Global Head of Security and Crisis Management

Sightsavers is excited to be looking for a Global Head of Security and Crisis Management to manage their operational safety and security risk management framework.

Salary: £58,000 – £63,000 dependent on experience

Location/s: UK (remote) with occasional travel to Haywards Heath, West Sussex when required.  

Contract: Permanent

Hours: This is a full-time role with some flexibility around hours worked 

As Global Head of Security and Crisis Management, you will be a subject matter expert on security and field safety. Reporting to the General Counsel, supporting the organisational management team and Country Directors, and leading on the implementation of organisational resilience processes and analyses of current and emerging threats to Sightsavers’ staff, programmes and assets.

About the Role

The main areas of responsibility for the Global Head of Security and Crisis Management include Travel Safety and Security, Audit and Compliance, Country Office and Programme Safety and Security, Reporting and Assessments, Training, Crisis and Incident Management, Liaison, Health and Safety and Investigations as well as line management responsibilities. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Safety and Security professional with deployed exposure within the countries we operate in.

The Global Head of Security and Crisis Management will:

• Oversee Sightsavers’ travel security processes for staff traveling abroad, assessing and approving all high-risk trips.
• Hold responsibility for conducting continuity and business impact analysis and planning across all Sightsavers’ offices.
• Designing and embedding an appropriate risk management system for security risks and contributing to overall organisational risk management procedures.
• Liaise with travel team to ensure travellers adhere to travel security processes.
• Audit country office security plans and processes through physical visits to programme countries.
• Ensure compliance of all staff to organisational security policies
• Ensure country and programme teams have workable security management strategies.
• Prepare monthly security reports for management team.
• Brief management team and regional teams on security challenges at regular meetings.
• Manage the relationship between safety and security training providers and Sightsavers.
• Act as security lead during crisis scenarios.
• Act as Sightsavers representative at security forums such as GISF
• Lead and develop health and safety practices within global operations in line with appropriate legislation.
• Support the Controller, Crisis and Risk in conducting internal investigations as necessary.
• Line management of 2 x Security Managers and 1 x Global Security Officer. 

This is a highly involved role, please see the Job Description for full details.

Essential

• Significant international security experience in development, humanitarian or similar sectors.
• Deployed experience in fragile or complex contexts
• Proven experience of working across cultures.
• Professional experience of successfully developing and implementing processes remotely.
• In-depth knowledge of humanitarian or development security management.
• Experience of real-life crisis and incident management events with enhanced risk assessment capabilities
• Knowledge of safeguarding, fraud management and business continuity
• Knowledge of Sightsavers’ operating countries and environments.
• Experience in corporate risk management.
• Availability to travel between 8 to 12 weeks of the year, including to high-risk environments or areas with limited infrastructure.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Ability to communicate complex and sensitive subjects to varying audiences.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast moving environment with conflicting deadlines and make clear decisions.
• Excellent time management skills.

Desirable

• Security qualification such as CPP, CSMP, SRMP-R, ASIS or INSSA
• Health and Safety qualification such as NEBOSH, IOSH

Benefits 

Sightsavers offers some fantastic benefits. Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous annual leave allowance, pension, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership and wellness discounts. If you choose to work in or are visiting our collaborative, modern office space, you will find it an easy 20-minute train journey from Brighton or 45 minutes from London.