Humanitarian Access & Safety Manager

The Opportunity

Humanitarian Access & Programme Continuity:

• With full participation of relevant colleagues in the process, ensure regular actor mapping of all relevant political, military and civil society actors occurs in operational areas. Develop and update analysis of political and military dynamics in key identified contexts and the implications for humanitarian operations and access.
• Facilitate and support the development and delivery of strategies and plans to advance humanitarian access; and work closely with programme and project teams to design/adapt humanitarian programmes to ensure effective delivery in hostile environments.
• Identify ways to strengthen effective engagement with government, non-state armed actors and civil society (based on identified gaps). Build networks with stakeholders which improve acceptance and facilitate humanitarian access.
• Engage in and develop effective partnerships and networks with other NGOs (international and national) and UN organisations. Share learning with colleagues and partners, and contribute to a community of practice and culture of learning and reflection.
• Ensure a comprehensive register of developments related to access and humanitarian space, from team updates and local and international sources, and used to guide planning and inform development of SOPs.
• Ensure that timely situational information and updates related to humanitarian access and safety are effectively disseminated across the organization, and reach field level staff.
• Identify potential scenarios, indicators of change in humanitarian space, and key decision points, utilising data from multiple sources; working closely with Humanitarian Analyst.
• Support the Humanitarian Director to ensure that humanitarian access considerations are comprehensively incorporated into emergency preparedness and general humanitarian planning, including appropriate budgeting.
• Advise and support the Country Office on issues such as principled access strategies, negotiations with line-ministries or technical departments as well humanitarian negotiations and engagement with security forces and armed groups.
• Ensure Humanitarian Access & Safety is maintained as a standing agenda item on the SMT, and facilitate buy-in to from across SMT. Provide regular updates for SMT/SLT on key issues with recommendations.
• Provide briefings on thematic and specific issues, as requested by the Country Director / Humanitarian Director / SLT.

Humanitarian Access Capacity Building:

• Support capacity development through training and/or coaching for colleagues, including on principled access strategies, humanitarian negotiations, and gaining community acceptance.
• Ensure the comprehensive training of Safety and Security Focal Points (SSFPs), including on issues specifically related to humanitarian access.

Safety & Security Risk Assessment and Planning for Emergency Responses:

• Ensure that Safety & Security Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPAs) and Advanced Preparedness Actions (APAs) under the Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) are met.
• Ensure rapid Security Risk Assessments are conducted for any emergency response and humanitarian operations, and utilised to inform operations.
• Support business development and operations team to appropriately budget for safety and security measures in new proposals, especially for emergency responses in volatile contexts.
• Advise on safe movement of staff and support teams in maintaining travel safety; including establishing movement approval and communications processes, and resolving issues related to armed escorts.
• Support the Safety & Security Manager and field-level Safety and Security Focal Points (SSFPs) to ensure all Save the Children vehicles, premises, warehouses and equipment are compliant with basic safety standards, with a specific focus on emergency response locations.

Support to Organisational Safety & Security Processes:

• Advocate for the adoption and compliance with Save the Children’s Safety and Security Policy and Standards by all staff, promoting joint development by the whole team to create ownership and encourage compliance; and that safety and security should be amongst the first planning considerations as an integral element of programme design and operations. Support the Safety & Security Manager assess, evaluate and make recommendations for improvements of safety and security guidelines, plans and procedures.
• Support the Safety & Security Manager and field-level Safety and Security Focal Points (SSFPs) to maintain and update crisis management response systems, ensuring that lines of communication/reporting are fully understood and implemented. Support with crisis incident management and establish appropriate systems and procedures.
• Identify and report on emerging safety and security trends and report incidents.

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years previous experience in a Humanitarian Access or Safety & Security role with an NGO, specifically in challenging or insecure environments, with sound knowledge of context risk assessment as well as personnel and organizational safety issues.
• Expertise in current safety and security practices and issues affecting aid work globally.
• Excellent and demonstrable knowledge of international humanitarian law and principles.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate at all levels, establish information networks, and coordinate with country authorities, militias, donors, international organisations and local NGOs.
• Ability to balance demands of beneficiaries and stakeholders while maintaining appropriate safety advice and coordination.
• Experience of working in hostile environments. Self-motivated with the ability to work autonomously in a highly stressful and challenging environment.
• Ability to formulate and communicate analysis of a changing security environment.
• Proven skills in concise and succinct report writing.
• Strong computer knowledge (Word, Excel, SPSS, Power point) is essential.
• Technical competency in field-based communications systems.
• Track record of training, managing and developing staff in safety principles and procedures.
• Fluent English and Arabic (speaking and writing) is essential.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children, in particular a good understanding of Save the Children’s mandate and child focus.

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.

Disclaimer:

Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents