Safety & Security Coordinator at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

⏲ Jan 10, 2020, 8:58 AM
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The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position of: Job Title: Safety & Security Coordinator Requisition ID: req7760 Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria Sector: Safety & Security Employment Category: Fixed Term Employment Type: Full-Time Open to Expatriates: Yes

Scope of Work

Integral to the post is the ability to work successfully with field teams to cultivate capacity and motivation thereby ensuring field-based responsibility for security analysis and management. In parallel to the above, the post holder will capacity build and train a local security manager.
The post reports to the Deputy Directors of Operations and Field Management, works in close collaboration with the CD and broader SMT, Senior Area Managers, Field Coordinators and Security Liaison Officers, as well as all other staff. She/he will receive technical support from the Regional Safety and Security Advisor (RSSA).
The post holder will develop and ensure the systematic application of safety and security management policies and procedures in all of IRC operational areas of Nigeria.
This will include the assessment of threats and provision of advice to manage risk; the maintenance and updating of security guidelines and ensuring that field security working practices are robust and that all staff are aware of, trained in, and adhere to security management plans, guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Specific Duties Humanitarian Access Management:

Work to ensure that IRC, its mission and work in the areas of operations is known and accepted
Work to encourage stakeholders to work with the IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and allowed to continue humanitarian activities in country
Maintain a high level of preparedness vis-a-vis predicted contextual fluctuations operationally and programmatically
Enhance IRC image and acceptance within the community and amongst stakeholders by providing guidance on inclusive visibility strategies
Work with appropriate IRC units, including HR, to ensure timely and appropriate follow-up to violations of IRC’s Code of Conduct, in addition to operational breaches to humanitarian principle
Provide technical input and advice in assessments to consider new IRC programs in new geographic areas, and regular assessment reviews for existing locations
Assist in the continued development of humanitarian access teams and activities across the country
Contribute in developing and implementing guidelines for humanitarian access and engagement with non-state actors articulating standard IRC policy and guidance
Oversee and advise on the implementation and review of tailored acceptance strategies
Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites throughout Nigeria
Ensure humanitarian access approaches are responsive to local context and include overarching community engagement components
Ensure that the IRC field safety, security and access teams conduct principled and sustainable negotiations with relevant actors in Nigeria in miline with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care principles, and the IRC’s strategy

Safety and Security Risk Management and Systems:

Provide credible information and contextual understanding of localized and country wide security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to IRC field and program management staff.
Spearhead the revision and update of Safety and Security Guidelines for all operational areas in accordance with IRC global security guidelines.
Ensure that contingency plans for Evacuation, Relocation, Hibernation, and Medical Evacuation are in place, disseminated and adopted amongst staff including a detailed contextual assessment and situational update which is revised at least quarterly.
Ensure and regularly reassess that IRC vehicles, premises and equipment are compliant with internationally recognized safety and security standards.
Ensure that all IRC program activities and locations are assessed and monitored relative to their impact on staff safety and security, and make recommendations on protocols and practices to reduce staff risk and vulnerability.
In consultation with the CD, DDO, DDFM, Senior Area Managers, Field Coordinators, and Security Liaison Officers continuously monitor the security /safety environment nationally and locally for all IRC program areas and make recommendations to the Country Director, who will consult with the RSSA to adjust security policies and procedures as needed
Ensure that communication systems are adequate and maintained. Provide training to staff on the use of such equipment and communications protocols in conjunction with the DDO.
Monitor HR / Finance / Logistics working practices within the context of safety and security and alert the relevant coordinators, DDO, and the Country Director if inappropriate decisions are impacting on the safety and security of the team or external perception of the organization thereby creating security risks.
Coordinate post-incident follow up actions, analysis and recommendations.
Ensure systems are in place to instantly respond to a crisis management situation by working with the Incident Management team; ensure that lines of communication and reporting to the Crisis Management team in New York are fully understood and implemented.
Conduct security assessments in new areas of Nigeria prior to entry by IRC program staff, in collaboration with the RSSA.
Work closely with IRC field management teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are managed and followed up with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately
In conjunction with the SMT and other relevant staff, assist in the debriefing of staff that has experienced security incidents or ‘near miss’ incidents.
Provide technical support to the CD and Senior Management on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational security and program continuity in Nigeria.
Evaluate, review and update the security management plans on a regular basis in compliance with global safety and security standards and requirements and in coordination with the security management team in Nigeria.
Provide daily (DSR), weekly and monthly updates on context evolution and security and access trends.

Documentation:

Systematically map all incidents on a dedicated map and provide timely analysis to identify emerging trends. Ensure field offices adhere to the same process and share information with the post holder.
Ensure all S&S documentation as per Global S&S policy and Standards are update and systematically filed.
Conduct ongoing threat assessments and compile reports on security assessments of offices, staff guest houses, field sites and project areas.
Ensure that a centralized filing system of security-related documents is maintained in Nigeria.

Briefing, Training and Capacity Building:

Guide and train all staff to ensure the Country’s Minimum Standards in Safety and Security are followed and respected
With the support of the RSSA, develop a standardized security training method and provide security training for all staff in safety and security related subjects ensuring that policy and guidelines are understood and are being adopted and implemented across the program.
Act as a team facilitator during the development of Field office Security Management Plans.
Ensure Security briefings (arrival and complete) are of adequate quality and done in timely manner
Work with national and international staff to build a shared understanding of security analysis and risk mitigation.
Provide an annual training/ development plan for IRC staff regarding safety, security and access.
Build capacity of local security liaison officer(s) and other IRC staff

Coordination and Networking:

Proactively share information with staff in the CO and in the field ensuring high security awareness levels, close situation monitoring and effective two-way communication on security-related issues.
Coordinate and liaise on program safety and security matters with all relevant actors in country such as national and international NGOs, UN, Donor organizations, government authorities and other stakeholders within the population.
Under guidance of the CD, serve as a key resource to IRC and its operational partners in times of emergencies, such as natural or manmade disasters.

Program Development:

Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks pertaining humanitarian access, safety, and security, and contribute to the development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans
Participate in program design in close cooperation with the DDP, DDFM and DDO.
Participate in program review meetings and contribute to implementation plans to ensure the timely, safe, and secure delivery of IRC service to beneficiaries

Qualifications

Sound knowledge of humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality as outlined in the Humanitarian Charter and the International Red Cross Code of Conduct.
Strong report writing, analytical and interpersonal skills.
Previous security management work experience with INGOs in Africa.
Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multi ethnic team
Experience and knowledge of personnel and organizational security issues, threat/risk assessment, security management and security awareness in an insecure environment.
Experience of incident reporting, incident mapping, intelligence collation and analysis functions, set up and execution of an incident warning system (warden system), compilation of security reports and assessments.
Experience in training and coaching national and international staff in safety and security.
A formal security qualification or advanced security management training.
Substantial practical field experience in security management in a leadership role (e.g. direct INGO security management).
Fluent in written and spoken English
3 to 5 year work experience in insecure/hostile environments.
Technical competency and training experience in field based communications systems such as HF Codan, Motorola VHF, Thuraya, satellite systems and internet systems.
Ability to adapt to needs and balance demands of beneficiary and security actors while maintaining appropriate contextual NGO security advice and coordination.