Liaison, Safety and Security

Background:

International Humanitarian Relief (IHR); was established and registered in June 2011 in Vienna, Austria; registered in October 2014 in Beirut, Lebanon, and registered in January 2016, in Istanbul, Turkey Austria, IHR Lebanon, and IHR Turkey are legally and financially independent organizations.

IHR is committed to providing emergency aid to the most deprived communities through substantial long-term solutions in addition to its work to improve the situation of both the refugees and host communities through focusing on Food Security, livelihoods, Water Sanitation and hygiene, protection, education, nutrition, environmental sustainability, sanitary infrastructure, community service, and others.

IHR Webpage: https://www.ihrelief.org/en/

Job Responsibilities:

Liaison and Access

• Liaise with official authorities to work on activity and access permissions for Northern Syria.
• Responsibility to represent the IHR in Gaziantep and handle any inquiries for / with the governate authorities.
• Support IHR Turkey team in communication and engagements with humanitarian agencies and Turkish Authorities
• Represent IHR and facilitate the processing of shipment formalities with TRC, AFAD, customs authorities, and border crossing to Northern Syria.
• Supporting IHR Turkey on government affairs including approvals for meetings and workshops …etc
• Establish and maintain informal relations and a network of contacts (both in Turkey and NWS) allowing the collection of information related with the humanitarian access in Northwest Syria, specifically in the areas of intervention
• Sharing relevant information with national and local authorities regarding planning, programme implementation and monitoring
• Develop and keep updated a service mapping inclusive of humanitarian, non-governmental, state actors and their services provided for the area of operations in which IHR operates.
• Build and maintain positive relationship and liaise with the Governmental and non-Governmental actors on the service mapping and update them on the services provided by IHR programs.
• Liaise closely with Liaison working groups and other agencies focal points in area of operation to avoid overlaps and improve meaningful relationships with the agencies on the service mapping
• Contribute to development and implementation of government engagement strategy
• Provide advice to SMT on strategies to further improve relationship with Government authorities relevant to IHR’s Turkey and Syria Program.
• Support and advice CEO in formulating/drafting/signing MoU’s relevant to all IHR NWS operations.
• Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures for Liaison related operations and tasks.
• Develop and update list of contacts (formal/ informal) and create a stakeholder’s map per district/ sub-district in Turkey and Northern Syria.
• Develop and regularly update internal maps on safe and un-safe areas
• Identify barriers to access and support the program teams develop strategies to address
• Attend NGO Forum Liaison WG meeting and other forum convening for Syria response,

Safety and Security

• Conduct the required security assessments/evaluations, threat analysis, and risk assessments and offer appropriate recommendations.
• Maintains and update the database of all security incidents and completes reports as required.
• Prepare all necessary documentation and make all arrangements for movements and operations.
• Identify and evaluate new methodologies, technologies and organizations who could contribute to the security department.
• Liaise on a regular basis with counterparts in similar positions across the group to share and obtain knowledge, best practices that could help improve the project acceptance.
• Ensure adherence to IHR SOP’s and instructions.
• As instructed by supervisor, assist in producing and updating standard operation procedures.
• Maintain and update the Security department electronic and hard filing system.
• Follow up on all administrative issues related to the safety and security department.
• Supporting the development of a safety and security culture that is enhanced by regular training,
• Maintaining high levels of oversight for physical security issues at offices and Warehouse, including COVID-19 precautions,
• Maintaining local security information trees and disseminate security flash alerts and advisories to staff as and when required,
• Attending external local security network meetings,
• Investigating and following up on security incidents where IHR staff or assets are involved,
• Being the point of contact with security forces in case of an incident.
• Briefing all new staff and visitors on local security conditions and protocols,
• Preparing safety and security training curriculum for staff at varying levels with different needs,
• Providing weekly security update reports for the SMT.

Qualification (education/work experience)

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Law, Business Administration, Political science or other relevant fields is preferred.
• At least 2-4 years of experience in government relations, liaison with local authorities in Turkey.
• Familiar with the security situation in Syria, as well as the international situation related to the conflict in Syria.
• Knowledge of accepted Risk and Security Assessments practices and principles is highly desirable.
• Past work experience with I/NGOs in Northern Syria and Turkey.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is a must, fluency in Turkish is highly desirable.
• Ability to work in a complex and dynamic environment and to adapt to changing circumstances.

Language Skills

• Excellent communication skills in Turkish language (writing –reading –speaking).
• Very good communication skills in English, language (writing –reading –speaking).
• Excellent communication skills in Arabic language (writing –reading –speaking)
• Ability to translate between Turkish and, English. and Arabic.

Technical skills

• Computing: Proficient in Microsoft Office including, excel, word, outlook etc.
• Communication: Strong communicator, ability to negotiate, facilitating and representation skills
• Time management skills.
• Team Management and supervisory skills.