Security Manager | Kyiv, Ukraine | 2022

Chemonics seeks a Security Manager. This position will be based in Ukraine with travel in the country, to Poland, and Eastern Europe as the situation permits. This assignment will begin on or about November 1, 2022, for 12 months. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Following the February 24 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Chemonics began relocating operations and staff from six active USAID-funded projects and one FCDO-funded project from Ukraine to Poland. While many staff in Ukraine are unable to leave or have chosen not to, Chemonics established a Poland Platform to support staff in Ukraine and resumption of project activities, inclusive of a security team. Several of the projects listed below are in the process of redefining their scopes amid the ongoing armed conflict and the security team within the Poland Platform will provide safety and security support as new activities commence. The projects are:

• FCDO Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU)
• USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities (AGRO) Activity
• USAID Competitive Economy Program (CEP)
• USAID Democracy & Governance East (DG East)
• USAID Justice for All (J4A)
• USAID Transformation Communications Activity (TCA)
• USAID/OTI Ukraine Capacity Building Initiative (UCBI)

The Security Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of safety and security issues for all projects, staff, partners, and stakeholders, including monitoring and reporting, raising the security awareness levels, ensuring safety and security is forefront of project activity. Working closely with the Poland Platform Security Director, the Home Office Security Management Unit (SMU), Project Chiefs of Party (COP)/Team Leaders (TL) and Deputy Chiefs of Party (DCOP)/Deputy Team Leaders (DTL), the Security Manager will manage Chemonics’ security policies and best practices, including those related to transportation, medical and fire safety, journey management, and office and residence safety.

The Security Manager will support assessments of new project activities as well as resumption of paused activities in the current context of Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The Security Manager will provide continuous training, support, and mentoring to project staff in Chemonics’ safety and security best practices, standards, and requirements for all aspects of field office operations. She/he must follow the client’s (USAID and FCDO) and local government policies, procedures, and regulations. The Security Manager will also liaise with other Chemonics-implemented projects in Ukraine and Poland to ensure strategic coordination, maintain corporate standards, and prioritize staff care.

The Security Manager will receive technical direction from the Ukraine Security Team Security Director, the Chemonics-Washington Security Management Unit, and the Chiefs of Party/Team Leader. S/he will report directly to the Security Director and work closely with project leadership.

Responsibilities:

• In-person and remote assessments of temporary and long-term office locations, to include regions within Ukraine where Chemonics has not previously operated, as well as regions that may have been significantly impacted by the ongoing armed conflict if assessed as safe to return to
• Serve as an on-the-ground liaison with project staff, project leadership, and the security team in the event of a serious incident involving a project staff member
• Develop and maintain local contacts to include other USAID and FCDO implementing partners, UN, NGOs, and Government of Ukraine (GoU) officials to facilitate better security information sharing
• Assist with identifying and assessing safe routes in Ukraine for project activities and potential relocations of staff by coordinating with local contacts, other organizations operating in Ukraine, and GoU officials
• Development of journey management plans based on identified and assessed safe routes
• Supporting movements of staff and commodities into and out of Ukraine by developing firm understanding of current movement restrictions, documentation requirements, and any other cross-border movement considerations
• Support broader security team by identifying reliable Ukrainian news and open-source information providers and actively monitor for important developments not being widely reported outside of Ukraine
• Implement and manage Chemonics’ security policies and best practices, including those related to transportation, fire safety, journey management, and office and residence safety, among others as needed in coordination with the SMU
• Engage regularly with project staff to answer and address questions and concerns relating to safety and security, liaising with the Security Director, SMU, and project leaders when necessary
• Provide regular assessments of the on-the-ground situation in Ukraine to project staff, home office staff, and other stakeholders
• Develop security assessments for all physical sites including, office, warehouses, and project locations and advise the COP/TL and project staff; as needed, assist the SMU in security assessment data collection through periodic context analyses, threat assessments, and vulnerability assessments
• Conduct research and outreach by visiting field offices, with analyses of the security environment and identification of local security contacts in the field
• Support, and lead if required, emergency response for projects as a core member of their Incident Management Teams (IMT), and ensure all incidents are reported to the SMU
• Lead the implementation of the risk assessment mitigation measures provided by SMU
• Provide real-time safety and security information and assessments for areas of activity implementation and in support of staff movements amid the ongoing war
• Monitor situations and emergencies that occur in areas with staff presence and/or have an impact on project activities and ensure staff are aware
• Monitor staff status and locations when in transit in Ukraine, Poland, and other parts of Eastern Europe as needed
• Develop and maintain project telephone trees and emergency contact lists, Emergency Action Plans, and as needed, project and facility security risk assessments
• Provide staff, including Home Office employees, new business staff, and other short-term consultants, upon arrival, a brief on important safety and security issues
• Coordinate security arrangements for events hosted by the project, including analyses of the venues and networking with local security contacts
• Lead emergency preparedness and ensure staff receive necessary training, including on the use of satellite phones
• Directly supervise all security subcontractor assets, monitor activities, and evaluate performance
• Monitor staff members’ implementation of safety and security procedures and report all breaches in compliance
• Network with other security organizations, including the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), U.S. Embassy, and other implementing partners to understand the security situation and be able to make relevant recommendations
• Collaborate with the USAID Partner Liaison Security Office and/or US Embassy Regional Security Officer (RSO) in Poland and Ukraine (relocated to Poland), as needed
• Provide a safety and security orientation to all staff members at the beginning of their employment and ongoing training throughout their employment
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Poland Platform Security Director, COP/TL or their designee consistent with the overall nature of the project

Qualifications:

• University degree in relevant field or discipline
• At least 5 years’ experience in security management and oversight roles in high-risk environments
• Experience working with USAID and/or other international development donor programming and in a multi-cultural environment strongly preferred
• Proven effectiveness for implementing security platforms for civilian operations in conflict zones, to include successful crisis management experience and management of private security providers
• Previous experience in advising senior leadership on crisis management; ability to organize program leadership in the field and act as a liaison with home office leadership
• Must be able to develop pragmatic risk assessments, supporting operational plans for safe travel and project implementation, as well as support venue risk management requirements
• Experience with logistical support and supply chain security as well as familiarity with journey management and personnel tracking systems required
• Proven effectiveness in establishing relevant relationships in complex and high-risk environments
• Proven problem solver in high-risk environments
• Strong ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders both internally and externally
• Fluency in Ukrainian or Russian and English required
• Demonstrated proficiency in acceptance-based risk mitigation strategies
• Good interpersonal skills and commitment to excellence
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, sustainable relationships with staff, USAID Mission and U.S. government personnel, and the general development and business community
• Strong organizational and work prioritization skills, attention to detail
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrates leadership, versatility, and integrity