Coordinator, Rapid Response Team 26 views0 applications

The Rapid Response Team (RRT) Coordinator is the senior field-level leader responsible for directing and coordinating all Rapid Response Team (RRT) activities during a highly infectious disease outbreak response. Operating under the strategic guidance of the Response Lead, the Coordinator holds delegated field decision-making authority and serves as the single point of contact between the RRT, the Response Lead, and local authorities.

This is a highly mobile, deployable position. The Coordinator leads a multidisciplinary team that is self-sufficient for short-duration deployments (typically ~3 weeks, conditions-based) and performs a dual mandate: (1) rapid new-site response (investigation, assessment, and initiation of a minimum intervention package) and (2) quality support to existing International Medical Corps (IMC) interventions through supportive supervision, mentoring, and joint problem-solving.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Field Decision Authority

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and motivation to the RRT during rapid deployments and quality support missions.

• Exercise delegated field decision-making authority for all operational, tactical, and safety-related matters; act as final arbiter on field-level operational disputes and resource allocation.

• Ensure rapid, evidence-based decision-making aligned with the overall response strategy, applicable to national outbreak-response protocols, and public health objectives.

• Chair daily team briefings and debriefings; maintain clear communication of priorities, tasks, and situational updates.

• Foster a cohesive, accountable, and resilient team culture; resolve conflicts and address performance issues constructively.

Operational Planning and Response Delivery

• Lead the full RRT cycle: alert → activation → mobilization (≤48 hours) → field assessment or quality-support visit → initiation/reinforcement of interventions → conditions-based handover and demobilization.

• For new-site responses: oversee rapid epidemiological investigation and multi-sector needs assessment; initiate the category-appropriate minimum intervention package (isolation/transit, screening, contact tracing, household disinfection, RCCE entry, etc.) when indicated.

• For quality-support missions: lead supportive supervision, joint problem-solving, and on-the-job mentoring of local teams against agreed SOPs and national protocols; ensure findings are shared first with site teams in a non-punitive manner.

• Coordinate closely with surveillance, case management, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), and logistics to deliver integrated response actions; prioritize activities based on epidemiological data, risk mapping, and operational feasibility.

• Ensure timely setup, functioning, and demobilization of field structures; anticipate bottlenecks and develop mitigation strategies.

• Maintain team readiness for rapid redeployment to new hotspots; ensure pre-deployment checklists (security, PSEA, IPC, community entry, supply continuity, etc.) are completed before every mission.

Security and Risk Management

• Assume primary responsibility for the safety and security of all RRT personnel, assets, and operations.

• Conduct and update regular security risk assessments in coordination with the Security Focal Point and Response Lead; develop, implement, and enforce security protocols, SOPs, and contingency plans (including hibernation/evacuation).

• Ensure all team members are briefed on security rules, movement restrictions, curfews, and emergency procedures before and during deployment.

• Prioritize security through acceptance; use armed escorts only as a last resort after formal risk assessment. Coordinate with local security forces, UN agencies, and relevant actors to secure safe access.

Team Welfare and Human Resources

• Champion the physical and psychosocial well-being of all RRT members operating in high-stress, high-risk conditions; ensure adequate rest rotations, work-hour compliance, and access to mental health support.

• Monitor team morale, stress levels, and signs of burnout; intervene with support measures as needed and escalate duty-of-care concerns promptly.

• Oversee adherence to health and safety protocols, including strict PPE use, medical monitoring, and post-exposure prophylaxis readiness.

• Ensure appropriate accommodation, nutrition, and hygiene standards for team members in the field; facilitate team cohesion and a supportive work environment.

Reporting, Information Management and Representation

• Serve as the principal reporting officer for all Rapid Response Team (RRT) activities; submit daily Situation Reports (SITREPs) and assessment summaries to the Response Lead (first SITREP within 24 hours of arrival).

• Ensure accurate, timely, and standardized data collection and reporting in line with Ministry of Health and WHO guidelines; maintain operational records, deployment logs, and incident documentation.

• Escalate red-flag issues immediately (security incidents, Safe and Dignified Burial (SDB) refusals, health-worker exposures, stock-outs of critical items, PSEA/VAWG concerns, disruption of essential services, etc.).

• Represent the RRT in local coordination meetings, cluster meetings, and Incident Management System structures; act as the single point of contact (SPOC) with the Response Lead and local authorities.

• Ensure lessons learned and after-action reviews are documented and shared for continuous improvement of SOPs and training.

Financial and Logistical Oversight

• Hold custodianship of the RRT operating cash envelope (standard ring-fenced advance of USD 5,000) and ensure accountable, transparent, and compliant use of funds.

• Authorize and track all field expenditures and petty-cash disbursements within delegated limits (per-item ceiling USD 100); maintain accurate financial records, receipts, and cash ledgers in accordance with IMC finance policies.

• Ensure timely reconciliation and submission of financial reports at handover; exercise prudent judgment to maximize operational impact while minimizing waste and fraud risk.

• Coordinate with the Logistics/Supply Chain team to ensure timely availability of critical commodities aligned with applicable national outbreak-response protocols; verify supply-continuity plans are executed before exiting.

External Liaison and Community Engagement

• Serve as the primary liaison with local health authorities, Ministry of Health officials, traditional leaders, and partner agencies; negotiate access, permissions, and cooperation agreements.

• Build and maintain constructive relationships with NGOs, UN entities, and donor representatives in the field; represent the RRT’s resource needs and safety concerns.

• Ensure community engagement and social mobilization efforts are co-designed with communities, culturally appropriate, conflict-sensitive, and aligned with the overall response strategy; uphold do-no-harm red lines (no coercion, no public identification of cases/contacts, no parallel structures).

Cross-Cutting Responsibilities

• Ensure all team members are briefed on and adhere to Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards, the IMC Code of Conduct, data protection, and protection principles before every deployment.

• Promote conflict sensitivity in all activities; assess potential impact on tensions, stigma, and access.

• Protect continuity of essential health services; ensure outbreak-response activities do not disrupt life-saving routine care.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Response Lead. Adhere to organizational safety, security, and environmental policies during all maintenance and field activities. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily comprehensive.

Job Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, International Development, Humanitarian Management, or related field.

• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in humanitarian or public health emergency response, with at least 3 years in a senior coordination or management role leading multidisciplinary teams.

• Demonstrated experience leading teams in high-risk, insecure, and resource-constrained field environments, including rapid deployment contexts.

• Strong understanding of outbreak response pillars: surveillance, case management, IPC, WASH, safe and dignified burials, and community engagement / RCCE.

• Proven experience in security risk assessment, protocol development, and crisis decision-making.

• Solid financial management skills, including cash handling, budgeting, and accountability procedures.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; fluency in English required. French and/or relevant local language highly desirable.

• Ability and willingness to deploy at short notice for extended periods in remote, insecure, or infrastructure-poor locations; ability to operate under extreme pressure and make difficult decisions with limited information.

• Proven experience in highly infectious disease or viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak responses preferred.

• Prior experience with International Medical Corps or similar international NGOs in emergency settings preferred.

• Familiarity with DRC operational context, health system, and coordination architecture preferred.

Additional Technical or Language Requirements

Ethical Conduct at International Medical Corps

As part of a global, humanitarian team dedicated to saving lives, easing suffering, and building self-reliance, International Medical Corps staff are responsible for adhering to our Code of Conduct and Ethics and for knowing and abiding by International Medical Corps policies and standards. All staff play a vital role in preventing violations of our Code of Conduct and Ethics, including conflicts of interest, fraud, corruption, and any kind of exploitation or abuse. International Medical Corps is also committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment free of harassment, bullying, and other misconduct, enabling staff to build and maintain professional, respectful working relationships.

International Medical Corps prioritizes safeguarding the populations with whom we work from exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children and adults at risk, and/or any form of trafficking in persons. International Medical Corps is committed to engaging members of crisis-affected communities to participate in meaningful ways in a crisis response, including making informed decisions about the assistance they receive, mitigating potential risks, and holding us accountable for the commitments we make. All staff are expected to support International Medical Corps’ culture of accountability toward our stakeholders, particularly the crisis-affected communities and individuals we serve.

As part of International Medical Corps’ commitment to a speak-up culture and as one of the primary ways we collectively hold ourselves accountable for complying with the ethical principles and standards of conduct outlined in the Code of Conduct and Ethics, all staff are required to report suspected or actual misconduct or violations of organizational policies. Our Code of Conduct and Ethics and Whistleblower Policy prohibit any form of retaliation against whistleblowers or individuals who report a concern in good faith. Staff who violate these protections may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or contractual relationship with International Medical Corps.

Equal Opportunities

International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

Misconduct Disclosure Scheme

All offers of employment at International Medical Corps are subject to satisfactory references and background checks. International Medical Corps participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme from the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR). In accordance with this, we will request information from an applicant’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.