Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Division of Finance and Administration (DFA) is responsible for the effective and efficient management of financial, budgetary and administrative functions, covering finance, budget, information systems and telecommunications, procurement and travel, security and safety, and facility and administrative services, in support to the triple mandate of UN Women.

The Chief, Security and Safety/ Global Security and Safety Advisor, provides authoritative professional leadership for UN Women’s global security, safety, business continuity and crisis management functions. The role shapes organizational policy, frameworks, and professional standards to ensure the safety and security of personnel, the protection of assets, and the continuity of operations across Headquarters, Regional, Multi Country and Country Offices, in support of mandate delivery. Managing the UN-Women Security and Safety Personnel, the role provides advice and operational oversight, centered on security and safety risk management, industry standards business continuity and crisis management, to ensure organizational programme and mandate delivery.

Under the strategic direction of the Director, DFA (D2), the incumbent exercises substantial autonomy in determining professional approaches, developing global frameworks, and directing implementation of security, safety, business continuity and crisis management systems across the organization. The incumbent is accountable for the professional soundness, consistency and effectiveness of these functions organization wide. The incumbent exercises substantial autonomy to:

• Determine and implement revisions to security, safety, business continuity and crisis management policies, procedures, and standards for UN Women operations worldwide.
• Make independent determinations on security and safety risk assessments and required measures across all locations.
• Manage security, safety business continuity and crisis management resources and approve security-related expenditures within approved budget allocations.
• Direct the work of UN Women Security and Safety personnel to achieve the role objectives.
• Represent UN Women authoritatively in inter-agency security, safety, business continuity and crisis management forums and with external security stakeholders.

The incumbent consults executive leadership on matters with organization wide implications, significant political or reputational sensitivity, major resource implications beyond approved authority levels, or where precedent setting decisions are required, in accordance with UN Women governance arrangements.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Strategic Leadership, Policy Development and Planning:

• Directs the development, implementation, and continuous refinement UN-Women global security, safety, business continuity, crisis management and occupational health and safety policies, frameworks, standards and guidance, ensuring alignment with UN System requirements and organizational priorities;
• Provides authoritative interpretation of applicable UN and UN Women policies and ensures their consistent and effective implementation across all organizational locations;
• Leads preparation of briefing notes, positions papers and strategic inputs for senior management and executive-level decision-making;
• Monitors and analyzes international developments, emerging threats and evolving risk environments, assessing their implications for UN-Women operations and personnel globally, and determining appropriate professional responses;
• Ensures effective and timely access by UN-Women managers and Security, Safety, Business Continuity, Crisis Management and Occupational Health and Safety personnel and Policies advisors to prescriptive content such as policy, risk management methodologies, etc.
• Directs the formulation and oversees execution of the Security and Safety Services annual work plan, ensuring strategic alignment, prioritization and optimal use of resources;
• Leads security and safety related change management initiatives, promoting innovation, efficiency and strengthened organizational resilience, collaborating strategically with other sections within the Division to drive efficiencies, effectiveness, and automation.

Authoritative Professional Advice and Corporate Risk Oversight:

• Provides authoritative proactive and strategically informed advice to the Executive Director, Senior Management and field leadership on security, safety, business continuity, crisis management and occupational health and safety risks, compliance and mitigation measures
• Determines professional risk management approaches and recommends risk tolerance, mitigation strategies and resource requirements to support informed decision making and programme delivery Delivers timely, proactive, and expert advice and comprehensive support to the UN-Women Headquarters Divisions and organizational offices for role specific needs, ensuring effective implementation and follow-up on risk management measures, recognizing that personnel rely also on country-specific security arrangements;
• Coordinates and leads security and safety assessment missions to high-risk locations as required;
• Directs the formulation and manages appropriate role-related responses to requests from all levels of the organization, endeavoring to ensure quality and consistency;
• Ensures organization wide compliance with applicable UN Security Risk Management (SRM), Residential Security Measures (RSM) and related operating standards, directing corrective actions where required;
• Assesses and addresses where required, needs associated with programme, operations and premises to ensure compliance with UN and UN-Women associated policies and operating standards to ensure effective response.
• Provides expert advice on selection, procurement and deployment of role-related equipment (vehicles, telecommunications equipment, OHS etc.).

Strategic Integration of Security, Safety, Business Continuity, Crisis Management, and Occupational Health and Safety Gender-Responsive Programming:

• Directs the strategic integration of security, safety, business continuity and crisis management considerations into UN Women programme planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring, ensuring systematic incorporation of gender responsive perspectives;
• Champions and leads the systemic inclusion and mainstreaming of security, safety, business continuity, crisis management and gender-specific considerations within all programme planning and programme frameworks;
• Provides organization wide professional guidance on mainstreaming functional risk considerations into programme and project design, ensuring costs are appropriately reflected as part of the cost of doing business;
• Conducts comprehensive analysis of the impact of functional role factors on UN-Women programme designs and delivery, as well as the potential impact that programmes might have on stability and security (both positive and negative), developing and communicating recommendations to senior management regarding strategic support needs and improvements;
• Addresses office needs associated with programmes, operations and premises to achieve compliance with UN and UN-Women role functional policies, processes and operating standards to ensuring effective and timely response;
• Leads efforts to mainstream security, safety, business continuity and crisis management as an integral component of UN-Women operations and projects, ensuring costs are appropriately reflected in programme and project budgets as the cost of doing business.

Managerial Leadership and Oversight:

• Provides strategic managerial leadership to the Global Security and Safety Services function, including regional security advisors, designated focal points and affiliated personnel, establishing priorities, performance standards and accountability for results
• Directs the development and implementation of the knowledge management training and awareness strategies to strengthen organizational security culture and preparedness; Delivers presentations with regards to security, safety, business continuity, crisis management and occupational health and safety awareness at UN-Women orientation courses establishing a corporate functional culture;
• Represents UN-Women by delivering presentations at DSS educational forums;
• Where identified, serves as matrix manager on performance evaluations of security, safety, business continuity, crisis management and occupational health and safety personnel, ensuring consistency in performance standards;
• Oversees the formulation and execution of the global security, safety, business continuity and crisis management and occupational health and safety budgets, ensuring cost effectiveness and alignment with organizational priorities;
• Ensures that Headquarters premises and relevant UN Women facilities maintain functional compliance with applicable standards;
• Direct and ensures effective functional information flow and communication systems in UN-Women, establishing protocols for information sharing and crisis communication.

Inter-Agency Representation and Strategic Partnerships:

• Represents UN Women authoritatively in inter-agency role and senior level UN system forums, including IASMN and UNDSS mechanisms, contributing expert input and influencing collective policy and operational approaches;
• Cultivates and sustains strategic professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to advance UN Women’s security, safety and resilience objectives Positions UN Women as a credible and respected professional contributor within the UN system security and safety community.

Emergency Preparedness, Crisis Management and Business Continuity:

• Directs the development, maintenance and testing of Headquarters and field crisis management and business continuity frameworks, ensuring organizational readiness to respond effectively to emergencies and disruptions;
• Ensures effective implementation of crisis management plans and directs training for all required personnel to ensure readiness to respond effectively to crisis situations;
• Provides professional leadership during crises, ensuring timely information flow, coordination and advisory support to senior management;
• Evaluates the effectiveness of crisis response and continuity arrangements and determines improvements to strengthen organizational resilience.
• Ensures that the headquarters and UN Women offices' Business Continuity Plans (BCP) are maintained. Ensures that BCPs are aligned with the Crisis Management Plan at HQ and all offices.

Strategic liaison with UN Security, Security, Business Continuity, Crisis Management and Occupational Health and Safety Focal Points and where applicable, Host Governments:

• Maintains strategic interface with the United Nations Functional forums to include the Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), ensuring that UN-Women planning is fully aligned with the UN Functional Systems requirements and standards;
• When applicable and in strategic cooperation with established UN Functional Forums, engages with Host Government services, monitors and analyzes local laws and ordinance changes, assessing their impact on UN Women operations and providing strategic guidance to management on operational implications;
• Identifies and engages external functional resources to enhance organizational capability, ensuring supporting organizational units maintain readiness to respond effectively to evolving challenges.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

The incumbent has direct managerial responsibility for the Global Security and Safety Services team, comprising professional staff, general service staff and affiliated personnel (PSAs, consultants and interns). The role exercises full responsibility for work planning, priority setting, performance management and capacity development, including management of regional security specialists operating across multiple geographic regions.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Authoritative expertise in security and risk management at senior professional level;
• Knowledge of mainstreaming gender into security, safety, business continuity and occupational health and safety risk management;
• Knowledge of business operations and programming cycle;
• Monitors developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipates problems;
• In-depth knowledge and experience of programme delivery and project implementation in the context of conflict and post conflict environs;
• Solid budget management experience as it relates to field support;
• Solid experience of conducting risk assessments as integral part of operational planning and the enabling of operations;
• Experience of policy development and implementation.
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside.

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in management, security, security management, business administration, law enforcement, international relations, programme management or a related field.
• A first-level university degree in these or similar fields, in combination with a multi-year education in security and safety management, such as UN, military or police senior Command and Staff College qualification with command experience at senior level, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted

• Directs the development, implementation, and continuous refinement UN-Women global security, safety, business continuity, crisis management and occupational health and safety policies, frameworks, standards and guidance, ensuring alignment with UN System requirements and organizational priorities;
• Provides authoritative interpretation of applicable UN and UN Women policies and ensures their consistent and effective implementation across all organizational locations;
• Leads preparation of briefing notes, positions papers and strategic inputs for senior management and executive-level decision-making;
• Monitors and analyzes international developments, emerging threats and evolving risk environments, assessing their implications for UN-Women operations and personnel globally, and determining appropriate professional responses;
• Ensures effective and timely access by UN-Women managers and Security, Safety, Business Continuity, Crisis Management and Occupational Health and Safety personnel and Policies advisors to prescriptive content such as policy, risk management methodologies, etc.
• Directs the formulation and oversees execution of the Security and Safety Services annual work plan, ensuring strategic alignment, prioritization and optimal use of resources;
• Leads security and safety related change management initiatives, promoting innovation, efficiency and strengthened organizational resilience, collaborating strategically with other sections within the Division to drive efficiencies, effectiveness, and automation.
• Provides authoritative proactive and strategically informed advice to the Executive Director, Senior Management and field leadership on security, safety, business continuity, crisis management and occupational health and safety risks, compliance and mitigation measures
• Determines professional risk management approaches and recommends risk tolerance, mitigation strategies and resource requirements to support informed decision making and programme delivery Delivers timely, proactive, and expert advice and comprehensive support to the UN-Women Headquarters Divisions and organizational offices for role specific needs, ensuring effective implementation and follow-up on risk management measures, recognizing that personnel rely also on country-specific security arrangements;
• Coordinates and leads security and safety assessment missions to high-risk locations as required;
• Directs the formulation and manages appropriate role-related responses to requests from all levels of the organization, endeavoring to ensure quality and consistency;
• Ensures organization wide compliance with applicable UN Security Risk Management (SRM), Residential Security Measures (RSM) and related operating standards, directing corrective actions where required;
• Assesses and addresses where required, needs associated with programme, operations and premises to ensure compliance with UN and UN-Women associated policies and operating standards to ensure effective response.
• Provides expert advice on selection, procurement and deployment of role-related equipment (vehicles, telecommunications equipment, OHS etc.).
• Directs the strategic integration of security, safety, business continuity and crisis management considerations into UN Women programme planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring, ensuring systematic incorporation of gender responsive perspectives;
• Champions and leads the systemic inclusion and mainstreaming of security, safety, business continuity, crisis management and gender-specific considerations within all programme planning and programme frameworks;
• Provides organization wide professional guidance on mainstreaming functional risk considerations into programme and project design, ensuring costs are appropriately reflected as part of the cost of doing business;
• Conducts comprehensive analysis of the impact of functional role factors on UN-Women programme designs and delivery, as well as the potential impact that programmes might have on stability and security (both positive and negative), developing and communicating recommendations to senior management regarding strategic support needs and improvements;
• Addresses office needs associated with programmes, operations and premises to achieve compliance with UN and UN-Women role functional policies, processes and operating standards to ensuring effective and timely response;
• Leads efforts to mainstream security, safety, business continuity and crisis management as an integral component of UN-Women operations and projects, ensuring costs are appropriately reflected in programme and project budgets as the cost of doing business.
• Provides strategic managerial leadership to the Global Security and Safety Services function, including regional security advisors, designated focal points and affiliated personnel, establishing priorities, performance standards and accountability for results
• Directs the development and implementation of the knowledge management training and awareness strategies to strengthen organizational security culture and preparedness; Delivers presentations with regards to security, safety, business continuity, crisis management and occupational health and safety awareness at UN-Women orientation courses establishing a corporate functional culture;
• Represents UN-Women by delivering presentations at DSS educational forums;
• Where identified, serves as matrix manager on performance evaluations of security, safety, business continuity, crisis management and occupational health and safety personnel, ensuring consistency in performance standards;
• Oversees the formulation and execution of the global security, safety, business continuity and crisis management and occupational health and safety budgets, ensuring cost effectiveness and alignment with organizational priorities;
• Ensures that Headquarters premises and relevant UN Women facilities maintain functional compliance with applicable standards;
• Direct and ensures effective functional information flow and communication systems in UN-Women, establishing protocols for information sharing and crisis communication.
• Represents UN Women authoritatively in inter-agency role and senior level UN system forums, including IASMN and UNDSS mechanisms, contributing expert input and influencing collective policy and operational approaches;
• Cultivates and sustains strategic professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to advance UN Women’s security, safety and resilience objectives Positions UN Women as a credible and respected professional contributor within the UN system security and safety community.
• Directs the development, maintenance and testing of Headquarters and field crisis management and business continuity frameworks, ensuring organizational readiness to respond effectively to emergencies and disruptions;
• Ensures effective implementation of crisis management plans and directs training for all required personnel to ensure readiness to respond effectively to crisis situations;
• Provides professional leadership during crises, ensuring timely information flow, coordination and advisory support to senior management;
• Evaluates the effectiveness of crisis response and continuity arrangements and determines improvements to strengthen organizational resilience.
• Ensures that the headquarters and UN Women offices' Business Continuity Plans (BCP) are maintained. Ensures that BCPs are aligned with the Crisis Management Plan at HQ and all offices.
• Maintains strategic interface with the United Nations Functional forums to include the Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), ensuring that UN-Women planning is fully aligned with the UN Functional Systems requirements and standards;
• When applicable and in strategic cooperation with established UN Functional Forums, engages with Host Government services, monitors and analyzes local laws and ordinance changes, assessing their impact on UN Women operations and providing strategic guidance to management on operational implications;
• Identifies and engages external functional resources to enhance organizational capability, ensuring supporting organizational units maintain readiness to respond effectively to evolving challenges.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

• Authoritative expertise in security and risk management at senior professional level;
• Knowledge of mainstreaming gender into security, safety, business continuity and occupational health and safety risk management;
• Knowledge of business operations and programming cycle;
• Monitors developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipates problems;
• In-depth knowledge and experience of programme delivery and project implementation in the context of conflict and post conflict environs;
• Solid budget management experience as it relates to field support;
• Solid experience of conducting risk assessments as integral part of operational planning and the enabling of operations;
• Experience of policy development and implementation.
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside.

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in management, security, security management, business administration, law enforcement, international relations, programme management or a related field.
• A first-level university degree in these or similar fields, in combination with a multi-year education in security and safety management, such as UN, military or police senior Command and Staff College qualification with command experience at senior level, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted