Manager Sr., Safety & Security

Position title: Manager Sr., Safety & Security (Africa)

Location of new hire: Kenya

ChildFund office: Nairobi, Kenya

Manager/Supervisor: Director, Global Safety & Security

ChildFund department: Country ManagementSafety & Security

Grade: 9

Position type: Full-time regular

Direct reports: 1+

Grant funded: No

Work environment: Hybrid

Amount of travel required: Up to 40%

About ChildFund

ChildFund is a child-focused international development organization that works in 24 countries to connect children with the people, resources and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe, no matter where they are.

ChildFund is cultivating a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible environment where everyone is seen and welcomed equally. In our culture of connection, you will have ample opportunity to grow, learn, and lead while contributing to our inspiring vision.

About This Role

The primary objective of the Manager Sr., Safety & Security is to provide safety and security leadership, expertise and support to ChildFund’s programs and activities by implementing high-quality security risk management practices and ensuring that the countries in their assigned region are achieving the expected standard. The Senior Manager reports to the Director, Global Safety & Security and works closely with the Africa Regional Director, Country Directors, the global security team, program teams, and others.

This is a full-time, hybrid position located in Africa and is open to candidates with current residence and work authorization in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia or Guinea Conakry. Fluency in English is required. International travel up to 40% is required. To be considered, candidates must have proximity to a ChildFund office location.

Value Proposition

The person in this role will have a significant impact on our ability to achieve our critical organizational security strategy in Africa. You will like this job if you want to be part of an international, cross-cultural, virtual team but enjoy the convenience and warm welcome of a local office. You will thrive in this position if you like to travel, enjoy leading other professionals in your area of expertise, and you can balance multiple responsibilities and priorities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Proactively produces quality analysis and reports and understands the threats in the region.
• Identifies and analyzes sources and drivers of risk to achieving program objectives and organizational resilience, areas of impact and potential consequences.
• Oversee and develop country security risk management plans. Help Country Directors implement risk treatments.
• Collaborates as a key contributor in the development of an effective training strategy and curriculum design that reflects ChildFund’s strategic direction, cultural diversity, operational threat environment and international practices.
• Key contributor in critical incident management: prevention, response, follow-up, after action reviews. Responsible for information management during a critical event and maintain all notes, logs, and information.
• Leads cross-functional working groups and security projects.
• Applies project management skills and takes on new security projects to strengthen processes and systems.
• Promote international security standards to and from the region and provide oversight for compliance to security standards.
• Actively promote a culture of incident sharing and risk management.
• Proactively report and update incidents using established protocols.
• Maintain the global security training register.
• Co-manages international travel approval process.
• Develop intentional communication and consultative plans with your region and disseminate timely briefings, reports, alerts, and advisories.
• Maintain strong regional networks with governmental and international agencies (e.g., OSAC, UNSLT, and other NGOs).
• Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Required Competencies

• Able to read, write, and speak fluently in English.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional or cross-department teams in an international organization.
• Proven ability to influence without authority, with a track record of serving as a champion and advocate for safety and security standards.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills at all levels of an organization.
• Can use project management tools and databases to track and monitor risk.
• The ability to thrive in a matrix reporting structure and communicate proactively with stakeholders from different teams.
• Strong organization skills; demonstrated ability to effectively manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Strong presentation and training skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical skills, with the demonstrated ability to undertake complex security and risk analysis based on established frameworks.
• Excellent judgment and risk assessment capability.
• High resilience, with the ability to lead others through change and challenges.
• A commitment to participating in an inclusive environment and the desire to be part of a diverse team.

Required Experience and Education

• University degree in a relevant field.
• At least 8 years of professional experience in security and/or risk management in an international organization context.
• Experience with project management software and tools.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Experience living and working in a high risk country context.
• INSSA regional security certification or ASIS certification.
• Training of Trainers certification or Adult Learning skills training certification.
• Experience with an international non-governmental organization (NGO) is highly preferred.

Other Criteria

• Current work authorization and residence in Africa with proximity to ChildFund country office.
• Ability to travel up to 40% overnight.
• Please note: this is a salaried position and pay is in local currency.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.