Country Safety & Security Advisor

Job Title: Country Safety & Security Advisor

Function: Security

Job Group: Safety & Security

Duty Station: Erbil, Iraq with frequent travel to Field offices

Administrative Line Manager: Deputy Head of Mission – Operations/Security

ABOUT US

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a dynamic, international non-governmental organization. We work to reduce violence and protect civilians in countries affected by violent conflict and its aftermath through the implementation of unarmed civilian protection programming. NP implements programming through the deployment of civilian protection teams to the field and is continuing to scale up to meet the growing needs in the communities we serve. Programming is founded on unarmed civilian protection and is thematically focused on protection in displacement, child protection, gender-based violence protection, and inter-communal violence reduction.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Country Safety & Security Advisor is responsible for developing and maintaining security management and risk mitigation tools, supporting field teams to analyze and address security risks, providing country-level security information and analysis and building the capacity of staff members regarding security and risk mitigation. This position interacts with all other functions, including field-based program teams. The position includes on-site security support and capacity building for staff in field office locations.

KEY OBJECTIVES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Risk Mitigation and Management

• Develop and update country Security Management plan, SOPs, contingency plans, hibernation/relocation/evacuation plans,

• Work with field teams to ensure they are prepared for contingencies, including maintaining hibernation kits, setting up safe rooms, and distributing safety equipment,

• Facilitate an ongoing culture within the wider team of security awareness and ownership, and commitment to the procedures and to each other,

• Review and provide feedback on field site SRAs and local security rules, including ensuring these are up to date and in line with required standards

• Participate in assessments in new program locations, and/or travel routes, to make recommendations regarding movements, designation of Go/No-Go areas, and required risk mitigation steps required if movements are cleared

• In coordination with the DHoM S/O, review and assess risks for requests for travel to new locations (regardless of security risk level) or repeat travel to high-risk locations,

• In coordination with field teams, conduct physical security assessments of current and future guesthouses, office locations, and program implementation sites. Provide recommendations for physical security improvements.

• Provide support and advice to the HoM/DHoM in critical incident management

  Security Information Collection, Management, and Communication

• Lead security information gathering for areas outside of field sites and countrywide security information, collation and dissemination from a range of local and international sources, and produce formal security updates

• Maintain close contact with relevant country-level stakeholders to develop a network and build relationships with key actors who can provide information and help support risk mitigation including but not limited to– NGOs, INGOs, UN, and government

• Monitor and analyze the country-level security situation, relay reliable security information to the SMT as a basis for informed decision-making

• Develop and update maps and log of security incidents in areas of operation and transportation routes to support security decision making and ensure staff and management are aware of the issues

• Rapidly communicate relevant security information, analysis, and recommendations to SMT and staff

• Support risk analysis for the country program, advise the SMT on security-related issues

• Maintain a centralized filing system of security-related documents and ensure that all staff are aware of and able to access the documents

• Coordinate with Access Officer in regard to access requirements as they relate to security needs

Staff Capacity Building

• Map security training needs, such as personal security, security management, health and safety, and trauma care/first aid, in addition to role-specific training for drivers, security guards, and other related roles. Coordinate in-field and in-country training, as needed, to meet training needs. This includes ensuring that all staff are aware of, and trained in, the procedures detailed in NP security documentation and Standard Operating Procedure documents
• Develop, update and conduct in-depth security inductions for new staff upon arrival, as well as additional briefings for all staff upon major shifts in the security context.

Qualifications

Essential

• At least three years of experience working for an INGO in a security advisory role in Iraq. Demonstrated capacity to analyze needs, develop a plan, and action the plan to completion
• Comprehensive understanding of strategic, tactical, and operational safety and security risk management
• Strong operational understanding of conflict sensitivity
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills
• Skills in researching, tracking, and analyzing security issues and trends
• Excellent writing abilities – with experience writing SOPs and other security management documents, and the capacity for drafting quality documents, briefs and reports quickly
• Experience in coordinating and conducting security training and leading security inductions
• Problem-solving capabilities
• The ability to remain calm, focused, organized, and results-oriented under pressure and with rapidly changing circumstances
• Able to balance and integrate security, the duty of care, and program needs in analysis and advising
• High-level communication and relationship-building skills, able to communicate with discretion and sensitivity.
• Able to build security networks and represent NP externally
• English and Arabic writing and speaking fluency

Desirable

• Undergraduate Degree or Certification in Safety & Security, International Armed Conflict, Peace Studies, Intelligence Studies, or International Relations
• Certified First Aid/Trauma Care Trainer for high threat environment.
• Experience in a humanitarian or development program implementation role
• Knowledge of humanitarian civilian protection issues and concepts
• Ability to speak Kurdish