Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

Mercy Corps is a global humanitarian aid agency engaged in transitional environments that have experienced some sort of shock: natural disaster, economic collapse, or conflict.

Responsibilities or duties

Security Systems management

• Ensure that security systems are in place and functioning as needed, including: incident & information reporting, travel tracking systems, communications protocols, etc.
• Ensure that all necessary staff are educated upon use of security systems as needed and conduct periodic checks to ensure systems are functioning.
• Utilize the Country Security Management Plan, Local Area Security Plans, Contingency Plans, Security Bulletin Boards and SOPs when adjusting systems and ensure that systems, equipment and personnel are in place to support all plans (this includes re-location, hibernation and evacuation plans).
• Ensure standardization in security systems amongst all field offices while adjusting for context as necessary.
• Ensure that Country & Field Security Management teams are aware of their decision making responsibilities in regards to security and that security decision making runs smoothly.
• Work with the SMT to ensure all incidents are managed in such a way to minimize any impact to staff and the organization.
• Conduct comprehensive security/risk assessment in potential new program/field sites, as necessary.
• Take lead on planning and budgeting for all security related measures

Security & Contextual Information Analysis

• Ensure incident and information reporting system is functioning and applicable information is being gathered.
• Ensure information is analyzed and informs both operational and programmatic functions as required.
• Utilize information gathered in routine and critical updates to security management tools, such as: Weekly Security Reports, Country Security Management Plan, Local Area Security Plans, Contingency Plans, Security Bulletin Boards and SOPs.
• Gather and utilize information as required in order to perform requested humanitarian or contextual analysis, this could include: Risk Analysis & Mitigation measures, Humanitarian analysis to include: population movements, changes in conflict context, changes in political context, needs analysis, etc.
• Coordinate with other bodies to ensure all necessary information is gathered and analyzed.
• Update the Team Lead and SMT with recent and relevant security updates as required.

STAFF TRAINING & LEARNING

• Ensure effective security briefs and inductions are given to all staff as needed, i.e. initial security inductions, ex-pat visitors, field & deep field site briefs, etc.
• Ensure training is in place for staff to support contingency plans and standard operating procedures.
• Provide or facilitate and re-enforce security trainings as needed to include: Hostile Environment Awareness Training, Defensive Driving, Situational Awareness, First Aid and Trauma Care, Communications Training, etc.

MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP & REPRESENTATION

• Conduct regular meetings with programme staff and parnters to ensure safety & security concerns are being met.
• Manage and mentor all security related personnel with an eye to handing security operations over in the mid-term.
• Represent Mercy Corps with external and internal stakeholders as needed.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 7 years field experience in safety and security, operations with a security focus or information management with a security focus with a humanitarian or development non-governmental organization. Relevant experience in a business and/or military setting combined with at least 3-4 years humanitarian experience will be considered.
• Experience in setting up and managing safety and security systems and protocols and providing training to staff.
• Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies. Good context analysis skills.
• Demonstrated management, leadership and mentoring skills.
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
• Effective skills in coordination, organization and prioritization as well as in Microsoft Office applications.

Experience needed

At least 7 years field experience in safety and security, operations with a security focus or information management with a security focus with a humanitarian or development non-governmental organization. Relevant experience in a business and/or military setting combined with at least 3-4 years humanitarian experience will be considered.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Reports directly to: Senior Programme Manager

Works directly with: Team Leader; Deputy Team Leader; consortium partner Security/Risk teams

Supervisory Responsibility- None

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.

• Ensure that security systems are in place and functioning as needed, including: incident & information reporting, travel tracking systems, communications protocols, etc.
• Ensure that all necessary staff are educated upon use of security systems as needed and conduct periodic checks to ensure systems are functioning.
• Utilize the Country Security Management Plan, Local Area Security Plans, Contingency Plans, Security Bulletin Boards and SOPs when adjusting systems and ensure that systems, equipment and personnel are in place to support all plans (this includes re-location, hibernation and evacuation plans).
• Ensure standardization in security systems amongst all field offices while adjusting for context as necessary.
• Ensure that Country & Field Security Management teams are aware of their decision making responsibilities in regards to security and that security decision making runs smoothly.
• Work with the SMT to ensure all incidents are managed in such a way to minimize any impact to staff and the organization.
• Conduct comprehensive security/risk assessment in potential new program/field sites, as necessary.
• Take lead on planning and budgeting for all security related measures
• Ensure incident and information reporting system is functioning and applicable information is being gathered.
• Ensure information is analyzed and informs both operational and programmatic functions as required.
• Utilize information gathered in routine and critical updates to security management tools, such as: Weekly Security Reports, Country Security Management Plan, Local Area Security Plans, Contingency Plans, Security Bulletin Boards and SOPs.
• Gather and utilize information as required in order to perform requested humanitarian or contextual analysis, this could include: Risk Analysis & Mitigation measures, Humanitarian analysis to include: population movements, changes in conflict context, changes in political context, needs analysis, etc.
• Coordinate with other bodies to ensure all necessary information is gathered and analyzed.
• Update the Team Lead and SMT with recent and relevant security updates as required.
• Ensure effective security briefs and inductions are given to all staff as needed, i.e. initial security inductions, ex-pat visitors, field & deep field site briefs, etc.
• Ensure training is in place for staff to support contingency plans and standard operating procedures.
• Provide or facilitate and re-enforce security trainings as needed to include: Hostile Environment Awareness Training, Defensive Driving, Situational Awareness, First Aid and Trauma Care, Communications Training, etc.
• Conduct regular meetings with programme staff and parnters to ensure safety & security concerns are being met.
• Manage and mentor all security related personnel with an eye to handing security operations over in the mid-term.
• Represent Mercy Corps with external and internal stakeholders as needed.
• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

• Context analysis skills
• Management skills
• Leadership skills
• Mentoring skills
• Negotiation skills
• Representation skills
• Coordination skills
• Organization skills
• Prioritization skills
• Microsoft Office applications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 7 years field experience in safety and security, operations with a security focus or information management with a security focus with a humanitarian or development non-governmental organization. Relevant experience in a business and/or military setting combined with at least 3-4 years humanitarian experience will be considered.
• Experience in setting up and managing safety and security systems and protocols and providing training to staff.
• Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies.
• Demonstrated management, leadership and mentoring skills.
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
• Effective skills in coordination, organization and prioritization as well as in Microsoft Office applications.