Employer:Mercy Corps
Location: Iraq
Closing date: 01 Dec 2019
General Position Summary
The Safety & Security Advisor (SSA) is responsible for supporting the NES Security Team in the day-to-day operational security needs for programs in Northeast Syria as well as for the capacity building of the team members. This position is expected to directly support humanitarian programs by working with the Safety & Security team to produce analysis / forecasting and planning. The SSA will mentor and coach existing national team members supporting them administratively and actively build professional skills.
Essential Job Responsibilities
OPERATIONAL SECURITY
Understand the immediate and longer-term humanitarian programs and This position is expected to know and understand all program activities so s/he can effectively. build the capacity of the Safety & Security team.
Assist with the tracking, mapping and analysis of incidents in Syria, particularly NES, and work with the Security Team to ensure there is a high level of understanding of patterns, trends and early warning indicators as they may pertain to the NES team and wider context within the area.
Support the Senior Safety & Security Officer (SSSO) to ensure high standards of steady communication with Northeast Syria team members, including Amman, in daily and routine briefings.
Participate in incident management as determined through the roles and responsibilities of the security team.
Work with the SSSO to ensure that all NES team members are cognizant of security procedures and are following them at all times, highlighting challenges in their implementation when necessary.
Work with SSSO to continue developing a community acceptance strategy and other operational strategies involving the context.
Is considered part of senior leadership for this office and a core member of a crisis management team responsible for the resolution of all incidents.
SECURITY INFORMATION & ANALYSIS
Provide mentorship to the Northeast Safety & Security team to produce relevant, timely analysis which effectively informs programming.
Oversees inputs to the Syria Weekly Update by editing and ensuring drafted reports answer programmatic needs and address key events in the reporting period.
Support the relevance of NES Team Contingency Planning by supporting scenario planning and response option planning.
Support the SSSO to coordinate with other NGOs in the area of operation, contributing to shared analysis and coherent operational decisions within the humanitarian sector.
As requested, conduct security assessments either in work locations either directly or Is responsible for maintaining updated risk assessments and security strategies.
Support the SSSO to ensure the larger Mercy Corps team is fully aware of the context (political, social, security and humanitarian) and the possible implications this may have for the team, for participants and for programs.
Support the SSSO to produce timely flash reporting that is accompanied with sound recommendations for the NES team where appropriate.
SECURITY SYSTEMS & CAPACITY BUILDING
Coach and mentor Senior Safety / Security Officer with the intent of nationalizing the Safety & Security Manager position.
Work with the SSSO to put in place and implement a realistic and holistic capacity building plan for the Security Team as a whole. This will address key needs and gaps and reflect a number of different learning methodologies including but not limited to; trainings, workshops, on the job training, coaching and mentoring
Develop the facilitation skills of the Security Team to ensure they are able to roll out interesting and sophisticated security trainings for the rest of the NES team
Work with the SSSO to develop his skills in providing support to his line managees, particularly coaching and mentoring
S/he will identify strategic weaknesses in security or situational awareness with the entire Northeast Syria team and address this by directing/coaching the Senior Safety & Security Officer to remedy issues.
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.
Accountability
Reports directly to: Area Director, Northeast Syria
Technical Reporting line to: Safety & Security Director, Syria
Works directly with: Sr. Safety & Security Officer, Safety & Security Officer, Program Managers, Area Director of Operations, Iraq Safety & Security Manager, HAT Director.
Knowledge and Experience
Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, Master's degree preferred.
3-5 years of field experience in safety and security with a humanitarian or development non- governmental organization.
Formal security qualification / advanced security management training.
Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies. Good context analysis skills and ability to teach them.
Experience of incident reporting, incident mapping, intelligence collation and analysis functions, compilation of security reports and assessments, and capacity building staff in these areas.
Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including presenting concepts, coaching and ability to work with a team from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Competency in Internet and Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access. Sound knowledge of mapping systems highly preferred.
Experience living and working in the Middle East region, preferred. Understanding of Syria and Iraq context highly preferred.
High level of English language proficiency required (verbal and written), knowledge of Arabic language preferred.
Success Factors
The Safety and Security Manager will enable the Mercy Corps team in Northeast Syria to more effectively provide humanitarian relief to civilians affected by the conflict with 1) speed 2) strategy 3) duty of care. A successful candidate will be able to follow and read the quickly changing conflict and enable the team to better plan and forecast. They will help the Team Leader create an environment of a well-trained staff with contextual awareness. The Mercy Corps office and programs will be fit for purpose and with a culture of safety-mindedness across departments.
Living/Environmental Conditions
This unaccompanied position will be based in Dohuk, Iraq initially with the possibility of relocation. It requires field travel 80% of the time security permitting. This position will be required to reside in group housing in an austere environment. The team member must follow all security protocols at all times. This position is eligible for hardship and R&R breaks.
Apply Now
Location: Iraq
Closing date: 01 Dec 2019
General Position Summary
The Safety & Security Advisor (SSA) is responsible for supporting the NES Security Team in the day-to-day operational security needs for programs in Northeast Syria as well as for the capacity building of the team members. This position is expected to directly support humanitarian programs by working with the Safety & Security team to produce analysis / forecasting and planning. The SSA will mentor and coach existing national team members supporting them administratively and actively build professional skills.
Essential Job Responsibilities
OPERATIONAL SECURITY
Understand the immediate and longer-term humanitarian programs and This position is expected to know and understand all program activities so s/he can effectively. build the capacity of the Safety & Security team.
Assist with the tracking, mapping and analysis of incidents in Syria, particularly NES, and work with the Security Team to ensure there is a high level of understanding of patterns, trends and early warning indicators as they may pertain to the NES team and wider context within the area.
Support the Senior Safety & Security Officer (SSSO) to ensure high standards of steady communication with Northeast Syria team members, including Amman, in daily and routine briefings.
Participate in incident management as determined through the roles and responsibilities of the security team.
Work with the SSSO to ensure that all NES team members are cognizant of security procedures and are following them at all times, highlighting challenges in their implementation when necessary.
Work with SSSO to continue developing a community acceptance strategy and other operational strategies involving the context.
Is considered part of senior leadership for this office and a core member of a crisis management team responsible for the resolution of all incidents.
SECURITY INFORMATION & ANALYSIS
Provide mentorship to the Northeast Safety & Security team to produce relevant, timely analysis which effectively informs programming.
Oversees inputs to the Syria Weekly Update by editing and ensuring drafted reports answer programmatic needs and address key events in the reporting period.
Support the relevance of NES Team Contingency Planning by supporting scenario planning and response option planning.
Support the SSSO to coordinate with other NGOs in the area of operation, contributing to shared analysis and coherent operational decisions within the humanitarian sector.
As requested, conduct security assessments either in work locations either directly or Is responsible for maintaining updated risk assessments and security strategies.
Support the SSSO to ensure the larger Mercy Corps team is fully aware of the context (political, social, security and humanitarian) and the possible implications this may have for the team, for participants and for programs.
Support the SSSO to produce timely flash reporting that is accompanied with sound recommendations for the NES team where appropriate.
SECURITY SYSTEMS & CAPACITY BUILDING
Coach and mentor Senior Safety / Security Officer with the intent of nationalizing the Safety & Security Manager position.
Work with the SSSO to put in place and implement a realistic and holistic capacity building plan for the Security Team as a whole. This will address key needs and gaps and reflect a number of different learning methodologies including but not limited to; trainings, workshops, on the job training, coaching and mentoring
Develop the facilitation skills of the Security Team to ensure they are able to roll out interesting and sophisticated security trainings for the rest of the NES team
Work with the SSSO to develop his skills in providing support to his line managees, particularly coaching and mentoring
S/he will identify strategic weaknesses in security or situational awareness with the entire Northeast Syria team and address this by directing/coaching the Senior Safety & Security Officer to remedy issues.
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.
Accountability
Reports directly to: Area Director, Northeast Syria
Technical Reporting line to: Safety & Security Director, Syria
Works directly with: Sr. Safety & Security Officer, Safety & Security Officer, Program Managers, Area Director of Operations, Iraq Safety & Security Manager, HAT Director.
Knowledge and Experience
Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, Master's degree preferred.
3-5 years of field experience in safety and security with a humanitarian or development non- governmental organization.
Formal security qualification / advanced security management training.
Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies. Good context analysis skills and ability to teach them.
Experience of incident reporting, incident mapping, intelligence collation and analysis functions, compilation of security reports and assessments, and capacity building staff in these areas.
Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including presenting concepts, coaching and ability to work with a team from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Competency in Internet and Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access. Sound knowledge of mapping systems highly preferred.
Experience living and working in the Middle East region, preferred. Understanding of Syria and Iraq context highly preferred.
High level of English language proficiency required (verbal and written), knowledge of Arabic language preferred.
Success Factors
The Safety and Security Manager will enable the Mercy Corps team in Northeast Syria to more effectively provide humanitarian relief to civilians affected by the conflict with 1) speed 2) strategy 3) duty of care. A successful candidate will be able to follow and read the quickly changing conflict and enable the team to better plan and forecast. They will help the Team Leader create an environment of a well-trained staff with contextual awareness. The Mercy Corps office and programs will be fit for purpose and with a culture of safety-mindedness across departments.
Living/Environmental Conditions
This unaccompanied position will be based in Dohuk, Iraq initially with the possibility of relocation. It requires field travel 80% of the time security permitting. This position will be required to reside in group housing in an austere environment. The team member must follow all security protocols at all times. This position is eligible for hardship and R&R breaks.
Apply Now