Safety and Access Manager

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title:Safety and Access Manager

Code: 60-3441

Duty station: Based in Kharkiv with frequent travels to Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipro and other areas in the country, incl. frontline areas and newly accessible areas

Starting date: 01/01/2023

Contract duration: 12 months

Reporting to: Safety and Access Coordinator

Supervision of: Security Officers (approx. 3 staff)

Dependents: non-family duty station

General context of the project

The war broke out in Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, millions of people have spread within the country, raising a big concern on how to manage such an immense flux of people. In order to provide emergency humanitarian relief, INTERSOS has entered Ukraine shortly after the outbreak of the conflict and set up its first emergency response operations.

Currently INTERSOS team in Ukraine consists of 225 staff, operating across 5 bases, covering operational areas of: Lviv, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Donetsk Oblasts providing protection and medical assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs), their host communities, and life-saving humanitarian assistance to persons in highest needs in frontline and newly accessible areas.

General purpose of the position

Safety and Access Manager will work to reduce the risks posed to the programmes, personnel and assets of INTERSOS in Ukraine. The role will support the Safety and Access Coordinator in managing all aspects of Safety and Security whilst providing advice and coordination to all INTERSOS staff and visitors in managing safety and security of all INTERSOS operations across the country.​

Main responsibilities and tasks

Security Management

• Provides, with the supervision of the line management, INTERSOS Ukraine Mission with timely and credible security information and contextual analysis of the local security situation through: daily incident alerts and bi-weekly analytical reports for his/her areas of responsibility.
• In close cooperation with Safety and Access Coordinator conducts security risk assessments in new areas/routes and advises the line and technical manager on security measures for INTERSOS offices, project activities and staff.
• Assists Safety and Access Coordinator in the enhancement of Standard Operating Procedures and contingency plans, providing inputs on existing documents, updating information in tools available in the Mission, identifying procedures to revise and suggest new ones.
• Provides assistance in the conduct and follow up of incidents affecting INTERSOS staff and offices, sharing reliable reporting with the line management.
• Conducts training to drivers, guards and field staff on topics identified by the line management (alert system, tracking, access control etc.)
• Conduct induction sessions to field staff whenever necessary.
• Daily checks on security and safety road conditions and other security related facts to be provided to Safety and Access Coordinator
• Performs other security-related tasks assigned by the Safety and Access Coordinator
• Supports Safety and Access Coordinator in movement’s tracking
• Acts as Safety and Access Coordinator, in their absence

Safety Management

• Contributes to the proper set up of safety equipment and applied security measures in place in vehicles and premises, in coordination with the line and technical management.
• Contributes to the proper set up and monitoring of the safe rooms in the bases
• Identifies safety needs in the areas of operations and quickly addresses them to the Safety and Access Coordinator.

Liaison

• Establishes and maintains an active information network by liaison and coordination with NGOs, UN and other national and international security actors to obtain credible and relevant safety information.
• Coordinate and liaise with Security Forces and relevant authorities to effectively communicate INTERSOS operations and modus operandi in order to build reliable levels of acceptance at local level and enhance accessibility to the areas of operations.
• Represents INTERSOS at security meetings or forums, as well as ad hoc meetings as instructed by the line management.
• Meets with the representatives of different government offices and other administrative and security services, often as necessary, to facilitate executions of planned activities.
• At the request of the Safety and Access Coordinator represents INTERSOS in meetings with communities and government and non-government stakeholders to negotiate access to the field, and prepare a full report.
• Report to the line supervisor the progress of on-going procedures and alert in case of change of legislation as regards government procedures in all related aspects.

Other duties, as required.

Required profile and experience

Education

• University Degree in relevant field
• Masters degree desirable

Professional Experience

• Minimum 4 years of working experience in security and safety management roles in a humanitarian/recovery context or relevant working experience in safety, security and risk analysis
• Experience in humanitarian negotiation (with national authorities, local authorities, non-state actors, military forces) and humanitarian access in complex emergencies
• Experience in reporting and emergency response planning
• Experience in provision of safety and security trainings to other staff members
• Previous experience and knowledge of Eastern European context desirable​

Professional Requirements

• Excellent understanding of humanitarian security and safety practices, procedures, principles and their application in field operations
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with remote technical supervision
• Creativity, innovation and strategic thinking skills
• Ability to work in remote field locations and under high pressure

Languages

• English
• Ukrainian desirable
• Russian desirable

Personal Requirements

• Organisational skills
• Teamwork and communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Networking skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure
• Stress management
• Flexibility
• Cultural sensitivity
• Personal integrity
• Strong discipline​