for and respond to humanitarian emergencies in Indonesia, particularly natural disasters. The Advisor will also assist AusAID Indonesia, including the Australia-Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction to develop and implement strategies and programs for the disaster management sector.

This is an opportunity to work in a high profile, high pressure environment. The provision of sound technical advice on disaster response at short notice is vital. A strong understanding of working in government, particularly the political dimensions and public profile of AusAID’s disaster management work, is essential.

The Advisor should be self-motivated, proactive and prepared to demonstrate initiative without close supervision.

Specific work tasks include but not limited to:

1) Assisting Australia to prepare to provide humanitarian relief in response to major disasters in Indonesia. This includes assisting in the development of disaster response plans and procedures, building capacity of AusAID Indonesia staff, and advising on appropriate stand-by procedures.

2) Assisting in the planning and implementation of Australia’s humanitarian relief efforts during major disasters in Indonesia. This includes travel to the field at short notice; leading small teams in the field; working with partners to identify humanitarian needs; recommending and assisting in implementation of response options; acting as a media spokesperson where needed; and identifying lessons learnt from disaster response operations.

3) Providing strategic direction and advice on the development and implementation of AusAID strategies and programs for the disaster management sector in Indonesia. This includes providing advice on linking disaster response, recovery, disaster risk reduction and longer term development; and providing advice on integrating disaster risk reduction into other AusAID programs.

4) As required, assisting other parts of AusAID (including Canberra and other posts) to develop and review disaster management policies and programs, develop and review disaster response plans and procedures, build internal response capacity and implement humanitarian relief activities.

5) Building and strengthening strategic partnerships with government (GoI) and GoA), multilateral, regional and non-government stakeholders.

6) Assisting in the monitoring and evaluation of AusAID and partner disaster managements programs and, where necessary, providing advice for future improvement.

7) Working productively in the Disaster Response Team and building the disaster response capacity of other team members.

8) Providing advice on AusAID engagement’s with regional bodies with an interest in disaster management, including identifying gaps in regional disaster management systems and recommending areas where AusAID can add value.

The Reporting Line

The Disaster Management Advisor will report to the Unit Manager, Disaster Response Unit, AusAID Jakarta.

Other Requirement and Qualifications

• University degree in disaster management, international development, public administration, public policy, social sciences, or other relevant academic fields.

• Minimum 5 years experience in managing international humanitarian response in developing countries. Experience in Indonesia is highly desirable.

• High level written and verbal English necessary. Working knowledge of Indonesian is desirable.

The Selection Criteria

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrated experience of working with government systems to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, including a sound understanding of the political and public profile elements of disaster response.

• Demonstrated international level technical expertise in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, and recovery and the relationship between these.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the disaster management sector in Indonesia.

• Strong written and oral communication and relationship building skills. Demonstrated capacity to work in cross cultural teams and to empower others to learn.

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and achieve results in a dynamic environment.

Desirable Criteria

• Understanding of the regional disaster management context, including the links between key regional and international organisations.

Timing and Location

The Disaster Management Advisor will be located in Jakarta. Frequent travel to the field during disaster responses may be required. It is also expected the Disaster Management Advisor will travel to Canberra and other AusAID posts on a regular basis.

It is expected the Disaster Management Advisor will commence duties in January 2012. The successful candidate will be initially contracted for 2 years with the possibility of a contract extension subject to regular performance monitoring.

HOW TO APPLY

If after reading the information about the Organisation and the Job you have decided to apply for this position you should follow these steps.

Step 1 - Prepare Resume

Prepare your Resume or Curriculum Vitae in Microsoft Word format, no more than four pages. Your CV should include:

• a summary of your employment history to date, include details of the dates, the organisation and a short description of the type of work you undertook.

• summarise your educational qualifications in your CV, including the degree award or certificate, the institution attended, the dates of study and country where you studied.

Step 2 – Complete the personal particulars form

Complete the personal particulars form (please refer to other attachment) and save as:

‘Job Application ’ in Word format.

The form has one main aims:
• collects your personal information and preferred contact details

Step 3 – Provide a written response to the selection criteria

• The document must be submitted in English
• The document should outline your suitability, experience, skills and knowledge as relevant to the position.
• Please draw on experience you have gained from work, social or study situations to demonstrate your skills

Step 4 – Submit Job Application by Midnight, Sunday, 14 August 2011

Your application for the job should include:
• a completed AusAID Personal particulars Form;
• your Resume or CV; AND
• your written response to the selection criteria

You should email both documents to HRindo@ausaid.gov.au.

Please include Disaster Management Advisor in the email subject field.

Helpful Hints in Applying

Please take your time in writing your application and preparing your CV as our decision on who moves forward will be based on the information you provide. Please draw on experience you have gained from work, social or study situations to demonstrate your skills and complete all areas of the application.

What Happens Next?

Once your application has been received and registered, our next step is to review the applications and select applicants to move forward to the next stage.

We will advise you if you have been successful in moving forward (short listed) to the second stage approximately within two – three weeks of the closing date. If you are short listed, we will also provide you with full information on what date and where you need to attend an interview.

Due to the volume of applications normally received, AusAID does not notify applicants who have not been shortlisted or respond to any correspondent enquiring about it.

We will only process the applications that are sent through HRindo@ausaid.gov.au .