SyriaClosing date: 18 Jan 2018
General Position Summary
The Syria Safety & Security Director is responsible to sync the security management
planning and response in all of Syria including border operations from neighboring countries. Safety & Security Director is expected to provide the Syria Director and Regional Safety and Security Manager with information, analysis and tools for the expansion, evolution and management of program operations throughout the entirety of Syria. The Safety & Security Director is a senior member of the Syria team provides strategy, briefings and routine updates to the Syria Director. The Safety & Security Director is primarily located in the Regional Office but also responsible for quality control and strategy of security management for all Syria programs including all cross-border and in-country activities. The Safety & Security Director is expected to monitor the security situation, trends and political environment throughout the country, and identify potential clashes of interests across the portfolio. The Safety & Security Director will directly supervise security personnel for all in-country programming in Syria and this is expected to include staff members based in Lebanon, North Syria, North East Syria, Central and those in the South.
The Safety & Security Director has authority to work and coordinate with regional management (program and technical) as it relates to the situation in Syria. The Safety & Security Director is expected to understand all Mercy Corps programs activities, the humanitarian needs. The Safety & Security Director is a key member of defining our strategy in program design and implementation. The Safety & Security Director is responsible for quality assurance of our security posture and reading of the environment. The Safety & Security Director will also provide guidance in both analysis and operations with an eye on safely expanding or contracting operations amidst the conflict environment. In this heightened security environment, the Safety & Security Director will be expected to proactively provide guidance to the Director-North Syria, North East Syria, Central and South, Global Security Advisor and Regional Director on issues effecting all program operations related to the Syrian conflict and refugees. The Safety & Security Director is responsible for connecting the right managers with relevant analysis and data required for high-level decision making. The Safety & Security Director will coordinate with the INGO Security focal point and other Security focal points in Embassies, INGOs, various military brigades or other, vital contacts at the direction of the Syria Director.
The Safety & Security Director does have the authority to suspend operations, impose procedures or evacuate staff in the absence of the Director - North Syria. The Safety & Security Director will also advance best practices through advisories, critical analysis and predictions based on the conflict, demographics and historical context, will support training programs, provide frequent briefings and critical analysis to program staff, give technical advice and support for improved assessments and planning. Essential Job Responsibilities
Security Systems
Be informed and abreast of evolutions in the conflict, political, security, and economic situation both in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq as relates to the current conflict. This includes an understanding of the situation outside of the programmatic AOR in Syria. The Director's focus in on Syria programs but is also expected to inform regional objectives and strategies. Keeping the Syria Director updated is essential
Have a thorough understanding of humanitarian needs and our agency programmatic capacity. Strategize with senior management on predicting population movements, surges in humanitarian needs and how we can best meet them.
Direct supervision of the Security Team to ensure accuracy of mapping the conflict and incidents, relevance and clarity on reports and applicability to agency objectives. Provide quality control over their work.
Direct supervision of the Security Team based in Syria for adequate and targeted security planning and posture. Responsible for quality assurance and effective implementation of the entire security system in Syria.
Direct supervision of the Security team for South and Central Syria programming.
Direct supervision of the Security team for North programming.
Direct supervision of the Security team for North East Syria programming.
Ensure the security management systems are synced with those used across the country for consistency throughout Syria.
Critical review of the Security Management Plans and ensuring it is communicated and trained on to all staff, for all areas.
Provide the Syria Director, Regional Director and Global Security Advisor with critical analysis of the conflict situation throughout the country and emerging trends, patterns and recommendations on meeting humanitarian needs and mitigating risk to other Syria-related programs.
Ensures the incident log and reporting system is of standard to allow thorough planning and analysis. Undertake routine reviews to ensure quality statistics, mapping and planning.
Ensures Flash Reports of critical incidents are communicated to the Global Security Advisor and Syria Director/Regional Director.
Undertake regular field visits in order to meet with stakeholders and gain an independent assessment of the situation and our posture.
Ability to travel with no impediments inside those accessible areas of Syria deemed 'accessible' for International staff (North East Syria and Potentially Damascus)
Is responsible to provide critical recommendations to the management of all Syria programs including the designation of Go/No-Go areas, location Risk Ratings and agency posture, acceptable levels of risk and mitigation measures. These are to be informed recommendations and with an understanding of the agency mission and mandate, accountability requirements and donor relations.
Responsible for briefing and strategizing with program implementation and development teams to ensure an integrated security strategy.
Is responsible to ensure adequate budgeting for security costs (equipment, training, staffing, consumables)
Ensures that a standard and comprehensive security briefing and orientation plan is in place with all new staff and visitors. Ensure this critical skill is transferred to local and international staff.
Is overall responsible for oversight and quality control of communications networks and medical & emergency readiness.
Conduct ongoing security reviews of existing and proposed programs with program staff and management in the context of the security environment in Syria.
Is a core member of any Crisis Management Team through the duration of any incident.
Is responsible for creating SOPs and communicating security related information to all staff based from the Regional Office in relation to the situation in Jordan.
Communication and Coordination
Establish and maintain an active information source network including other NGOs, the UN analysts, military forces (as directed by the Syria Director), and other national and international security actors to obtain and verify credible and relevant security information.
At the direction of the Syria Director, meets and advocates with donor or government bodies about the security for humanitarian actors' interventions
Has the authority to coordinate directly with other, Mercy Corps regional security staff as relates to Syria
Represents Mercy Corps with attendance at interagency security coordination meetings on behalf of Mercy Corps
Will meet with field-level stakeholders at the direction of the Syria Director - North Syria including combatant, local leadership and others to ensure clear communication of the agency mission/mandate, impartiality and best position the agency for further reaching humanitarian needs wherever possible.
Other:
The Director is expected to lead senior leadership in evaluating Mercy Corps Syria program and operational risks using a risk management process.
The Director is expected to adapt security strategies in remote management setting.
Place high value on inter-agency coordination in security; encourage Mercy Corps field-level coordination in the NGO community;
Seek opportunities for formal and informal cooperation;
Develop and engage Mercy Corps' internal network of Security Focal Points and encourage inter-communications between them;
Pursue opportunities to engage others in our community in creative solutions to our security challenges through collaborative efforts;
Effectively represent, promote and protect Mercy Corps' mandate for independence, impartiality and neutrality
Any other duties which are not listed but are essential to the safety and security for Mercy Corps staff and properties;
Organizational Learning:
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries:
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: North Syria Security Manager, North East Syria Security Manager, South Syria Security Officer, South and Central Syria Partner Security Officer
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director Syria
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Team Leaders, Head of Offices, SFPs, Program Managers, Operational Management. Regional Security Advisor. Global Security Advisor
COLLABORATES WITH: All Mercy Corps regional management. All Syria staff.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Bachelors degree in a related field: (BA/BSc or equivalent Military College) in relevant field; or equivalent work experience: security qualification or advanced security management training
Advanced level of understanding with the philosophy and mode of operation of NGOs
Recommended a minimum of 5 years field based experience in complex and insecure settings and preferably a conflict environment. Preferably, in more than one country with large teams of staff.
Proven written and analytical skills (sample requested)
Experience in liaising with civilian, police and military government authorities, as well as with regional, national and international institutions
Experience of incident reporting, incident mapping, intelligence collation and analysis functions, set up and execution of an incident warning system (warden system), compilation of security reports and assessments
Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
Willingness to work and travel in often difficult and insecure environments
Competency in Internet and Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and other database/mapping systems
Fluency in English, both written and spoken
Knowledge and understanding of Syria and the Middle East region
Ability to speak Arabic is strongly preferred
Formal training qualifications (HEAT, K&R, Personal Security, First Aid etc).
SUCCESS FACTORS:
Ability to see and communicate security trends at a local and regional level in a way that effectively increases our safety, security and ability to meet humanitarian needs. Maintaining strong, cooperative relationships with other departments is crucial. A successful candidate will have the ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity and demonstrate the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. The candidate will ensure a high degree of professionalism and neutrality when it comes to implementing the response.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This position is based in Amman, Jordan. This location is currently an unaccompanied position, but we expect that to change in the future. Housing is individual accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Staff will have access to medical, electricity, water, etc. This position requires (40% of time) of travel to field offices, some in insecure environments. Although neighbouring countries continue to experience political unrest, Jordan has been a stable monarchy for over 30 years and the destination preference for many people from the Middle East to relax or gain access to available services. In recent years, events unfolding in Syria and Iraq have increased local concerns over the continued stability of Jordan but to date there have been no major incidents.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
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