Security Advisor at International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)

Responsible to: This position reports directly to the Regional Director, Senior Security Advisor (Global) provides technical guidance

Rank: C3

Deadline for Application: 30 October 2020

JOB PURPOSE

The role of the Security Advisor, SA, is to ensure the safety and security of IPPFARO personnel and property. The SA aims to enable IPPFARO to conduct its operations safely while driving compliance within global security strategy and standards. The Security Advisor will play a key role in implementing the security framework in which the Organisation will operate in response to the various contexts under the regional brief. With a mind-set driven by a duty of care to staff at all levels.

2. KEY TASKS PERSON SPECIFICATION
As directed by the Regional Director, the Security Advisor will be responsible for the following duties:

Key Result #1 – Support the implementation of IPPFARO minimum operating security standards (MOSS) (50%).

1. Evaluates and monitors the application of the security policy and procedures within the region;
2. Creates a regional risk assessment, risk treatment plans, monitoring systems, and evaluates the consequences of risk and risk treatment plans;
3. Leads security planning and organising for missions in the field, particularly in humanitarian settings;
4. Monitors change in context across the region and triggers for mitigation;
5. Provides timely reporting and alerts internally / externally on security issues at the regional, country and programme level;
6. Overseas the provision of duty of care of all IPPF on duty travel, or embedded within Member Associations;
7. Oversees and coordinates security plan updates, ensuring maintenance of realistic and current risk assessments, mitigation measures, and contingency plans;
8. Ensures risk assessments for all new projects or emergency response locations are conducted accurately and timely;
9. Identifies training opportunities for regional staff, and ensures staff has adequate time to engage in appropriate level training opportunities;
10. 10. Reports on a Biweekly basis on all security matters; and
11. 11. Provide in-country surge capacity for fields when required.

Key Result #2 – Influence and Leadership (25%).

1. Provides technical advice and support to the Regional Director, SSA, and occasionally where required to Member Associations on security issues, and its likely impact on visiting/ embedded staff and programmes;
2. Trains, coaches, and mentors IPPFARO staff at all levels on integrated security and leadership development to strengthen their skills in their professional area.
3. Develops and leads an internal regional security focal point network for coaching, peer support, and personal development; and
4. Represents IPPFARO externally in security forums.

Key Result #3 – Incident Management (25%).

• Provides early warning updates and mitigation expertise to the Regional Director and the Senior Security Advisor;
• Manages the incident impact on the region;
• Monitors incident reporting;
• Supports the RD, SSA with incident response, reporting and post-incident action and follow-up;
• Conducts yearly drills and scenario exercises to build incident response capacities in the field; and
• Advises MA’s during and after incidents.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of NGO security management combined with a solid background understanding of other security organisations. Specialisation in the political and cultural contexts of the Africa region. Ability to deal effectively with stress factors when encountered in security management. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts following final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

PLANNING & ORGANISING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complicated situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions before making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Education

• Advanced university degree in social or political sciences, international relations, law or security-related field, is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with three additional years of qualifying experience in NGO security, military, police or security management may be accepted instead of the advanced university degree.
• A first level of a university degree may be substituted with a diploma or certification from national police or military academy (for commissioned officers), which may be considered in combination with three additional years of qualifying work experience in an NGO, military, police or security management.
• Certifications involving study, training, and examination in the field of security are desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in NGO, governmental, or corporate security risk management and operations at the international level is required.
• A minimum of five years of field experience in an international context is required.
• Experience in multicultural field operations in high-risk settings is desirable.
• Experience with security frameworks in the context of evidence collection work is desirable.
• Experience in cyber-security is desirable.
• Professional work experience Africa Region is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of IPPARO. For this post fluency in English and French (both oral and written) are essential, while Portuguese is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a desk review, an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

Other requirements

Willing to travel extensively internationally