Feb 8, 2014

Senior Advisor, Global Staff Safety and Security

Job Description
Position Title: Senior Advisor, Global Staff Safety and Security
Reports To: Director, Risk Management and Staff Security
Department: Risk Management and Staff Security (RMSS)
Location: Baltimore, MD, other locations considered
Band: E

JOB SUMMARY/BACKGROUND:
The Senior Advisor for Global Staff Safety and Security is responsible for the implementation of Catholic Relief Services’ agency wide capacity building plans for staff safety and security. The Senior Advisor is responsible for developing new and monitoring existing CRS operational systems for staff safety and security management throughout the organization, and for assisting in their implementation via the line management structure. The Senior Advisor conducts security assessment visits to directly support CRS’ efforts in threatening environments and to build staff and partner capacity in security management. The Senior Advisor actively promotes a community of practice among HQ and field-based staff engaged in staff safety and security management issues, and develops knowledge management tools to support learning and management of security issues. The Senior Advisor will ensure good collaboration with international NGOs, departments of the United States Government and the United Nations, and an assortment of official and non-official security groups in countries where CRS operates. The Senior Advisor will actively participate in Interaction and other forums for security standard setting and coordination.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Security Management Systems Development and Oversight

1. Develops, in collaboration with the Regional Directors and Director RMSS, agency-wide staff safety and security policies, procedures and guidelines, which are implemented through existing regional and country structures;

2. Provides leadership and direction to CRS in all areas of security capacity building including: preparedness, training, orientation, learning, technical assistance, and advises on specific security situations. Serves as focal point for a global CRS security community of practice:

3. In close collaboration with Regional Directors and Director RMSS, monitors security hotspots around the world, and synthesizes and prepares communication for Overops executives and the ELT. S/he provides support and advice on staff security decisions, in particular situations where re-location, evacuation, or changes in post status may be called for. Assesses travel within, and to, High Security Risk Countries and makes recommendations on security levels to the Director RMSS;

4. Oversees and enhances the security incident reporting system that informs global, regional and country program security plans and investments. Serves as Content Manager for the CRS Intranet’s Safety and Security Community site, including assisting field-based Security Focal Points to maintain their respective updated security information;

5. Provides direct technical assistance including security assessments to country programs/regions, as requested;

6. In collaboration with RMSS and OpEx serves as Content Specialist contributing to enterprise risk management reporting and analysis efforts related to staff safety and security;

7. Prepares regular reports for Overops leadership and the ELT including but not limited to an annual analysis of CRS security. Remains up to date on studies and evaluations outside of CRS that might inform our understanding of security threats that we are facing, or effective policies and practices that might enhance staff security.

Crisis Management

1. In times of security emergencies, supports Director RMSS and Overops leadership including EVP Overops in fulfilling their roles in the context of the HQ Critical Incident Management Plan;

2. Maintains an active network of external contacts that can be called upon in case of a security-related emergency;

3. Ensures that CRS’ HQ Critical Incident Management Plan continues to be a living document, organizing simulations to practice incident response on a regular basis. Also takes and implements lessons learned from past simulations.

Representation

1. Represents CRS within the InterAction Security Advisory Group (SAG) and other safety and security related forums, contributing to close collaboration with peer agencies around common safety and security management priorities;

2. Represents CRS at other external meetings or conferences, as needed, which relate to CRS policy, advocacy or operations regarding staff security interests;

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s Degree in a field relevant to CRS’s field operations. Masters preferred.

2. Minimum ten years international development management experience, including at least five years’ work in a developing country

3. Five or more years of experience with direct responsibility for security management. Experience in developing and implementing security management systems in the field. Experience working in NGO security consortia desirable.

4. Experience in hostile and stressful environments and ability to cope well under stress. Demonstrates excellent judgment.

5. In depth knowledge of security requirements as they relate to international humanitarian assistance agencies including standards for physical security and communications and excellent understanding of “acceptance” methodologies and procedures.

6. Demonstrated ability to lead diverse and cross-cultural teams to achieve common objectives; collaborative and team-oriented.

7. Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication and negotiation skills.

8. Exceptional English writing skills

9. Availability: 24/7 to provide support for major security emergencies as requested.

10. Willingness and ability to travel internationally 30% of time, often to difficult and challenging locations.

Foreign Language: Fluency in French or Arabic preferred; Spanish or Portuguese a plus.

Physical Requirements/Environment: Normal conditions for an office environment. Requires overseas travel to difficult and challenging regions/countries.

DISCLAIMER CLAUSE:
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

To apply, please visit:

https://www5.apply2jobs.com/CRS/ProfExt/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showJob&RID=1543&CurrentPage=1



EOE/M/F/D/V





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