Regional Safety and Security Advisor at International Rescue Committee

Position Summary

The Regional Safety and Security Advisor reduces the vulnerability of IRC staff and programs to the threats and dangers present or arising in IRC's operating environments, serving as a technical resource to regional and country program management and staff – providing risk assessment and analysis, security awareness training, security management technical support, safety and security guidance, and timely advisory information. Directly reporting to the Regional Director, the RSSA is a key member of IRC's ACME regional management team and of the Safety and Security function organization-wide. Key relationships include: Regional Director; Director international Safety and Security, Deputy Regional Director; Country Directors; Deputy Country Directors, Operations; RSSA in other regions;

Under the direct and broad guidance of the Regional Director and under the technical supervision of the Director International Safety and Security (DISS), the RSSA has a substantial level of autonomy in execution of responsibilities. S/he will work with country teams in all countries of the region to ensure that organizational security policies and procedures are responsive to the context, adequate to the security environment, and known to staff; and that security plans and measures are developed and maintained current and appropriate to changing security environments. The RSSA will conduct training on-site for both security management staff and other staff, and will regularly provide expert security management advice to all levels of IRC staff in the region, focusing on awareness, planning, practice, management and training in operational safety and security issues. S/he will assess IRC's operating environments; recommend security measures, policies and procedures; support the implementation of security management plans; and provide follow-up on IRC security policies and reporting systems.

The RSSA will maintain contextual knowledge of all countries in the region, including awareness of early warning advisories affecting security situations, and will travel regularly to all countries in the region, on very short notice if necessary. Crucially, the RSSA will mentor and build IRC staff and counterpart capacities to operate more safely and more effectively and contribute actively to reducing IRC's operational vulnerabilities while optimizing access.

Responsibilities  

• Field Security Management Planning and Compliance
• Security Orientation & Training
• Advisory & Monitoring Services
• Liaison and Networking
• Regional Context Analysis and Early Warning
• Field Security Assessments
• Emergency Response and Crisis Management

Requirements

Education:

• University degree in a field relevant to security management in a humanitarian assistance context

Professional qualifications:

• Minimum 4-6 years of non-profit or NGO work experience in international safety and security, humanitarian assistance programs, with demonstrated capabilities in planning, organizing and executing security management operations.
• Police/military experience in peacekeeping settings will be considered an asset.
• Demonstrated understanding of humanitarian principles, codes of conduct, and NGO organizational culture.
• Demonstrated context understanding of dynamics in Afghanistan, Pakistan mandatory
• Proven analytical skills
• Thorough familiarity with principles and current approaches to permissive/acceptance models of security management.
• Skilled in influencing and obtaining cooperation of individuals not under supervisory control; able to work as member of multinational team and manage a variety of external and internal relationships to achieve results.
• Advanced knowledge of communications technology, including VHF, HF radio systems, satellite communications, cell phone mediums, etc.
• Substantial and demonstrated prior experience as a trainer, with an effective adult learner training style and the ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge through mentoring and other non-formal methods.
• Ability to quickly gain a comprehensive understanding of various local, regional, country and international factors that contribute to changes in security environments and risk levels.
• Ability to prepare and present, on short notice, clear analyses of security incidents, political events and their ramifications for IRC operations.
• Position requires flexibility and the capacity to deal with ambiguity in stressful situations.
• Self-motivated and able to work effectively without close supervision.
• Fluency in English are mandatory.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 40% of time.
• Prior experience in the regional context preferred.