Regional Safety and Security Advisor at World Concern

Reports to: Africa Regional Director

Length of Contract: One Year-Renewable Annually

Position Summary: The Regional Safety and Security Advisor for Africa reduces the exposure of WC staff and programs to the threats and dangers in the WC security environment, serving as a technical resource to field staff – providing training opportunities, guidelines, timely advisory information and technical support. The RSSA will report to the Africa Area Director.

The Regional Safety and Security Advisor(RSSA) for Africa is a key member of WC regional management team and of the Global Safety and Security Advisory team. He/she will be based in Nairobi, Kenya and will have primary responsibility for the region, which currently consists of: Kenya, Somalia, Chad, South Sudan, Uganda and DRC.

The RSSA will work with the country team to ensure that organizational security policies and procedures are responsive to the context, adequate and known to staff, provisional security measures are maintained, as well as current and appropriate. Additionally, the RSSA will conduct training on site for both security staff and others through which the different WC field offices can develop appropriate security plans and training for their staff.

He/she will provide expert security advice to all levels of WC staff in the mentioned region, focusing on awareness, planning, practice, management and training in security management. He/she will assess insecure operating environments, recommend action and support the implementation of security management plans and provide follow-up on WC security policies and reporting methods.

The RSSA will monitor early warning advisories affecting security situations, and also will mentor and build WC national staff counterpart capacities to operate more effectively and contribute to reducing WC operational vulnerabilities.

Essential Functions

Duties

1. Security Assessment, Management and Communication

• Ensure each Country Program in the portfolio has current, adequate security management plans on file in Seattle and that each plan is revised at least once per year.
• Ensure that a centralized filing system of security-related documents is maintained and available to the appropriate staff.
• Conduct field security assessments examining WC staff, assets, compounds, residences, field sites and projects and compile a report with recommendations.
• Provide written feedback to field offices as they develop or revise their security plans.
• Ensure security plan revisions when there is a significant change in the security environment.

2. Team Training & Development

• Map security training needs, such as personal security, security management, health and safety and trauma care/first aid. Coordinate in-field and in-country training, as needed, to meet training needs.
• Plan and lead trainings for all new staff in the priority subjects and regular refresher trainings for all staff to ensure continuity in learning and skills capacity
• Provide in-depth security inductions for new staff upon arrival and additional briefings for all staff upon major shifts in the security context.

3. Advisory & monitoring services:

• Monitor the civil, political, military, religious and physical climate in each of our operational areas. Analyze information, noting trends and patterns, and advise the AD and Country
• Directors when situations are changing that require revised S&S approaches;
• Working closely with Global Safety and Security Advisor, monitor all communications from the field related to security incidents and planning and provide timely feedback to questions raised from the field.
• Visit WC country offices in the region to monitor security preparedness and field training. Provide a follow-up report with clear recommendations after each visit.
• Together with the Global Safety and Security Advisor, develop and sustain a database of security incidents.
• Generate monthly activity reports on security, including database analyses, new threats, responses and vulnerabilities and any relevant lessons learned from security and safety incidents.

4. Liaison and Networking:

• Monitor and provide support and reporting on any NGO filed security initiatives as required.
• Identify, create and maintain a network with INGO/UN and other security specialists suitable for the region.
• Facilitate regional NGO security coordination through networking, collaboration and coordination with humanitarian actors.

5. Context Analysis, Emergency Response and Crisis Management:

• Provide credible information and contextual analysis of localized and regional security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to WC staff.
• Form an S&S duty officer structure at times of heightened emergencies. Ensure that the Duty Officer(s) are properly briefed and are carrying out their responsibilities.
• As required, support and advise the Global Safety and Security Advisor, Africa Area Director and Country Directors during humanitarian or security/safety emergencies, serving on a Senior Management Crisis Team.
• Assist with the security component (situation analysis and background information, security assessments) of the Emergency Response Team deployments in the region.

Essential Qualifications

Christ Centered

• A deep and abiding faith that is fully surrendered to the will of Jesus Christ, evidenced by a lifestyle that is consistent with biblical principles in word and deed. Commitment to spiritual growth and development.

Education

• University/Master’s degree in security management, international affairs or similar
• A minimum of 5 years of non-profit or NGO work experience within international humanitarian assistance programs with demonstrated capabilities in planning, organizing and executing security operations in the field. A police/military experience in peace-keeping settings an asset.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles, codes of conduct and ideally, specific sub-sector work linked to NGO field operations contexts.
• Excellent written and spoken English Fluency & Swahili; French is an added advantage.
• Previous experience in team leadership and strong interpersonal skills
• Proven experience in communication networking and use of HF and VHF radios
• Strong cross-cultural, conflict resolution and negotiation skills
• A Godly lifestyle with all round commitment to Christian identity
• Effective people management skills: a leader’s ability to guide staff and promote productivity in a pleasant work environment.
• Substantial and documented, prior experience as a trainer and training skills, the ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to gain a precise understanding of the various local, regional, country and international policies, operational positions and interactions, providing clear dynamic briefings and analysis of given and unfolding security and political situations when they occur.

Working Conditions:

• Frequent travel from Nairobi to the project areas in Sudan, Kenya, Chad, Somalia & others.
• Living conditions in the field may be primitive, hostile and harsh.
• Multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment
• Normal working hours are 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday but may be required to work extra hours as need arises without additional expectations