Terre des hommes is hiring an Emergency Coordinator – Roving. Apply before 12 Apr 2026

Humanitarian emergencies require experienced leadership to coordinate rapid responses and ensure that vulnerable populations receive critical support. Terre des hommes (Tdh) is currently recruiting an Emergency Coordinator – Roving to strengthen its emergency response capacity and support humanitarian operations in crisis-affected countries.

This position offers an opportunity for experienced humanitarian professionals to contribute to life-saving programs that protect and support children and their communities during emergencies.

About Terre des hommes

Terre des hommes is a Swiss humanitarian foundation headquartered in Lausanne with an additional office in Zurich. The organization is widely recognized as Switzerland’s leading organization dedicated to children’s rights.

With more than 60 years of experience in international cooperation, Tdh works with local partners, governments, and communities to support vulnerable children worldwide. In 2022 alone, the organization directly supported 2.6 million children and community members, while training programs helped extend assistance to an additional 4.5 million people.

Tdh operates across several sectors aimed at protecting children and improving their well-being, including:

• Maternal and child health
• Child protection
• Migration support
• Access to justice
• Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)

The organization’s work focuses on promoting children’s rights and ensuring that humanitarian responses prioritize the best interests and protection of children, particularly in crisis situations.

Role Overview

The Emergency Coordinator – Roving position is designed to support emergency responses in countries experiencing humanitarian crises. The selected candidate will work under the supervision of the Head of the RED Unit (Rapid Emergency Deployment Unit) and will travel to various locations when emergencies arise.

Key details of the position include:

• Start Date: May 4, 2026
• Duration: 6 months
• Location: Home-based with travel to emergency response countries
• Status: Unaccompanied position

Recruitment for this role is ongoing until a suitable candidate is identified, although interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Purpose of the Role

The Emergency Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the effective coordination and implementation of emergency response programs. The role involves overseeing humanitarian projects, supporting field teams, and ensuring compliance with donor and organizational standards.

The position also contributes to identifying new funding opportunities and program development to strengthen emergency responses in crisis-affected regions.

Key Responsibilities

The Emergency Coordinator will oversee a wide range of operational and strategic tasks during emergency responses.

Coordination and Leadership

The role requires strong leadership to ensure that emergency operations are coordinated effectively and delivered according to agreed objectives.

Core coordination responsibilities include:

• Overseeing emergency response activities in affected countries
• Ensuring projects meet agreed timelines, budgets, and deliverables
• Supervising and supporting emergency response teams
• Strengthening coordination among field teams and headquarters

The coordinator also plays an important role in mentoring staff and building the capacity of national teams.

Program Management and Project Oversight

The coordinator will ensure that humanitarian projects are implemented in line with contractual agreements and donor requirements.

Key tasks include:

• Managing project implementation and monitoring progress
• Addressing operational challenges and escalating major issues to senior management
• Supporting proposal development and emergency program design
• Contributing to fundraising initiatives for emergency operations

The role also requires experience with project cycle management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Needs Assessments and Strategic Planning

The Emergency Coordinator will participate in conducting humanitarian needs assessments and identifying priority interventions.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading rapid emergency assessments
• Contributing to strategy development for emergency responses
• Supporting the design of humanitarian programs

The coordinator will also collaborate with humanitarian actors and participate in cluster coordination meetings and working groups to ensure effective collaboration within the humanitarian system.

Multi-Sector Emergency Programming

The position requires experience working across multiple humanitarian sectors to ensure comprehensive support for affected populations.

These sectors may include:

• Health services
• Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
• Shelter support
• Food security
• Non-food items (NFIs)
• Multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA)
• Child protection and gender-based violence prevention

By integrating these sectors, the organization aims to deliver holistic humanitarian responses that address the complex needs of children and their families.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must meet several academic and professional requirements to qualify for this position.

Education requirements include:

• A Master’s degree in humanitarian affairs, international relations, disaster risk management, public health, international humanitarian law, or related social sciences.

Professional experience requirements include:

• At least six years of experience managing international humanitarian projects
• Experience working with international NGOs in emergency response settings
• Strong project cycle management skills
• Field experience in Africa or the Middle East

Knowledge of contexts in the MENA region or the Sahel is considered a strong advantage.

Skills and Language Requirements

Successful candidates should demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills, as well as the ability to operate effectively in high-pressure environments.

Key competencies include:

• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills
• Ability to lead and motivate diverse teams
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Proactive and adaptable working style

Language requirements include:

• Fluency in French and English
• Arabic is considered an additional advantage

Candidates should also have strong proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.

Employment Conditions and Benefits

The position is offered under Swiss Labour Law and includes several benefits.

Key conditions include:

• Monthly gross salary: CHF 5,000 – CHF 5,400 depending on experience
• Salary paid 13.36 times per year
• Health, accident, and repatriation insurance coverage
• 25 days of annual leave
• Flights to and from duty stations covered by the organization

Safeguarding and Organizational Policies

Terre des hommes maintains strict safeguarding and ethical standards to protect children, staff, and communities.

All staff must comply with the organization’s:

• Child safeguarding policies
• Protection against sexual exploitation and abuse policies
• Anti-fraud and anti-corruption guidelines
• Safety and security procedures

Employees are expected to actively contribute to a culture that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and the protection of children’s rights.

How to Apply

Interested candidates must apply through the official website of Terre des hommes.

Applications must include:

• A CV
• A cover letter

Additional documents such as diplomas and work certificates may be requested later during the recruitment process.

Due to the high number of applications typically received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted during the selection process.

This role offers a meaningful opportunity for humanitarian professionals to contribute to global emergency responses and help protect vulnerable children affected by crises worldwide.

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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization that is hiring. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.