Senior Security Advisor

Location: Geneva
Closing date: 15 February 2022

In order to enhance its overall Security Management System, HD is opening a new position of Senior Security Advisor and is looking to fill it.
Location: Geneva, with extensive travel to regional and field offices
Starting date: As soon as possible
Duration: Permanent

 
Overall Purpose:

The main purpose of the role is to ensure that HD operates with an effective, efficient and up-to-date Security Management System in all locations where the organisation is active. A special focus will be on improving field security risk-assessments. The scope of this position being global, the Senior Security Advisor will be reporting to the Executive Director; this reporting line highlights also the importance HD gives at its highest level to the security and safety of its staff.

HD is a very decentralised organisation: Regional Directors bear responsibility for security matters within their respective areas, ensuring that HD staff are given all necessary means to operate as securely and safely as possible on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, the role of the new Senior Security Advisor is to oversee and optimise the global Security Management System, and ensure compliance with it at all levels.

Main responsibilities and related activities:
Developing and updating Security policies, guidelines and procedures in collaboration with Regional Directors. These policies and guidelines already exist today but need to be enhanced;
Producing HD Security Risk assessments frameworks that are fit to the different needs and realities of each field context HD operates in. These frameworks will need to be developed in close partnership with HD field teams to ensure relevance and local ownership. This work will be an on-going task to ensure that any developments that could affect the security of HD staff are being integrated in field assessments in order to mitigate risks. The role of the Senior Security Advisor will be to remain in close contact with field teams, to support and partner with them but also to challenge them constructively on how they assess risks on a continuing basis:
Leading HD Cross-Regional Working Group on Security, which consists of representatives of each Region (Regional Directors and front-line staff);
Leading HD Crisis Management Cell in case of security incidents.
Working closely with, and advising Regional Directors and their staff on all matters related to and impacting the security of HD operations;
Working closely with the Head of IT to ensure that appropriate guidance on IT field security, as well as secure devices are provided to HD staff;
Overseeing, in close cooperation with Regional Directors, security and safety training courses for field staff as well as related education material. These courses already exist today and are provided by an external service provider;
Building a strong network of security personnel from other organisations to maintain HD’s knowledge of the changing security and safety environment in HQ and the field;
Updating regularly the whole organisation and in particular, the Executive Director, the Senior Management Team and the Board on the enhancement of HD’s Security Management system and on risk assessments in offices facing high levels of threats.

Candidate Profile:
A minimum of 10 years of relevant field and headquarters experience in progressively increased positions of responsibility in the NGO sector and international organisations, including in environments requiring interaction with local, national and international security forces. This experience should include field work in challenging security environments;
A minimum of 5 years’ experience in crisis management and more specifically, in dealing with security incidents at field and HQ level in international NGOs and organisations;
Experience in developing organisational security-related policies, directives, guidance and operational procedures;
Successful experience in producing and delivering security-related education and training;
An advanced degree or equivalent in security management, business administration, political/social science, international relations or related fields;
Fluency in English and French.

Key competencies:
Excellent ability to exhibit thorough understanding of challenging contexts, display a vision grasping critical issues quickly and translating them into strategic proposals;
Sound understanding of the overall geo-political scene in which security incidents may occur;
Proven ability to communicate clearly and present complex subjects through clear guidelines, both orally and in writing, including to staff members;
Excellent ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and to understand organisational dynamics, including a strong sense of strategically and politically sensitive matters;
Ability to deal with people effectively, respectfully and courteously;
Ability to challenge constructively staff, including senior managers, on security matters, if needed;
Ability to listen and integrate different viewpoints, generate adherence and convince.

How To Apply:
Please send your CV and a motivation letter To: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.com

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