Senior Regional Safety & Security Advisor

The Senior Regional Safety & Security Advisor (SRSSA) plays a vital role in assuring the safety and security of IRC staff and assets in the field, and, in doing so, informs the organization’s efforts to manage and mitigate risk. S/he will be primarily focused upon provision of advice, analysis and training to the programs and staff of the ACME Region. However, in recognition of regional and organizational needs, the position will also be involved in providing services to other regions from its base in the International Hub office in Nairobi, Kenya.

The SRSSA reports to the Regional Director (ACME) and works with the ACME regional teams and country/territory program and operational leadership to best assure that IRC has the systems, policies and resources in place to most effectively mitigate risk and manage threats. In addition, s/he will coordinate with the Regional Safety and Security Advisors (RSSAs), under the general guidance of the Senior Director for Global Safety and Security (SDGSS, based NY HQ) to ensure that best practices are shared and provide specialized services (such as training).

The SRSSA can be based in any IRC office globally. The SRSSA position involves extensive travel to field programs and regional/departmental conferences and workshops.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

ASSURANCE OF FIELD SAFETY & SECURITY: ACME Region

• Work with relevant RD and country program/project leadership to ensure all country offices have in place up-to-date, context-sensitive safety and security policies and protocols, in compliance with IRC, international and donor standards;
• Work with country office leadership to ensure that all IRC staff comply with safety/security policies and protocols and act in accordance with them;
• Review all country office safety/security protocols on an annual basis;
• Maintain a network of field security focal points in each country office, and, through them and country office leadership, play a monitoring role which can identify new threats and/or vulnerabilities and propose IRC responses;
• Provide training, orientation and mentoring to key field staff in the portfolio on IRC safety/security policies, resources and industry best practices;
• Play an active/key role in crisis management teams and in response to critical events in country offices within the portfolio;
• Visit each country office on an annual rolling basis to ensure up-to-date familiarity with context, including retention of capacity for short-term field response should needs arise;
• Provide ongoing analytical capacity on safety/security key issues and trends in the country office portfolio;
• Provide the SDGSS with inputs from ACME for a daily security brief, a monthly statistical report, and, when requested, a ‘country of concern’ report;
• Work closely with regional and headquarters colleagues, including the DRDOs and SDGSS, to provide ongoing support to country offices as requested and needed.

DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• As tasked by the RD ACME and/or SDGSS in consultation with the RD, act as their representative in both internal and external safety/security initiatives and meetings;
• Play an active role in global safety/security training workshops on an annual basis, in coordination with the SDGSS;
• Coordinate with / assist the RDs and RSSAs in providing timely and authoritative field safety/security advice, monitoring and analysis for their regions;
• In coordination with the RD ACME and SDGSS, act as lead for all International Hub security policies and protocols;
• Provide training and orientation for all incoming and current International Hub expatriate staff and act as advisor to the office in general;
• Produce the daily IPD security briefing where necessary;
• Coordinate with the Director of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU) and, where appropriate and in consultation with the RD ACME, stand ready to deploy and/or provide advice, analysis and other support to emergency interventions.

REQUIREMENTS

• At least eight years’ field experience with an international humanitarian NGO;
• At least four years’ field experience in volatile, high-security environments;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Proven ability to effectively manage relationships;
• Proven ability to be flexible & work well under pressure in a fast-paced multi-task team environment;
• Familiarity with countries in ACME region ideal;
• Good Computer skills: facility with MS Word, Excel, and email/internet software.