Applications opened: 10 Jan 2012 | Close: 06 Feb 2012
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent, medical, emergency relief organisation that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and to offer medical care to victims of disasters, wars and epidemics. Working together with local staff, we give direct support to the population.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent, medical, emergency relief organisation that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and to offer medical care to victims of disasters, wars and epidemics. Working together with local staff, we give direct support to the population.
MSF also appeals to those in power, including governments and international organisations, and speaks out about the abuses we encounter in the course of our work. The Dutch organisation ‘Artsen zonder Grenzen’ (MSF-Holland) is a member of the international organisation ‘Médecins Sans Frontières’.
MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in 25 countries. On a yearly basis MSF-Holland deploys approximately 900 international staff and employs 6,100 national staff. At headquarters in Amsterdam, around 180 employees offer their support to the projects.
Position details
Position is in principle based in Amsterdam, but other options are open to discussion.
The candidate must be willing to work irregular hours, to spend approximately 70% of the working time in the field missions and to travel on short notice (i.e. 48 hrs).
Background
Global, as well as MSF OCA internal incident statistics show that security for humanitarian aid workers has worsened over the past years. In particular, the number of contexts in which aid workers are at risk of targeted violent attacks has increased. As a result of this, security management in the MSF-OCA field missions has become increasingly challenging.
Position and description of responsibilities
Within MSF-OCA, security management is an integrated responsibility of the operational line managers. The main focus for the Field Security Advisor is on enhancing the capacity of the line managers with regard to security management and on full implementation of security protocols and guidelines in the field missions.
Given the particular challenges arising from MSF working in increasingly insecure environments there is need to enhance the capacity of MSF (field) staff to effectively manage security in line with the already established MSF-OCA Security Framework.
The overall objective of the Field Security Advisor is to strengthen the quality and consistency of security management across all OCA missions, with particularly emphasis towards supporting missions in a compromised security setting.
While the responsibility to monitor compliance with security policies and standards remains with the line management, the Field Security Advisor is expected to pro-actively review mission’s security plans and demand security audits and/or reviews of risk analyses should (s)he doubt the adequacy of the mission’s security management.
To underline the importance of the function, the Field Security Advisor reports directly to the (deputy) Director of Operations.
SECURITY MANAGEMENT
On request of Heads of Mission (HoM), Operations Managers(OM), or Director of Operations, the Field Security Advisor will provide assistance and advice to missions with the aim to enhance mission security management. The Field Security Advisor will be required to:
Provide assistance to existing missions and projects to carry out risk analysis. Depending on the degree of support required, this will be done through field visits or long-distance support.
Assist missions in defining adequate security strategies, including setting minimum conditions for Negotiated Access and reviewing a mission’s policies for advocacy, communications, visibility, and HR management, and defining parameters for operational ambitions from a security perspective.
Advise HoMs and OMs on the development of security management plans, including Standard Operating Procedures and contingency protocols.
Conduct risk analysis for new missions and projects as determined by the (deputy) Director of Operations.
SECURITY TRAINING
With the aim to enhance the overall security training strategy, the Field Security Advisor will be required to:
Review, develop and conduct field security training modules for all relevant staff groups (eg. guards, drivers, field incident management teams).
Participate in review of HQ security training modules
Ensure implementation of field security training across the OCA operational portfolio in line with priorities set by the (deputy) Director of Operations.
Assess and initiate use of external field security training where indicated and feasible.
SECURITY AUDITS
Outside-the-line management security audits are conducted in several missions annually.
The objective of such audits is to provide a (semi) external view on mission’s security strategy and implementation of security plans to ensure optimal security management practices in the field. The Field Security Advisor will be required to:
Ensure security audits are carried out in selected missions in timely fashion (Conduct approx 2 security audits / year and initiate and supervise others).
Ensure findings and recommendations of security audits are documented and presented to relevant stakeholders in the Operations department.
Maintain a pool of internal and external auditors
Review and update the security audit format as required
OTHER RESPSONSIBILITIES
Provides ad hoc security advice to line management on request and through review of risk analyses and field security plans.
Supports Field Incident Management Teams in terms of training and actual crisis management.
Participates, and represents MSF-OCA, in several internal and external security forums.
Ensure reporting of security incidents and provide analysis of reported incidents.
Profile
We are looking for a candidate with a minimum of 5 years relevant work experience and a minimum of 3 years experience with MSF or comparable organisation.
You have demonstrable experience with supervising, managing/coaching and training others (people management) and specifically in the domain of security management. Experience with crisis management is a strong asset. You will have experience with emergency aid in complex political and humanitarian contexts of which at least two years as programme manager in highly insecure contexts. You are required to demonstrate competence as strategic thinker, motivator and writer. You’re a team player who’s able to act as part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team. You have the ability to represent the organisation with (inter-) national counterparts and proven negotiating skills and the willingness to be present in unstable environments.
Good communication skills (presentation and writing skills) are essential, as well as a good command of English and French. You have a minimum commitment of 2 years.
We offer
Full-time employment for a period of one year with the option of renewal.
A gross monthly salary of maximum €3800 depending on relevant professional work experience.
Other benefits include a premium free pension scheme and 30 holidays per annum.
More information?
If you are interested in this position and would like any additional information, please contact Marcel Langenbach, Director of Operations, + 31 20 520 8784
Application
If you believe that you fit the profile please send your letter of motivation and CV in English before 6th of February 2012 to the attention of Ms Jaline Wijkhuizen, Personnel Officer HQ: officejobs@amsterdam.msf.org and mention “ Security Advisor” in the subject line.
MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in 25 countries. On a yearly basis MSF-Holland deploys approximately 900 international staff and employs 6,100 national staff. At headquarters in Amsterdam, around 180 employees offer their support to the projects.
Position details
Position is in principle based in Amsterdam, but other options are open to discussion.
The candidate must be willing to work irregular hours, to spend approximately 70% of the working time in the field missions and to travel on short notice (i.e. 48 hrs).
Background
Global, as well as MSF OCA internal incident statistics show that security for humanitarian aid workers has worsened over the past years. In particular, the number of contexts in which aid workers are at risk of targeted violent attacks has increased. As a result of this, security management in the MSF-OCA field missions has become increasingly challenging.
Position and description of responsibilities
Within MSF-OCA, security management is an integrated responsibility of the operational line managers. The main focus for the Field Security Advisor is on enhancing the capacity of the line managers with regard to security management and on full implementation of security protocols and guidelines in the field missions.
Given the particular challenges arising from MSF working in increasingly insecure environments there is need to enhance the capacity of MSF (field) staff to effectively manage security in line with the already established MSF-OCA Security Framework.
The overall objective of the Field Security Advisor is to strengthen the quality and consistency of security management across all OCA missions, with particularly emphasis towards supporting missions in a compromised security setting.
While the responsibility to monitor compliance with security policies and standards remains with the line management, the Field Security Advisor is expected to pro-actively review mission’s security plans and demand security audits and/or reviews of risk analyses should (s)he doubt the adequacy of the mission’s security management.
To underline the importance of the function, the Field Security Advisor reports directly to the (deputy) Director of Operations.
SECURITY MANAGEMENT
On request of Heads of Mission (HoM), Operations Managers(OM), or Director of Operations, the Field Security Advisor will provide assistance and advice to missions with the aim to enhance mission security management. The Field Security Advisor will be required to:
Provide assistance to existing missions and projects to carry out risk analysis. Depending on the degree of support required, this will be done through field visits or long-distance support.
Assist missions in defining adequate security strategies, including setting minimum conditions for Negotiated Access and reviewing a mission’s policies for advocacy, communications, visibility, and HR management, and defining parameters for operational ambitions from a security perspective.
Advise HoMs and OMs on the development of security management plans, including Standard Operating Procedures and contingency protocols.
Conduct risk analysis for new missions and projects as determined by the (deputy) Director of Operations.
SECURITY TRAINING
With the aim to enhance the overall security training strategy, the Field Security Advisor will be required to:
Review, develop and conduct field security training modules for all relevant staff groups (eg. guards, drivers, field incident management teams).
Participate in review of HQ security training modules
Ensure implementation of field security training across the OCA operational portfolio in line with priorities set by the (deputy) Director of Operations.
Assess and initiate use of external field security training where indicated and feasible.
SECURITY AUDITS
Outside-the-line management security audits are conducted in several missions annually.
The objective of such audits is to provide a (semi) external view on mission’s security strategy and implementation of security plans to ensure optimal security management practices in the field. The Field Security Advisor will be required to:
Ensure security audits are carried out in selected missions in timely fashion (Conduct approx 2 security audits / year and initiate and supervise others).
Ensure findings and recommendations of security audits are documented and presented to relevant stakeholders in the Operations department.
Maintain a pool of internal and external auditors
Review and update the security audit format as required
OTHER RESPSONSIBILITIES
Provides ad hoc security advice to line management on request and through review of risk analyses and field security plans.
Supports Field Incident Management Teams in terms of training and actual crisis management.
Participates, and represents MSF-OCA, in several internal and external security forums.
Ensure reporting of security incidents and provide analysis of reported incidents.
Profile
We are looking for a candidate with a minimum of 5 years relevant work experience and a minimum of 3 years experience with MSF or comparable organisation.
You have demonstrable experience with supervising, managing/coaching and training others (people management) and specifically in the domain of security management. Experience with crisis management is a strong asset. You will have experience with emergency aid in complex political and humanitarian contexts of which at least two years as programme manager in highly insecure contexts. You are required to demonstrate competence as strategic thinker, motivator and writer. You’re a team player who’s able to act as part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team. You have the ability to represent the organisation with (inter-) national counterparts and proven negotiating skills and the willingness to be present in unstable environments.
Good communication skills (presentation and writing skills) are essential, as well as a good command of English and French. You have a minimum commitment of 2 years.
We offer
Full-time employment for a period of one year with the option of renewal.
A gross monthly salary of maximum €3800 depending on relevant professional work experience.
Other benefits include a premium free pension scheme and 30 holidays per annum.
More information?
If you are interested in this position and would like any additional information, please contact Marcel Langenbach, Director of Operations, + 31 20 520 8784
Application
If you believe that you fit the profile please send your letter of motivation and CV in English before 6th of February 2012 to the attention of Ms Jaline Wijkhuizen, Personnel Officer HQ: officejobs@amsterdam.msf.org and mention “ Security Advisor” in the subject line.