Deputy Director Global Security - UK, NL, Kenya at Mercy Corps

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• The overall responsibility of Deputy Director Global Security is to reduce the risk exposure of Mercy Corps’ staff and programs.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Strategy and Program Management

• They support the Senior Director in developing and implementing Mercy Corps global security strategy and ensuring that departmental work-streams are aligned with the strategy;
• They are responsible for drafting and implementing the Global Security departmental annual work plan;
• The Deputy Director is supporting the Senior Director, in close collaboration with the Program Officer, in monitoring key performance indicators for the global security department;
• In close collaboration with the Senior Director, ensures that the global security budget is managed in line with Mercy Corps internal requirements. This includes supporting the whole annual budget planning process and keeping track of BvAs.
• Direct Support to the Regional program teams and leadership, as well as to SFPs. Involvement in contingency planning, new programming, as well as direct support to operations within individual countries as and when needed. Direct support to Crisis Management and Critical Incident response,

Security Procedures and Operations

• The Deputy Director ensures that global standards of safety and security are established, including a set of global security metrics. This includes security management targets in staffing, budgeting and training.
• They ensure security guidance and guidelines are consistent and aligned with Mercy Corps practices and policies including but not limited to safeguarding; community accountability reporting mechanisms (CARM); engaging with prohibited parties, anti-terrorism financing; and the integrity hotline.
• They will develop and track global metrics for Mercy Corps security management. They will coordinate a multi-directional communications flow for security information. The Deputy Director will encourage and facilitate action reviews after major incidents.
• The Deputy Director will support country programs in conducting security assessments and in the development of security strategies, field security audits, technical support, and training. The Senior Director ensures support is provided on a timely basis, either directly, through Regional Security Advisor(s) or consultants.

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development. Build team skills so they can address upcoming priorities while maintaining the quality of current interventions.
• Identify trends and mentor team members to effectively embrace and work in changing conditions and with updated approaches.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary. Support recruitment and orientation of key, field security positions.
• Manage staff and financial resources and prioritize workload in line with the strategic priorities.

Representation and thought leadership

• Strengthen Mercy Corps’ profile and representation on global security through expert interaction with internal stakeholders, partner agencies, donors, and other relevant networks and groups.
• Promote intra- and inter-agency coordination in security; encourage Mercy Corps field-level coordination in the NGO community; seek opportunities for formal and informal cooperation; develop a network of relationships with peers in the humanitarian community (UN, NGO, ICRC, appropriate governmental offices, etc); develop and engage Mercy Corps’ internal network of Security Focal Points.
• Pursue opportunities to engage internal and external stakeholders in creative and, where appropriate, collaborative solutions to collective and agency-specific security challenges.

Other:

•  Any other duties which are not listed but are essential to the safety and security for Mercy Corps staff, property/material, and reputation.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: 

• The Deputy Director directly supervises four (4) Regional Security Advisors.

LINE MANAGEMENT:

• Reports Directly To: The Sr. Director Global Security. The primary working partners for the Deputy Director are the Regional Directors and Deputy Regional Directors in addition to Country Director and SFPs.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PARTICIPANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION & TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

• Advanced level of understanding with the philosophy and mode of operation of NGOs.
• Undergraduate degree or a Master’s degree in International Relations, Politics, or humanitarian related field
• A minimum of 10 years experience in complex and insecure settings, preferably within a conflict environment. Preferably, in more than one country with large teams of staff.
• Alternatively, extensive experience in the security or management field that reflects 5+ years in team management and working at the senior leadership level is required.
• Experience working or managing a program that required humanitarian access negotiations and strategizing is highly desired.
• Experience in Crisis and Critical Incident Management is needed.
• Strong understanding of International Humanitarian Law, and how it impacts Humanitarian and Development operations in the field. Candidates should also have a good understanding of counter-terrorism legislation and how it can impact operations.
• Proven written and analytical skills (sample may be requested).
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and mentoring.
• Willingness to work and travel frequently in often difficult and insecure environments.
• Proven experience remotely managing staff in a matrix management environment.
• Competency in Internet and Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and other database/mapping systems.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another language, French, Spanish or Arabic is an asset.
• Formal training qualifications (HEAT, K&R, Personal Security, First Aid etc) is an asset.