Safety Advisor – Iraq

Employer:Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
Location: Iraq
Closing date June 9, 2015
DRC has been operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for over a decade, running a combination of livelihood, protection, advocacy and relief projects. DRC has six country offices throughout the region, namely in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia/Libya, Turkey and Jordan. In addition Amman hosts the DRC MENA Regional Office.

DRC Iraq has been assisting the Iraqi displaced and Syrian refugees since 2003. This assistance has come through the provision of emergency food and non-food items, various community protection and outreach (awareness-raising, victim support, community centres, etc.), camp management, WASH and livelihoods support. DRC presently has some 200 national and 40 expatriate staff in Iraq. DRC currently covers wide areas of central and northern Iraq and operates out of main offices in Baghdad, Erbil and Dohuk, and has nationally staffed sub-offices in Karbala and Kirkuk.

About the job

DRC is looking for a highly qualified Safety Advisor for its programmes in Iraq. Under the direct supervision of the country director, in close cooperation with the Senior Management Team (SMT) and supported by the Regional Safety Advisor, the incumbent is responsible for the implementation of the DRC Risk Management System in Iraq with a strong focus on mentoring and enabling national safety staffers.

Duties and Responsibilities

Pursuant to Chapters 19 & 20 of the DRC Operational Handbook, the safety advisor will:

• Mentor national safety advisors in Iraq and enable them to implement DRC’s safety risk management system
• Undertake and support others to undertake safety risk assessments and facilitate the implementation of mitigation measures
• Provide guidance to national safety officers with regard to the safety level system
• Tutor national safety advisors on the subject of reporting by fostering the use of the SIR data base and advance analysis products, in particular access-focused assessments
• Drive scenario developments for Iraq and place emphasise on humanitarian implications
• Evaluate access prospects for new operations and facilitate programme access/continuity through the provision of informed advice
• Support the Senior Management Team (SMT) in all safety-related issues, particularly in cases of emergency, and be a standing member of the incident management team. Assist with the implementation of the CIMP (Critical Incident
• Management Plan) by office/location and act as surge capacity in case regional emergencies demand so
• Based on an assessment of training needs develop, support, facilitate and/or deliver safety trainings to all staff members and partake in regional training initiatives

Required Qualifications

• University degree in relevant discipline (political science, peace & conflict studies, history, etc.)
• Minimum five years spent with a humanitarian/development actor
• At least four years INGO/IO safety management experience with a proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualised protocols and systems
• No less than three years work experience in volatile contexts and conflict-ridden environments
• Strong analytical as well as writing skills and the ability to provide conflict analysis
• Well-versed in data collection/management
• Proven experience with delivering safety-related trainings to both national and international staff members. Previous exposure to HEAT is considered to be an advantage

Other essential competencies

• Proven ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines
• Stable and robust character with excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Excellent communication skills and fluent in written and spoken English
• Ability to train and convey information to non-safety personnel
• Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to humanitarian principles
• Ability to multi-task and cope with competing demands under tight deadlines
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment
• Regional experience and Arabic language skills are considered to be an advantage

On Offer

• 12-month contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work from July 01, 2015. While the duty station is Erbil, the position requires regular and frequent travel to Dohuk, Baghdad, Kirkuk, Najaf and Karbala.
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level A9.

Further Information

• For more details on this position please contact the Regional Safety Advisor at rsa@drc-mena.org
• Please note that applications sent directly to the Regional Safety Advisor will not be considered.
• For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.dk

How to apply

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.
If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

Applications close June 09, 2015.The interviews are expected to take place soon after.