Employer: The International Rescue Commitee
Location: DRC
Closing date: 21 Sep 2014
The International Rescue Committee is one of the largest providers of relief and development assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a current annual budget of over US$ 70 million and approximately 900 staff. In four of DRC’s provinces, IRC directly implements programs in the sectors of health, governance & community development, women’s protection & empowerment, education, and emergency response through a network of nine field offices and a range of
institutional and community partnerships. IRC is present through its direct programs and through partners in a total of nine out of eleven provinces in DRC.
Job Overview/Summary:
The Regional Safety and Security Advisor for the Democratic Republic of Congo reduces the vulnerability of IRC staff and programs to the threats and dangers in the IRC security environment, serving as a technical resource to field staff - providin g training opportunities, guidelines, timely advisory information and technical support – and supporting the DRC Regional Director in oversight of security management systems, and in direct management of crisis situations.
Scope Of Work:
Based in Kinshasa, the Regional Safety and Security Advisor for DRC is a key member of IRC’s regional management team and of the headquarters’ Safety and Security Advisory Unit.
The RSSA-DRC will work with the DRC management team to assure that organizational security policies and procedures are responsive to the context, adequate and known to staff, provisional security measures are maintained, as well as current and appropriate. Additionally, the RSSA-DRC will conduct training on site for both security staff and others through which the different IRC field offices can develop appropriate security plans and training for their staff. S/he will provi de expert security advice to all levels of IRC staff in DRC, focusing on awareness, planning, practice, management and training in security management. S/he will assess insecure operating environments, recommend action and support the implementation of security management plans and provide follow-up on IRC security policies and reporting systems thus enabling better programming and support to the beneficiaries.
The RSSA-DRC will report to the Regional Director and the Regional Management Team, as well as working closely with security staff at field level. S/he will need to be aware of early warning advisories affecting security situations, and also will travel regularly within DRC and maintain a contextual knowledge of the country situation. Crucially, the RSSA will mentor and build IRC national staff counterpart capacities to operate more effectively and contribute to reducing IRC’s operational vulnerabilities.
Essential Job Functions and Objectives:
Field Security Management Planning
Assure each DRC Provincial Officer has current, adequate security management plans on file in New York and that each plan is revised at least once per year.
Provide written feedback to field offices as they develop or revise their security plans.
Request plan revisions when there is a significant change in the security environment.
Security Orientation & Training:
Assure that each new employee – international or national – receives appropriate security orientation within 72 hours of arrival in the field. Provide a framework for field security orientations.
Through close complementary liaison with the IPD SSA Unit and HR NY and in-country HR and Administrative teams assure each new international employee receives an appropriate security briefing pac ket and, when possible, a briefing on personal security, IRC security policies and the relevant national security management plan.
Create, along with the IPD SSA Unit, a security training program that reaches a maximum number of national and international staff. Keep useful records on staff training and report at least annually on training performed at all levels.
Assist field offices in arranging ad hoc security training workshops
Assist as requested in selection processes for international and national security staff.
Advisory & monitoring services:
Monitor all communications from the field related to security incidents and planning and provide timely feedback to questions raised from the field.
Make a minimum of 1 visit per year to each office in DRC to monitor security preparedness and field training. Provide a follow-up report with clear recommendat ions after each visit.
Together with other Regional Safety and Security Advisors, develop and sustain a database of security incidents.
Generate activity reports on security, including database analyses, new threats, responses and vulnerabilities and any relevant lessons learned from security and safety incidents.
Maintain the network of IRC Security Focal Points at each field office.
Liaison and Networking:
Monitor and provide support and reporting on any NGO field security initiatives as required.
Identify, create and maintain a network with INGO/UN and other security specialists suitable for the region.
Facilitate NGO security coordination through networking, collaboration and coordination with humanitarian actors.
Regional Context Analysis and early warning:
Provid e credible information and contextual analysis of localized and regional security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to IRC managers.
Understand the salient issues for the DRC program and update senior management as the context dictates as part of a regional early warning system.
Field Security Assessments:
Conduct field security assessments examining IRC staff, assets, compounds, residences, field sites and projects and compile a report with recommendations.
Emergency Response and Crisis Management:
As required, support and advise the Regional Director, Provincial Directors and other senior managers during humanitarian or security/safety emergencies, serving on a Senior Management Crisis Team.
Assist with the security component (situation analysis and background information, security assessments) of Emergency Response Team deployments in the DRC.
Requirements:
At least five years’ field experience with an international humanitarian NGO with progressive safety and security responsibility
At least three years’ field experience in volatile, high-security environments;
Proven experience composing and delivering effective safety and security training
Extensive experience conducting security risk assessments and developing customized, security management plans
Experience with developing, designing and ensuring adherence to safety protocols
Proven expertise in assessing, developing and implementing security policies
Excellent written and oral communication skills;
Proven ability to effectively manage relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization and ability to work collaborativel y with numerous functional areas;
Proven ability to be flexible & work well under pressure in a fast-paced multi-task team environment;
Proactive and highly responsive to changing security landscape
Track record in keeping abreast of latest safety and security developments
Familiarity with DRC and their neighboring is ideal;
Solid Computer skills: facility with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email/internet software.
Apply
Location: DRC
Closing date: 21 Sep 2014
The International Rescue Committee is one of the largest providers of relief and development assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a current annual budget of over US$ 70 million and approximately 900 staff. In four of DRC’s provinces, IRC directly implements programs in the sectors of health, governance & community development, women’s protection & empowerment, education, and emergency response through a network of nine field offices and a range of
institutional and community partnerships. IRC is present through its direct programs and through partners in a total of nine out of eleven provinces in DRC.
Job Overview/Summary:
The Regional Safety and Security Advisor for the Democratic Republic of Congo reduces the vulnerability of IRC staff and programs to the threats and dangers in the IRC security environment, serving as a technical resource to field staff - providin g training opportunities, guidelines, timely advisory information and technical support – and supporting the DRC Regional Director in oversight of security management systems, and in direct management of crisis situations.
Scope Of Work:
Based in Kinshasa, the Regional Safety and Security Advisor for DRC is a key member of IRC’s regional management team and of the headquarters’ Safety and Security Advisory Unit.
The RSSA-DRC will work with the DRC management team to assure that organizational security policies and procedures are responsive to the context, adequate and known to staff, provisional security measures are maintained, as well as current and appropriate. Additionally, the RSSA-DRC will conduct training on site for both security staff and others through which the different IRC field offices can develop appropriate security plans and training for their staff. S/he will provi de expert security advice to all levels of IRC staff in DRC, focusing on awareness, planning, practice, management and training in security management. S/he will assess insecure operating environments, recommend action and support the implementation of security management plans and provide follow-up on IRC security policies and reporting systems thus enabling better programming and support to the beneficiaries.
The RSSA-DRC will report to the Regional Director and the Regional Management Team, as well as working closely with security staff at field level. S/he will need to be aware of early warning advisories affecting security situations, and also will travel regularly within DRC and maintain a contextual knowledge of the country situation. Crucially, the RSSA will mentor and build IRC national staff counterpart capacities to operate more effectively and contribute to reducing IRC’s operational vulnerabilities.
Essential Job Functions and Objectives:
Field Security Management Planning
Assure each DRC Provincial Officer has current, adequate security management plans on file in New York and that each plan is revised at least once per year.
Provide written feedback to field offices as they develop or revise their security plans.
Request plan revisions when there is a significant change in the security environment.
Security Orientation & Training:
Assure that each new employee – international or national – receives appropriate security orientation within 72 hours of arrival in the field. Provide a framework for field security orientations.
Through close complementary liaison with the IPD SSA Unit and HR NY and in-country HR and Administrative teams assure each new international employee receives an appropriate security briefing pac ket and, when possible, a briefing on personal security, IRC security policies and the relevant national security management plan.
Create, along with the IPD SSA Unit, a security training program that reaches a maximum number of national and international staff. Keep useful records on staff training and report at least annually on training performed at all levels.
Assist field offices in arranging ad hoc security training workshops
Assist as requested in selection processes for international and national security staff.
Advisory & monitoring services:
Monitor all communications from the field related to security incidents and planning and provide timely feedback to questions raised from the field.
Make a minimum of 1 visit per year to each office in DRC to monitor security preparedness and field training. Provide a follow-up report with clear recommendat ions after each visit.
Together with other Regional Safety and Security Advisors, develop and sustain a database of security incidents.
Generate activity reports on security, including database analyses, new threats, responses and vulnerabilities and any relevant lessons learned from security and safety incidents.
Maintain the network of IRC Security Focal Points at each field office.
Liaison and Networking:
Monitor and provide support and reporting on any NGO field security initiatives as required.
Identify, create and maintain a network with INGO/UN and other security specialists suitable for the region.
Facilitate NGO security coordination through networking, collaboration and coordination with humanitarian actors.
Regional Context Analysis and early warning:
Provid e credible information and contextual analysis of localized and regional security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to IRC managers.
Understand the salient issues for the DRC program and update senior management as the context dictates as part of a regional early warning system.
Field Security Assessments:
Conduct field security assessments examining IRC staff, assets, compounds, residences, field sites and projects and compile a report with recommendations.
Emergency Response and Crisis Management:
As required, support and advise the Regional Director, Provincial Directors and other senior managers during humanitarian or security/safety emergencies, serving on a Senior Management Crisis Team.
Assist with the security component (situation analysis and background information, security assessments) of Emergency Response Team deployments in the DRC.
Requirements:
At least five years’ field experience with an international humanitarian NGO with progressive safety and security responsibility
At least three years’ field experience in volatile, high-security environments;
Proven experience composing and delivering effective safety and security training
Extensive experience conducting security risk assessments and developing customized, security management plans
Experience with developing, designing and ensuring adherence to safety protocols
Proven expertise in assessing, developing and implementing security policies
Excellent written and oral communication skills;
Proven ability to effectively manage relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization and ability to work collaborativel y with numerous functional areas;
Proven ability to be flexible & work well under pressure in a fast-paced multi-task team environment;
Proactive and highly responsive to changing security landscape
Track record in keeping abreast of latest safety and security developments
Familiarity with DRC and their neighboring is ideal;
Solid Computer skills: facility with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email/internet software.
Apply