Regional Desk Officer, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Latin America (EMENA)

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The Swedish Red Cross is part of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest humanitarian network. The Red Cross/Red Crescent is working to improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters and emergencies. We support people whoever they are, wherever they are.

Regional Desk Officer, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Latin America (EMENA) 

About the role 

The Swedish Red Cross is seeking a Regional Desk Officer to support and strengthen our humanitarian engagement across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America (EMENA). This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to humanitarian action in some of the world's most complex and rapidly evolving contexts. 

The position is based at Swedish Red Cross office in Stockholm and reports to the Head of Unit for Europe, MENA and Latin America within the International Department. 

As part of the International Department, you will play a key role in supporting humanitarian programmes, partnerships, advocacy initiatives, and emergency responses across the region. You will work closely with colleagues throughout the Swedish Red Cross, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and external partners to ensure high-quality humanitarian programming and enhanced support to people affected by crises. 

About the role 

As Regional Desk Officer, you will support the unit and its field teams with programmatic, operational, and administrative functions. You will contribute to the development, implementation, quality assurance, and follow-up of the Swedish Red Cross' humanitarian work in countries where we do not maintain a bilateral field presence. The role also facilitates collaboration and knowledge exchange with relevant colleagues across departments and units. 

A significant part of the position focuses on advocacy, communications, public engagement, and resource mobilisation related to humanitarian crises throughout the region. 

Examples of key responsibilities include: 

• Supporting the Regional Head of Unit, Country Representatives and field teams in setting and managing priorities, strategic planning, and internal and external representation. 
• Supporting the development and implementation of regional strategies, programmes, and projects. 
• Developing project proposals, budgets, donor applications, reports, situation analyses, briefing materials, advocacy content, and communication products. 
• Monitoring programme quality, results, risks, evaluations, audits, and financial performance. 
• Ensuring compliance with donor agreements, Movement policies, organizational commitments, and codes of conduct. 
• Collaborating closely with colleagues across the International Department and other parts of the Swedish Red Cross, while facilitating cooperation with field teams as required. 
• Monitoring humanitarian developments across the region and ensuring that the Swedish Red Cross remains informed of evolving needs, risks, and trends. 
• Contributing to stronger partnerships with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and fostering collaboration across the Movement. 
• Supporting the unit's fundraising and resource mobilization efforts. 
• Supporting emergency response operations, surge deployments, and preparedness activities. 
• Contributing to the Swedish Red Cross Duty of Care responsibilities by preparing, briefing, supporting, and debriefing delegates, surge personnel, and seconded staff throughout their deployment cycle. 
• Contributing to the development and strengthening of relationships with institutional donors, government stakeholders, civil society organisations, research institutions, and other humanitarian actors. 
• Contributing to advocacy, public engagement, and communication efforts related to humanitarian crises in the region, serving as a key link between country operations and Swedish Red Cross advocacy initiatives. 
• Representing the Swedish Red Cross in media engagements and public-facing communications related to humanitarian issues in the region, as required. 
• Representing the Swedish Red Cross in external forums, events, seminars, roundtable discussions, and meetings, as required. 

The role combines strategic thinking with operational delivery and offers the opportunity to work across humanitarian response, recovery, resilience, advocacy, partnership development, and resource mobilization. 

About you 

You are motivated by humanitarian values and thrive in an international environment where strategic thinking, collaboration, and operational delivery go hand in hand. You are comfortable managing multiple priorities, building partnerships across cultures, and communicating effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. At the same time, you recognize the importance of strong administrative routines and attention to detail. 

Required qualifications 

• Relevant university degree or equivalent knowledge and competencies acquired through professional experience. 
• At least three years of international professional experience in humanitarian action and/or international development cooperation, preferably within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and/or humanitarian contexts. 
• Experience in project and programme management within international aid, including planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. 
• Experience working with results-based management. 
• Experience in professional writing, preferably including project proposals, donor applications, narrative reporting, and financial follow-up. 
• Valid driving license for manual transmission vehicles and regular driving experience. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Swedish and English. 
• Valid Swedish work permit. 

Meriting qualifications 

• Experience in one or more of the following areas is considered an asset: 
• Working in the MENA region, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and/or Latin America. 
• Security training, such as Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) or equivalent. 
• Working with institutional donors such as Sida, ECHO, and the European Union. 
• Volunteer development, gender equality, and sustainability within humanitarian and development contexts. 
• Experience working with organizational development and localization. 
• Coordination and representation with donors, civil society organisations, partners, and authorities in Sweden and internationally. 
• Volunteering or engagement within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. 
• Additional language skills, particularly Arabic, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, or Portuguese. 
• Experience in advocacy, public affairs, and public engagement. 

Personal qualities 

To succeed in this role, you are proactive, collaborative, and able to work with a high degree of autonomy. You are service-oriented, a genuine team player, and combine strong analytical abilities with sound judgement. You pay attention to detail and are comfortable navigating complex humanitarian contexts. You remain composed under pressure, meet deadlines consistently, and build trust across cultures and organizational boundaries. Above all, you are committed to the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. 

Additional information 

The role includes travel within the region, including travel to complex and potentially high-risk environments. 

The position may occasionally require flexibility in working hours, including evenings and weekends, in connection with emergency responses, events, or international collaboration. 

The position is a full-time, permanent role based at our office in Stockholm. A six-month probationary period applies. The start date is as soon as possible but is to be set based on mutual agreement. 

How we recruit 

We welcome your application no later than 7 October 2026. 

Please contact Andrei Engstrand Neacsu at andrei.engstrand.neacsu@redcross.se if you have any questions about the position. 

The Swedish Red Cross strives to be an inclusive organization where employees contribute diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. We believe this strengthens our relevance and impact. Therefore, we welcome applicants of all ethnic and social backgrounds, gender identities and expressions, beliefs, ages, abilities, and sexual orientations. 

Our recruitment process begins with an initial screening based on the requirements profile and is followed by interviews and, online assessments, background checks, and reference checks. 

As the Swedish Red Cross participates in the Inter-Agency Scheme for the Disclosure of Safeguarding-related Misconduct, helping to protect the humanitarian sector from sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguarding-related questions form part of our reference-check process. Final candidates may also be screened against EU and UN sanctions lists. 

Please visit our career page to learn more about the Swedish Red Cross. Here you will also find information about employment conditions, our organisational culture, and contact details for the trade unions represented within our organisation. 

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