Security Advisor

Role & Responsibilities

The Security Advisor will focus on the field-based security while working in collaboration with the Security Advisor Team Leader to help lead organization strategies, to understand and manage security related issues and mitigations. They will help develop and maintain strategies, policies and procedures for on-going security management while dealing with complex situational crisis whenever Medair staff or assets are in immediate danger as well as when Medair’s reputation is threatened. The Security Advisor will enhance the security of Medair staff through appropriate briefings, trainings and support to employees including individual team members. They will allow Medair to remain operational in complex and insecure environment settings while positioning Medair as an organization of choice to staff and institutional donors through good security management.

Project Overview

Medair Global Support Office (GSO) provides operational guidance for country programmes, along with both technical and compassionate support to our relief workers. Within the GSO, the International Programmes Department is responsible for supporting and managing Medair’s work in the field.

Workplace & Conditions

This is a GSO position, Switzerland. Which may be also considered for remote working in other locations if good access to essential infrastructure (internet, phone signal, international airport with links to Europe, the Middle East and Africa etc).

• Normal working hours, aligned to Central European Time and/or the majority of Medair country programmes (CET + 1 or 2 hours), and availability for urgent issues/security incidents/crisis situations outside of normal office hours.*
• This role includes travel within Europe for training and networking, as well as travel to Medair field programme locations for training, support and audit purposes for up to 12 weeks per year.
• Relevant travel documents and work permits will be required.

Starting Date / Initial Contract Details

July 2022. Full time, open-ended contract.

Key Activity Areas

Security and Crisis Management Advice and Support

• In co-ordination with the Security Advisor Team Leader, provide security management advice to field teams on a range of topics such as context indicators, technical specifications, best practice and incident management.
• In the absence of the Team Leader, provide cover for the Security role on the Medair Crisis Management Team.

Security Training/Briefing

• The delivery of security training courses and capacity building across the organization including field-based training and the relevant sections of the GSO Induction and ROC (Relief and Recovery Orientation Course), as well as potentially mentoring security focal points.

Security Systems Maintenance

• To help administer and maintain the online Incident Reporting and Security Plan Tracking systems including a degree of technical support to field staff, designing analysis reports and uploading historical reports.
• To organize, administer and update the Security Folder on the E-Library and the SharePoint cloud storage.
• To assist with the regular review of the Country Risk Rating (CRR) system.

Security system Improvements

• Contribute to the revision/overhaul of global Security Training systems and provision including ROC security elements, pre-approved training suppliers and standard training courses.
• Contribute to the revision of various security templates and policies including the Medair Security Plan.
• Contribute to the planning for a long-term replacement for the online incident reporting system.
• Create guides and supporting documents for the field as required.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international programmes and GSO prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree or diploma judged equivalent.
• Attendance at a reputable humanitarian security training course in security management desirable.
• Excellent working knowledge of English (speaking and writing).
• French is strongly desirable. Arabic or Swahili will be an advantage.

Experience / Competencies

• At least 5 years’ work experience in the humanitarian sector within a context that could be considered as high or extreme risk such as South Sudan, Afghanistan or other similar locations.
• At least 1-year work experience in a senior position such as project co-ordinator, deputy country director, country director or similar roles related to security management in relation to the responsibility of employees.
• Previous knowledge or work experience with Medair in Field or GSO desirable.
• Good working knowledge or experience of some Medair country programme contexts based in the Middle East, Asia, Eastern and Central Africa regions.
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office programmes, Internet, e-mail amongst other computer software and tools.
• Good administrative and organisational abilities with experience in managing simple databases.
• Excellent understanding of humanitarian security management; trends, principles and frameworks.
• Crisis Management knowledge or experience at Field or GSO level desirable.
• Security trend analysis – able to help field teams assess trends and give advice
• An influencer; able to convincingly advocate for a principle or position without executive authority.
• Good training skills able to create and deliver training material on a range of security topics.
• Interest towards Medair’s mission to relief human suffering, core values including its Christian commitment.
• Hard worker, team player, resilient to stress, flexible, dynamic and proactive servant hearted type of person.
• Good self-motivated listener, interculturally sensitivity, positive with a servant leadership skill and good manners.