Work for us overseas

The Irish Red Cross Society has been placing personnel overseas on a regular basis since 1985. Numbers placed per year vary from 15 - 50. While the majority of Irish Red Cross delegates working overseas are Irish nationals this is not a pre-requisite to employment. Presently the Irish Red Cross has delegates employed and working overseas from Ireland, America, France and Benin. In addition we have many national staff working for us in places such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Niger.

Skilled and professional personnel are assigned to Overseas Operations in response to requests from three sources, namely, Irish Red Cross Country Representatives on the ground-thereby working directly for the Irish Red Cross in the country of operation, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)-employed and paid by the Irish Red Cross but seconded to ICRC on the ground and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC)-employed and paid by the Irish Red Cross but seconded to IFRC on the ground.

Disaster, Rehabilitation, and Development operations throughout the world deal with either War and Conflict Relief or Natural Disaster Relief or in many cases a combination of both. These operations provide medical and nursing care to the wounded, sick and injured as well as organising accommodation, shelter, water, sanitation and supplies of food for Refugees and Internally Displace People. Longer-term objectives include the capacity building and development of National Red Cross Societies locally so that they can organise their own Disaster Preparedness and Response Plans to reduce casualties and provide more immediate care to the sick, injured and homeless.

Would you like to work Overseas for the Irish Red Cross?

The Irish Red Cross Society recruits people with top-level qualifications and proven experience in their chosen careers. These include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: Accountants; Air and Vehicle Transport/Operation Managers; Civil Engineers specializing in Water Sanitation and Construction; Drivers with long haulage/articulated truck license and experience; Development/Training Delegates specializing in overseas development/community development; Education Specialists; Journalists/Information and Reporting Delegates; Logisticians/Warehouse Managers; General Management and Administration; Medical Doctors/Surgeons/Anaesthetists; Motor/Commercial vehicle mechanics; Nurses; Occupational Therapists; Physiotherapists; Legal Specialists particularly in the area of International Humanitarian Law

What are the requirements for Overseas Service with the Irish Red Cross?

The Irish Red Cross Society is justifiably proud of its enviable track record in sending the best available personnel on Overseas Service.

Candidates with previous experience of working overseas in an emergency or development context and/or with a second language (eg. French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic) will be preferred. Candidates without previous overseas experience but with substantial ‘at-home’ experience in their field of expertise are always of interest to the Irish Red Cross.

What kind of work do Irish Red Cross Delegates actually do?

Irish Red Cross Delegates are usually assigned to medical and/or nursing operations, emergency relief management, logistics management (air and vehicle), general management and administration, construction management (water, sanitation, shelter, schools, hospitals) and humanitarian observation (adherence to International Humanitarian Law). Medical and/or Nursing operations can be based in central hospitals or in Health Care Clinics. Relief Management generally involves administering and serving in Refugee or Internally Displaced Centres, while those working in Distribution normally work in the areas of warehousing/logistics/fleet vehicle operations. This is only a small sample of the type of work involved in overseas assignments. Working overseas is diverse and varied and in reality most professions and skill sets are required at varying stages of emergency and post emergency operations.

A key requirement of all delegates is the ability to work with and train local staff and volunteers. Because of this, maturity, appropriate qualifications and experience are essential.

How does the application and recruitment process work?

Experienced and qualified candidates should forward a curriculum vita (max four pages) with a cover letter to the Irish Red Cross Society, which then screens applications based on needs at that particular time. If short-listed, candidates will be interviewed by the Irish Red Cross Overseas Department. Successful candidates are then put on a panel and will be notified when a suitable position arises or if an immediate vacancy exists then pre-departure arrangements are put in place, which will include visas, airline ticket purchase, pre-departure medical exam, required vaccinations, pre-departure orientation and briefings. Travel, insurance and medical insurance are paid in addition to a contract salary, which is determined by the position, qualifications and experience.

A key requirement of all applications is that they are sent to Irish Red Cross Society for consideration. Applications directly forwarded to either the ICRC or IFRC in Geneva will be returned to sender.

Contact Irish Red Cross Society
16 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 - 676 5135

Jobs at the Red Cross