Senior Humanitarian Access Safety & Security Coordinator

Scope of work

The Senior Humanitarian Access and Security Coordinator (Snr HASS Co) reports to the Country Director (CD) and Roving Safety & Security Director (RSSD) equally and manages the Humanitarian Access & Security Department for the Ukraine country program. The Snr HASS is fully part of the SMT (Senior Management Team) as per protocol for the country at or above level 3. In collaboration with key programs and operations colleagues in Ukraine, he/she will strive to safely enable the delivery of essential services to beneficiaries in Ukraine. She/he will implement humanitarian access and security management systems and protocols in line with humanitarian principles, IRC Standards and Requirements, humanitarian needs, duty of care principles, and IRC’s strategy.

Major Responsibilities

Safety & Security Management

• Provide technical support to country management on all policies, procedures, guidelines, strategies and planning for staff safety, operational security, and program continuity.

• Evaluate, review and update security management plans regularly. Reference and ensure compliance with the IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP and all annexes.

• Work with key stakeholders to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans.

• Conduct risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices and residences. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards.

• Undertake continual assessments of equipment, and the protocols by which that equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met.

• Provide and implement the best possible solutions for the use of communications equipment, including proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment.

• Develop and maintain a network of IRC Security Focal Points at each field office and program site enhancing gender balance.

• Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards.

• Ensure safety and security protocols, reporting mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives account for gender-specific risks, staff profiles, and background, and are sensitive to local contexts.

• Work closely with IRC field management teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately. Ensure that final incident reports are provided when IRC is closing the case.

• Monitor the operating environment in the areas of intervention, identify new threats, assess IRC vulnerabilities and recommend possible responses.

• Review the annual S&S Strategy in coordination with the RSSD and the SMT.

• As a key Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) member, provide sustained support to operational teams and management during an incident.

Humanitarian Access Management

• Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites and include overarching community engagement components.

• In line with the humanitarian principles, develop ongoing relationships with appropriate local authorities and other key stakeholders, encouraging collaboration with IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and with permission to continue humanitarian activities.

• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission, and work in all areas of operation are known and accepted.

• Provide technical input and advice on assessments to consider IRC programming in new geographic locations.

• Liaise and coordinate with relevant security actors e.g., NGO security staff, security forces, local community stakeholders, and local authorities.

Training and Capacity Building

• Support the Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Manager – Partnership and Training to develop, review and deliver appropriate training and capacity-strengthening opportunities to IRC and IRC partners.

• Work with relevant internal focal points to develop, review, and deliver onboarding packages and briefings for new hires and visitors.

Program Development

• Participate in program design in close cooperation with program staff, supporting the development of conflict-sensitive and contextually appropriate approaches.

• Participate in program review meetings and contribute to implementation plans to ensure the timely, safe, and secure delivery of IRC service to beneficiaries.

• Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks pertaining to Safety & Security and Humanitarian Access and contribute to developing and implementing mitigation measures and plans.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.

• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to perform in their positions successfully.

• Approve and manage all time, attendance, and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.

• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the IRC Staff Employment Policies

• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of all staff

Reporting relationships and coordination

Reports to: Country Director (CD)
Technical supervision by: Roving Safety & Security Director (RSSD)
Technically Supervises: Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Manager – Partnership & Training; Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Manager – Operations; and Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Officer (Kyiv). Provides support to Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Officers in field offices who are directly supervised by Field Coordinators.
Key Interfaces: SMT, Technical Coordinators, Field Coordinators, Operations Coordinators, and other relevant staff as necessary with program expansion.

Requirements

• An undergraduate university degree or higher in Political Science, Security Risk Management, Policing, or other equivalent is preferred, though candidates with a technical degree, certification in a related field (e.g., CPP, CSMP, etc.), or significant applicable lived experience will also be considered.

• At least 5 years experience in High-Risk and Complex environments, with at least 2 years experience working with NGOs in international humanitarian programs – all of them as Security or Humanitarian Access staff. Experience in delivering training; ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.

• Proven management experience, including people and projects.

• Highly skilled in organizing and coordinating large-scale, fast-paced, responsive field programs.

• Solid ability to provide team-building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation.

• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with external stakeholders.

• Strong negotiation and mediation skills essential with experience in conflict resolution essential

• Superior oral and written communication skills, with the ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.

• Fluency in English. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Working knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian is strongly preferred.

• Digital literacy: MS Word, Excel & email applications required; MS Access, Project & GIS preferred.

Working Environment: Staff must comply with all IRC security policies and procedures applicable to IRC employees. The positions will be based in complex field locations with medium to high-security risk and basic living conditions

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.