Regional Security and Access Manager (RSAM) at Relief International (RI)

POSITION SUMMARY :

• The Regional Security and Access Manager (RSAM) reports to the Regional Director (RD), with technical supervision of the Global Security and Safety Director (GSSD) based in Washington DC. The RSAM will take on a rigorous leadership role to support and guide the country offices to build security resources and systems in each country office within Africa/Asia region, in addition to focusing on improving the overall culture of security management in Africa/Asia region. The RSAM will be responsible for coordinating, overseeing and advising on safety and security management, and access strategy of all activities and operational functions in the nine countries that comprise the Africa/Asia region at RI. In addition, the RSAM will be responsible for ensuring up to date and adequate risk assessments and SOPs, submitting timely and accurate reports and assessments to the RD and GSO, ensuring capacity building and training on security for staff in the region, and representing the organization in security coordination fora. The RSAM will also play a key role in supporting RI’s adherence to Prohibited Party Policy (PPP) and the Ethics and Compliance program. The position will require significant travel upon easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

Safety and Security Management

• Coordinates design, establishment and maintenance of security support systems; ensures that RI is linked via all interagency and security coordination lists to ensure RI security presence in the INGO community. Including INSO, OSAC and NGO security forum’ as well as implementation of UNDSS/NGO SLT at RI field level operations.
• Conducts scheduled and ad-hoc field residencies at each program site, including central and sub-offices and program delivery locations for security assessments, audits and ongoing staff training and security awareness. Residencies and site visits must be fully coordinated via the senior country staff and Regional Office team. Each residency will have clear deliverables to be shared with supervisor and country director.
• Upon arrival in each program site, conducts a comprehensive assessment together with the local counterpart / audit of all existing security and safety policies and procedures and their application and practice by all staff at program sites, offices, residencies, and with respect to all vehicles, drivers and standing SOPs; provides and implements recommendations in consultation with the Country Director or most senior Country Representative and with RD (with technical support from RI GSO Global Security); changes must comply at minimum with RI Field Operational Procedures and SOPs.Applies situation appropriate rules and guidance per RI’s Field Security SOP’s, RIGSS, SRA’, CSP’ etc; conducts visits to RI’s field project offices and residential sites to assess security and safety conditions; develops comprehensive risk assessments in conjunction with country counterparts, leading to the updating of effective security plans, educates colleagues on the security plans and ensure compliance.
• Trains, technically supervises and mentors country security staff. Recommends and/or provides staff training on safety and security in a proactive and positive manner that promotes inclusion, participation, and leadership among the entire RI team, including international, local national staff.. Is knowledgeable and sensitive to training needs and issues that must be understood to promote a positive organizational profile, cultural respect, and abide by the RI Code of Conduct.
• Takes a lead on regular safety and security drills for all Africa/Asia countries: conducts safety and security drills, trains national counterparts in how to conduct drills, and ensures that national counterparts implement drills regularly including but not limited to HRE plans and Warden Systems.
• Leads an ongoing process of design, establishment, review and revision of security policies and procedures to ensure understanding, buy-in, and compliance by staff; routinely revises safety and security plans to adapt to evolving security situation in conjunction with country counterparts and country directors, and GSO Global Security.
• Liaises with local and regional UN & interagency security personnel on security matters for country programs; advises Country Director(s), RD and GSO Global Security on security issues.
• In close coordination with Country Directors, develops and maintains contacts with national law enforcement agencies, where appropriate; respects and is fully current at all times on political issues and local policies that impact INGO operations and safety.
• Conducts him or herself and the RI regional security operations in a manner that ensures reduced risk for exposure to issues with any group or government; presents the RI programs in a respectful and positive manner in all interagency interactions.
• Maps security incidents, ensures monthly security reports in all countries and understands patterns and threats; facilitates the development of situation specific, coordinated evacuation plans; writes well-researched security incident reports for review by supervisor and GSO.
• Provides technical and practical assistance to country SMTs for timely submission of SRAs and other documentation to maintain an organizational generic level of security risk management.
• In coordination with CDs and the RD routinely draw up and have scenario planes in place as conflicts or programming implementation evolves in the region. Scenario planning in depth is imperative for programming implementation and decision making options regarding mitigation which will have budgetary impact.
• In collaboration with country teams ensure that RI’ acceptance first policy in security is operationalized at a granular level at field operational sites to enable secure and safe management of operations. The RI security acceptance policy is a cornerstone to RI’ safe and secure program implementation, it is imperative that the Regional Security Manager at all times ensures that each RI Africa/Asia country fully implements the policy, in both a strategic and practical manor.

Training, Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Support the roll out of RI Security strategy, associated policies, framework, tools and processes through training and participatory workshops
• Assist country program offices in arranging and delivering ad hoc security training workshops relevant to their context.
• Partner with the Regional program team to ensure that trainings and workshop are gender inclusive and sensitive.
• Support country and field offices with tools and templates for field security orientations and ensure that RI security information is up-to-date and utilized.
• Work with RI Global Security director and other regions to ensure consistency in the development and use of materials and trainings.
• Keep up-to-date with developments in humanitarian access and negotiation along with security issues in humanitarian aid and incorporate key components into the training curriculum.
• Support the implementation of training and capacity building materials for remote management use and/or delivery.
• Identify all transferable and/or relevant content to implementing partners and build into tailored and specific training modules and support implementation.
• Capacitate Safety and Security Leads/ Humanitarian Access, Safety and Security Focal Persons (SSFPs) in the selected Country Offices on the delivery of training sessions
• Measure the effectiveness and impact of the trainings and capacity building delivered

Humanitarian Access

• Keep up-to-date with developments in humanitarian access and negotiation along with security issues in humanitarian aid and incorporate key components into the training curriculum.
• Working with RSO and GSO, regional and country leadership teams, supporting the establishment of principled and secure humanitarian access to enable durable programming.
• Assist in the continued development of humanitarian access teams and activities.
• Contribute in reviewing and implementing guidelines for principled humanitarian access and engagement with non-state actors, using standard IRC policies and guidance.
• Oversee and advise on the implementation and review of tailored acceptance and community engagement strategies.

Regional Geopolitical Trend Analysis

• Stay up-to-date with international trends and developments affecting the balance of power in Africa/Asia. You will investigate and forecast emerging threats and share learnings with country teams to aid in proactive planning and response strategies. You will support the country offices with factoring in security risks and analysis (scenarios for the main crises in the region).
• Monitor, collate and verify contextual developments from a diverse range of information, such as NGOs, the UN, civil society organizations, research institutes and media sources.
• Prepare and produce a Monthly Trend Analysis that assists RI ability to monitor and assess prevalent conflict dynamics and their impact on humanitarian safety and access.

Regional Coordination and Country Supervision

• Serve as technical supervisor for Security Manager (or Security Focal Point) in each country office.
• Participate in country-level recruitment for Security staff as technical support.
• Participate in regional meetings as part of the regional SMT, ensuring that security considerations are threaded throughout all decision-making as part of an interdepartmental approach to regional management.
• Champion new organization initiatives related to security and risk management.
• Coordinate closely with regional team and CDs to ensure and internally advocate that security considerations are incorporated in planning for new projects and operational set-up at country level, which will include participation in program development and program modification processes.
• Monitor and audit country level progress towards improvements at country level for each country office.
• Participation in Security and other RI working groups.

Risk Management

• Work closely with country teams on anticipating and mitigating programmatic and organizational risks.
• Assume a leadership role in the roll-out and follow up of compliance and due diligence policies and procedures to country offices in coordination with other regional team members, especially as it applies to security and RI’s Prohibited Parties Policy (PPP).
• Support the Regional Director to present calculated risks based on evidence-based assumptions to help identify actions and decisions that need to be taken. Develop action plans to move decisions forward, convening stakeholders and leading follow up as needed.

Safeguarding

• Uphold and promote RI’s commitment to ensuring the safeguarding and safety of the vulnerable communities we serve.
• Consistent with RI’s safeguarding and protection policies, ensure all people who come into contact with Relief International are as safe as possible.

Position requires:

• Demonstrated progressive international security, access & risk management experience working in conflict affected countries and complex relief settings in the fields of both security & communications.
• At least 5-year experience providing security and safety support for international NGOs (required).
• International experience in at least one of the countries where RI operates in Africa and Asia  is a plus.
• Master’s degree in political, conflict, security or humanitarian studies
• Strategic commitment to innovatively incorporate and systematize analytical thinking into humanitarian projects, operations and programs.
• Demonstrated training and mentoring skills a must.
• Demonstrated and strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Capacity to carry out multitasks and deliver good quality outputs.   
• Demonstrated knowledge of UN MOSS and SRM processes, EISF Standards and or Interaction security standards, and other standard INGO security frameworks.
• Excellent references reflecting demonstrated teamwork, maturity of judgment, tolerance for hardship and stress, leadership and integrity of character.
• Ability to work independently to tight deadlines in difficult conditions
• Fluency in English – written and verbal. Regional languages knowledge is an advantage.
• Ability and willingness to train country staff counterparts; proven training leadership required.
• Strong comprehension and training in conflict analysis, conflict sensitivity and/or do no harm.
• Must be able to demonstrate strong writing, reporting, and situational analysis skills