Staff Safety & Access Manager

ROLE PURPOSE:

As a member of the Senior Management team, the Staff Access and Safety Manager supports the Save the Children Country office by providing tactical and operational security management guidance to our staff and partner organizations. The incumbent of the role will be responsible to assure that the Save the Children team in the country is safe by ensuing following means: Timely, accurate, consultative situation analysis

* Strategic leadership position with direct coordination with the regional office
* Embedded as fully integrated SMT member with decision making authority
* Strategic Compliance oversight
* Information and network development with key stakeholders
* Technical advisor to SMT and ESMT for policy and procedure management
* Capacity building and development of Staff Safety and Access team
* Management of Save the Children safety & security in line with Save the Children Essential Standards and KPIs

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Country Director
Staff reporting to this post: 0

Direct: None
Indirect: Three
Budget Responsibilities: None
Role Dimensions: (e.g. complexity, relationships, communication with stakeholders)

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential. We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.9 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programs in health, nutrition, education, protection, and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises. Following a major transition, our international programs are now delivered, in Iraq, through a merged operation with 200 staff, managed through four field offices reporting to the Country office. Travel and oversight over the field offices across KRI and Federal Iraq is necessary in order to ensure all staff, partners, and beneficiaries are able to operate and be served in accordance to the policies and procedures of SCI.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Humanitarian Access & Programme Continuity:
* With the full participation of relevant colleagues in the process, ensure regular actor mapping of all relevant political, military, and civil society actors occurs in operational areas.
* Develop and update analysis of political and military dynamics in key identified contexts and the implications for humanitarian operations and access.
* Facilitate and support the development and delivery of strategies and plans to advance humanitarian access, and work closely with program and project teams to design/adapt programs to ensure effective delivery in high risk environments.
* Identify ways to strengthen effective engagement with government, non-state armed actors, and civil society (based on identified gaps). Build networks with stakeholders which improve acceptance and facilitate humanitarian access.
* Engage in and develop effective partnerships and networks with other NGOs (international and national). Share learning with colleagues and partners, and contribute to a community of practice and culture of learning and reflection.
* Ensure a comprehensive register of developments related to access and humanitarian space, from team updates and local and international sources, and used to guide planning and inform development of SOPs.
* Ensure that situational information and updates related to humanitarian access and safety are effectively disseminated across the organization, and reach field level staff.
* Identify potential scenarios, indicators of change in humanitarian space, and key decision points, utilising data from multiple sources.
* Support the Country Director to ensure that humanitarian access considerations are comprehensively incorporated into emergency preparedness and general humanitarian planning, including appropriate budgeting.
* Ensure that Safety & Security Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPAs) and Advanced Preparedness Actions (APAs) under the Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) are met.
* Advise and support the Country Office on issues such as principled access strategies, negotiations with line ministries or technical departments as well humanitarian negotiations and engagement with security forces and armed groups.
* Ensure Humanitarian Access & Safety is maintained as a standing agenda item on the SMT, and facilitate buy-in from across SMT. Provide regular updates for SMT/SLT on key issues with recommendations.

Safety & Security Risk Assessment and Planning:
* Support the Safety & Security Officers and field-level Safety and Security Focal Points (SSFPs to ensure the adoption and compliance with Save the Children’s Safety and Security Policy and Standards by all staff.
* Through all work, promote the concept that safe the whole team should jointly develop safety and security plans and guidelines to create ownership and encourage compliance; and that safety and security should be amongst the first planning considerations as an integral element of programme design and operations.
* Ensure all KPI and compliance documentation is updated as required and submitted to Regional Security Director (RSD) in accordance with GSS schedules
* Assess and evaluate security guidelines and make recommendations for improvements of security management plans (SMP), evacuation contingency plans, medevac procedures and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Develop new policies and procedures as needed, in coordination with field teams and Safety & Security staff, which support the safe delivery of programme activities, and maintain strong community engagement.
* Provide relevant technical assistance and guidance in implementing plans. Ensure all staff understand SMPs, contingency plans and SOPs and agree to abide by its policies and procedures. Supervise and monitor the progress of plan implementation.
* Ensure Security Risk Assessments are conducted for any emergency response and humanitarian operations.
* Support the Safety & Security Officers and field-level Safety and Security Focal Points (SSFPs) to ensure Pre-Departure Information (PDI) is up-to-date, and that all visitors and international staff at both country and field level receive safety briefings.
* Support the Safety & Security Officers and field-level Safety and Security Focal Points (SSFPs to ensure all Save the Children vehicles, premises, warehouses and equipment are compliant with basic safety standards.
* Advise on safe movement of staff and support teams in maintaining travel safety; including establishing movement approval and communications processes, and resolving issues related to armed escorts.
* Support the Safety & Security Officers and field-level Safety and Security Focal Points (SSFPs) to maintain and update crisis management response systems, ensuring that lines of communication/reporting are fully understood and implemented.
* Identify and report on emerging safety and security trends and report incidents. Support in delivering staff debriefings after incidences, ensuring report forms are properly compiled, and monitoring compliance with action points.
* Support business development and operations team to appropriately budget for safety and security measures in new proposals.
* Support the Country Director with crisis incident management and establish appropriate systems and procedures.
* Provide briefings on thematic and specific issues, as requested by the Country Director.

Capacity Building, Training and Development
* Support capacity development through training and/or coaching for colleagues, including on principled access strategies, humanitarian negotiations, and gaining community acceptance.
* Ensure the comprehensive training of Safety and Security Focal Points (SSFPs), including on issues specifically related to humanitarian access

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
* holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
* holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
* sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team aligned to the Country Strategy and Regional Security Strategy, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
* widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
* future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
* builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
* values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
* approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
* develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
* willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
* honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS
* Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field.
* Graduate Degree or equivalent in Security Management or related field.
* Security Management Certifications from accredited institution.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
* At least 8 years relevant experience with 5 of which should be in a similar position in Safety & Access, preferably in Iraq
* Solid examples of enabling humanitarian access in conflict/ war zones and areas with active Armed Opposition Groups
* Experience of remote security management and working with local partners to build their capacity on security management
* Proven track record as a safety and security trainer, providing First Aid, Personal Security and Crisis Management Trainings
* Familiarity with the integrated role of safety and security at the heart of programme operations in high risk environments. This include experience with refugees/ IDPs camps and host communities
* Proven experience formulating and communicating analysis of operational conditions in complex contexts
* Experience in Security Risk Assessment.
* Experience in Crisis Incident Management
* Understands the complexity and values of non-profit organizations and “Do No Harm” principles
* Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate at all levels, establish information networks, and coordinate with country authorities, militias, donors, International Organisations and local NGOs.
* High level cross-cultural skills including the ability to build collaborative relationships internally and externally with sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, social and political issues
* Ability to work with minimum supervision in a highly stressful and challenging environment.
* Proven ability to work constructively in diverse teams and to manage national staff
* Proven skills in concise and succinct report writing.
* Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.
* A commitment to the mission, vision and values of Save the Children
* Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, and ensuring good understanding of the Save the Children mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin all aspects of the job.
* Commitment to Save the Children Child Safeguarding policy.
* Fluent in English (written and spoken)
* Written and Spoken proficiency in Arabic
* Familiarity with the various key state and non-state actors impacting the political and humanitarian environment of the area conflict, including the United Nations, INGOs, NGOs, governments, and donors.
* Experience living and working in country or neighbouring countries
* Excellent IT Literacy skills (Microsoft Office, email, internet)

The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
* No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
* All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
* Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.