Emergency Response Manager

TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)

socaiPosition Title: Emergency Response Manager

Direct Reports: Director of Programs

1. Organizational Background

Shechen Karuna (SK) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty, strengthening community resilience, and developing the potential of vulnerable populations through holistic and community-driven approaches. SK operates across interconnected sectors including health and hygiene, education and skills, food security, economic development, and environmental protection.

2. Project Context & Rationale

On August 26, 2026, severe flash flooding and debris flows occurred along the Nepal–China border region following a glacial collapse in the High Himalayas. The resulting outburst washed away critical rural infrastructure, suspension bridges, roadways, utility networks, and water supplies across central and northern Nepal.

The districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading in Bagmati Province are among the hardest hit, leaving communities isolated and vulnerable. In response, Shechen Karuna is managing centralized response operations from its Kathmandu office to rapidly deliver non-food relief items, food rations, shelter kits, and Psychological First Aid (PFA) to affected communities.

3. Purpose of the Role

The Emergency Response Manager will lead the overall strategic planning, field execution, multi-district logistical coordination, staff supervision, and stakeholder management for the emergency flood response. The position ensures rapid, transparent, accountable, and high-quality delivery of non-food items, food rations, and crisis stabilization services in full alignment with local government units.

4. Key Responsibilities & Duties

Operational Leadership 

• Overall management and execution of the Emergency Relief Flood Response project across Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.
• Direct and supervise the core response team, including the Project Coordinator, Monitoring Officer, Logistics Officer, Finance Officer, and deployed support staff.
• Lead rapid needs verification and ensure standardized target distributions reach vulnerable households (including men, women, adolescent girls, and children).

Supply Chain, Logistics & Field Distribution

• Oversee the procurement, quality control, bundling, and transit of standardized relief items (clothing sets, hygiene kits, shelter materials, food, and kitchen utensils) from Kathmandu hubs to affected areas.
• Coordinate field logistics across severed transport corridors and manage a fleet of leased transport vehicles (ensuring compliance, bluebooks, contracts, and driver logs).
• Direct distribution sites in close collaboration with ward offices, municipal disaster management committees, and health posts.

Psychological First Aid (PFA) & Crisis Stabilization

• Oversee the deployment of mobile psychosocial response teams comprising clinical psychologists, PFA counselors, and trained volunteers.
• Direct screening protocols for severe psychological distress, grief, or risk of self-harm, alongside community psychoeducation activities.
• Supervise volunteer mobilization, training days, equipment distribution, and field safety protocols.

MEAL, Compliance & Stakeholder Coordination

• Collaborate with the Monitoring Officer to enforce distribution log sheet tracking, quantity/quality verification, and beneficiary receipt validation.
• Ensure full regulatory compliance, field safety standards, and administrative alignment with government authorities.
• Establish community feedback and grievance mechanisms, integrating community concerns into ongoing response operations.

Financial & Administrative Supervision

• Maintain oversight of the project budget across relief materials, project implementation, personnel, administrative, and PFA costs.
• Ensure transparent financial record-keeping, procurement documentation, and timely support for post-project financial auditing.

4. Key Deliverables & Expected Output

• Completed rapid alignment with municipal authorities; support in relief packages; deployment of field teams and vehicles.
• Successful distribution of food, shelter, clothing, and hygiene kits across Rasuwa, and Nuwakot; active PFA mobile teams operating in target wards.
• Completion of all relief distributions and PFA sessions; consolidated MEAL field report, audit documentation, SWC reporting, and post-disaster learning report.

5. Required Qualifications & Competencies

• Education: Master’s Degree in Humanitarian Studies, Project Management, Disaster Risk Management, Social Sciences, or a relevant discipline.
• Experience: Minimum 5–7 years of experience managing rapid-response humanitarian interventions, complex logistics, and multi-district distribution operations in mountain areas of Nepal.
• Technical Skills:
  • Proven expertise in managing emergency supply chains, budget tracking, and donor compliance.
  • Knowledge of Psychosocial First Aid (PFA) integration and protection standards during disasters.
  • Strong familiarity with Bagmati Province geography (specifically Rasuwa and Nuwakot dynamics).
• Leadership & Soft Skills: Strong team management, conflict resolution, crisis negotiation, and institutional coordination skills with government bodies (local wards, disaster management committees).
• Language Proficiency: Fluent in written and spoken English and Nepali.

6. Duty Station

Duty Station: Kathmandu with frequent field visit in affect areas.