Location:Arlington USA
Closing date January 18, 2015
Counterpart International is currently seeking a Director, Global Safety & Security. This position will be responsible for establishing and supporting the implementation of Counterpart’s operational standards for safety and security globally. The Director leads all organizational efforts to promote staff safety and security, asserting a global agenda that provides conceptual and technical leadership, promotes learning, mobilizes and stewards resources and engages with the wider development community. This is a full time position based in Arlington, VA. This position will report to the Vice President of Human Resources.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide vision, leadership and training initiatives to organizational efforts that enhance staff safety and security while ensuring specific and defined mechanisms are in place to address safety and security risks to staff globally.
- Establish, review and support implementation of safety and security procedures for Counterpart International globally, and facilitate collaboration with NGOs, other international organizations, government and other stakeholders.
- Be available for immediate mobilization to assess emergencies, identify safety and security aspects relating to program interventions, set-up security and communications support systems and communicate internally/externally.
- Develop Organizational Safety and Security Guidelines, Policies and Procedures, and Review compliance making recommendations to correct deficiencies and provide quantitative/qualitative analysis and reports to senior management groups as required. Ensure that all organizational policies, procedures and practices are based on industry best practices.
- Monitor, research and assess factors regarding safety and security of Counterpart International project offices and staff through the collection and analysis of security incident reports.
- Maintain an around-the clock responsibility for monitoring global security conditions, with particular focus on the countries where Counterpart International has a presence. Anticipate and respond directly and proactively to staff who may be impacted by emerging events or conditions.
- Provide direction and assistance to the Crisis Management Team on all safety and security issues during crisis periods and lead management of critical security incidents such as hostage events.
- Provide leadership and direction for the management of strategic innovation, remaining aware of trends, analysis, studies and evaluations that will inform the organization’s understanding of threats and/or develop effective practices to enhance organizational response to them.
- Represent Counterpart in safety and security-related forums (such as InterAction) ensuring that we learn from best practices of other organizations and that Counterpart’s experience is strongly represented within our industry.
- Provide support to proposal development teams for safety and security assessments, preparation of security plans and security cost estimates.
- Travel as needed for on the ground safety assessments
- Manage the security budget and related security services vendors.
Required QUALIFICATIONS:
- At least 10 years of relevant experience, including three years of senior-level security experience which must have been in a safety and security management role, preferably with the UN or INGO.
- Bachelor’s degree in development or security related discipline or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides a broad range of security related experiences.
- Superior knowledge of safety and security management, the issues related to the security and protection of NGO field workers, and legal protections/ rights of aid workers and the populations they assist.
- Knowledge of grants management and donor-specific security concerns and requirements.
- Proven ability to set strategic direction and develop operational plans.
- Expertise in the analysis of security threats, risks and vulnerability in international field settings including both qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Demonstrated success in the management and development of dispersed geographic and multi-disciplinary teams with the ability to catalyze and influence team members across functions and disciplines.
- Demonstrated experience in capacity building of staff, including training, mentoring and coaching. Excellent report writing, presentation, public speaking and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated experience utilizing a persuasive style of leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise superior judgment, political acumen and problem-solving skills.
- Experience in researching and drafting organizational policy.
- Experience with and ability to effectively manage dangerous, ambiguous, high-stress and high-stakes situations.
- Strong computer skills, with familiarity in using Microsoft Office suite applications (particularly Word and PowerPoint).
- Organized, team player, self-starter and results-oriented individual.
- Experience in design and implementation of development programming and funding models preferred.
- Knowledge of participatory community development approaches ideal.
- Ability to relate to military and law enforcement culture, staff and structures preferred.
- Routinely required to stand, walk, lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, climb stairs, scale walls, crawl, enter confined spaces, assume uncomfortable positions and sit for long periods of time; regular use of hands to handle or feel objects, tools or devices; and regularly required to verbalize directions and training instructions; and listen and comprehend solicited and unsolicited feedback and input.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, normal night and color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
- Occasional exposure to environmental conditions including exposure to hot, cold, dry, wet, humid or windy conditions.
- Will respond to and be expected to perform effectively in stressful conditions such as scenes of violence, widespread disaster, destruction, severe deprivation and loss of life when responding to emergencies or other crisis events.
- Ability to travel internationally, frequently under conditions of hardships.
Preferred QUALIFICATIONS:
- Prefer two years in an overseas posting (non-native country) with safety and security responsibilities, with at least one of these serving in a management capacity.
- Ability to cultivate and steward relationships with partners and donors preferred.
- Previous training and experience in law enforcement, military, intelligence or other government security structures ideal.
- French, Arabic, or Spanish language skills strongly preferred.
Counterpart is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, veterans and the physically challenged are encouraged to apply.