General Position Summary:
The Regional Security Advisor (RSA) will reduce the risk to Mercy Corps' staff by empowering them to better assess threats and vulnerabilities and design and implement effective security strategies to address them. The RSA does not have the authority to suspend operations, impose procedures or evacuate staff, but rather will advance best practices through providing training, technical advice and support for improved assessment, analysis and planning. The RSA will also build the capacity of the national security staff through targeted skills building to improve their ability to analyze and respond to security information and events.
Mercy Corps operates in key Central and South Asian countries - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan employing international and local staff. Countries in this region are instable and pose considerable security challenges to our operations and staff. Afghanistan, and Pakistan, where Mercy Corps operates, are rated as "Extreme Security Risk" by Control Risks Group. Mercy Corps is a humanitarian organization which values inter-agency collaboration and approaches security through principles that have been developed in close cooperation with others in the humanitarian community. Among those principles are those embodied in the IFRC Code of Conduct and the centrality of community acceptance as the foundation piece of security.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Training and Orientation: The CSA-RSA will work with the Central and South Asian field offices (in particular Afghanistan and Pakistan) to ensure that all new staff hired for the regional, national or expatriate as well as official visitors to the region, receive a consistent and thorough security orientation upon hire/arrival in the region. During routine field visits, the CSA-RSA will also provide on-site training aimed at the special needs of staff, from guards and drivers to field managers and program staff. At times, external consultants arranged in consultation with the Director of Global Emergency Operations may be utilized. The CSA-RSA will seek and exploit opportunities for Mercy Corps staff to attend appropriate external security trainings sponsored by other NGOs, ANSO, the UN, etc.
Security Planning and MOSS: The CSA-RSA will promote and support efforts by field offices to meet the InterAction Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) through effective planning and budgeting for security. The CSA-RSA will support the development and maintenance of current security plans in a consistent format (using ECHO's Generic Security Guide) through the provision of planning workshops, training, and the provision of feedback on plans. The CSA-RSA will maintain a file with all current security plans for the Central and South Asia Region. The CSA-RSA will produce an annual report on the region's adherence to InterAction's MOSS guidance.
Information Management: Responsibility for monitoring the security environment in each South Asian country falls to the respective Country Directors and their in-country security focal points. The CSA-RSA will ensure that field office have access to good security information sources. While the CSA-RSA is expected to remain conversant in the particular security challenges of each country, it is not the CSA-RSA's responsibility to track and report security developments in each country. The CSA-RSA should ensure that a system of incident reporting and after-incident review is in place reflecting Mercy Corps global policy and protocol.
Technical support: The CSA-RSA should be readily available at all times to the Regional program Director, the Country Directors and field staff to advise on security developments. The CSA-RSA through the Director of GEO, the RPD, or other connections should be able to call upon additional expertise where needed when requests from the field exceed the RSA's technical depth or available time. The CSA-RSA will make field visits, respond to emails and calls and review security plans, providing advice and feedback as appropriate.
Networking: The CSA-RSA will place high value on inter-agency coordination in security; encourage Mercy Corps field-level coordination in the NGO community; seek opportunities for formal and informal cooperation; develop a network of relationships with peers in the humanitarian community (UN, ANSO, NGO, ICRC, appropriate governmental offices, etc); develop and engage Mercy Corps' internal network of Security Focal Points and encourage inter-communications between them, and; pursue opportunities to engage others in our community in creative solutions to our security challenges through collaborative efforts.
General: The CSA-RSA does not have the authority to close programs, manage operations or evacuate staff so the effectiveness of the position will rely heavily on the incumbent's ability to develop strong positive working relationships with the Country Directors, Security Focal Points, field staff, the RPD and the Director of GEO to advocate change as needed through compelling presentation of risks, costs and benefits of enhanced security.
Organizational Learning
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
ACCOUNTABILITY: Position Description, Country Directors
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Regional Program Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: South Asian Country Directors the Security Manager, and Security Management Teams; DC-based Director of Global Emergency Operations; and HQ-based Program Officers.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Graduate degree in a relevant field; advanced degree may be replaced by additional years of experience.
- Minimum of five years' field experience related to humanitarian response in insecure environments; priority given to candidates with prior experience in South Asia.
- Substantial prior experience in NGO security management. Substantial prior experience with adult learning and organizational development. Regional language ability a plus.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful Regional Security Advisor will have strong communication and diplomacy skills. As this is an advisory role, the RSA must focus on using working closely with other senior staff to create a proactive security culture that integrates security policy into ongoing operations in order to be most effective. S/he will not protect Mercy Corps staff per se, but will strive to empower the Country Director and Security Management Teams to make informed and wise decisions. It is imperative that the RSA have a clear understanding of, and willingness to work within the culture and mandate of humanitarian response.
LIVING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The position will be based in Kabul with regular travel to all field offices throughout Afghanistan. The security situation is volatile and all MCA staff are expected to follow all security protocols including limited movement when necessary. A certain international standard of medical care is available in Kabul, however for serious cases, evacuation is required, and therefore staff must be able to be 24 hours away from medical care. All offices have internet connectivity and communication is reliable. Accommodation is shared housing, equipped with generators and heating, with cooks and cleaners provided by MCA.
Because of the insecurity of the location, this position is Unaccompanied but will be eligible for R&R and Mercy Corps' Hardship allowance.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.
How to apply:
Apply online at our website:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=217349&company_id=15927&jobboardid=479
The Regional Security Advisor (RSA) will reduce the risk to Mercy Corps' staff by empowering them to better assess threats and vulnerabilities and design and implement effective security strategies to address them. The RSA does not have the authority to suspend operations, impose procedures or evacuate staff, but rather will advance best practices through providing training, technical advice and support for improved assessment, analysis and planning. The RSA will also build the capacity of the national security staff through targeted skills building to improve their ability to analyze and respond to security information and events.
Mercy Corps operates in key Central and South Asian countries - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan employing international and local staff. Countries in this region are instable and pose considerable security challenges to our operations and staff. Afghanistan, and Pakistan, where Mercy Corps operates, are rated as "Extreme Security Risk" by Control Risks Group. Mercy Corps is a humanitarian organization which values inter-agency collaboration and approaches security through principles that have been developed in close cooperation with others in the humanitarian community. Among those principles are those embodied in the IFRC Code of Conduct and the centrality of community acceptance as the foundation piece of security.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Training and Orientation: The CSA-RSA will work with the Central and South Asian field offices (in particular Afghanistan and Pakistan) to ensure that all new staff hired for the regional, national or expatriate as well as official visitors to the region, receive a consistent and thorough security orientation upon hire/arrival in the region. During routine field visits, the CSA-RSA will also provide on-site training aimed at the special needs of staff, from guards and drivers to field managers and program staff. At times, external consultants arranged in consultation with the Director of Global Emergency Operations may be utilized. The CSA-RSA will seek and exploit opportunities for Mercy Corps staff to attend appropriate external security trainings sponsored by other NGOs, ANSO, the UN, etc.
Security Planning and MOSS: The CSA-RSA will promote and support efforts by field offices to meet the InterAction Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) through effective planning and budgeting for security. The CSA-RSA will support the development and maintenance of current security plans in a consistent format (using ECHO's Generic Security Guide) through the provision of planning workshops, training, and the provision of feedback on plans. The CSA-RSA will maintain a file with all current security plans for the Central and South Asia Region. The CSA-RSA will produce an annual report on the region's adherence to InterAction's MOSS guidance.
Information Management: Responsibility for monitoring the security environment in each South Asian country falls to the respective Country Directors and their in-country security focal points. The CSA-RSA will ensure that field office have access to good security information sources. While the CSA-RSA is expected to remain conversant in the particular security challenges of each country, it is not the CSA-RSA's responsibility to track and report security developments in each country. The CSA-RSA should ensure that a system of incident reporting and after-incident review is in place reflecting Mercy Corps global policy and protocol.
Technical support: The CSA-RSA should be readily available at all times to the Regional program Director, the Country Directors and field staff to advise on security developments. The CSA-RSA through the Director of GEO, the RPD, or other connections should be able to call upon additional expertise where needed when requests from the field exceed the RSA's technical depth or available time. The CSA-RSA will make field visits, respond to emails and calls and review security plans, providing advice and feedback as appropriate.
Networking: The CSA-RSA will place high value on inter-agency coordination in security; encourage Mercy Corps field-level coordination in the NGO community; seek opportunities for formal and informal cooperation; develop a network of relationships with peers in the humanitarian community (UN, ANSO, NGO, ICRC, appropriate governmental offices, etc); develop and engage Mercy Corps' internal network of Security Focal Points and encourage inter-communications between them, and; pursue opportunities to engage others in our community in creative solutions to our security challenges through collaborative efforts.
General: The CSA-RSA does not have the authority to close programs, manage operations or evacuate staff so the effectiveness of the position will rely heavily on the incumbent's ability to develop strong positive working relationships with the Country Directors, Security Focal Points, field staff, the RPD and the Director of GEO to advocate change as needed through compelling presentation of risks, costs and benefits of enhanced security.
Organizational Learning
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
ACCOUNTABILITY: Position Description, Country Directors
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Regional Program Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: South Asian Country Directors the Security Manager, and Security Management Teams; DC-based Director of Global Emergency Operations; and HQ-based Program Officers.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Graduate degree in a relevant field; advanced degree may be replaced by additional years of experience.
- Minimum of five years' field experience related to humanitarian response in insecure environments; priority given to candidates with prior experience in South Asia.
- Substantial prior experience in NGO security management. Substantial prior experience with adult learning and organizational development. Regional language ability a plus.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful Regional Security Advisor will have strong communication and diplomacy skills. As this is an advisory role, the RSA must focus on using working closely with other senior staff to create a proactive security culture that integrates security policy into ongoing operations in order to be most effective. S/he will not protect Mercy Corps staff per se, but will strive to empower the Country Director and Security Management Teams to make informed and wise decisions. It is imperative that the RSA have a clear understanding of, and willingness to work within the culture and mandate of humanitarian response.
LIVING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The position will be based in Kabul with regular travel to all field offices throughout Afghanistan. The security situation is volatile and all MCA staff are expected to follow all security protocols including limited movement when necessary. A certain international standard of medical care is available in Kabul, however for serious cases, evacuation is required, and therefore staff must be able to be 24 hours away from medical care. All offices have internet connectivity and communication is reliable. Accommodation is shared housing, equipped with generators and heating, with cooks and cleaners provided by MCA.
Because of the insecurity of the location, this position is Unaccompanied but will be eligible for R&R and Mercy Corps' Hardship allowance.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.
How to apply:
Apply online at our website:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=217349&company_id=15927&jobboardid=479