Safety and Security Coordinator (Nairobi). at International Rescue Committee

Requisition ID: req17380

Open to Expatriates: No

Job Description

The Safety and Security Coordinator (SSC) reports to the Deputy Director, Operations (DDO) and Regional Security and Safety Director (RSSD) East Africa equally, and manages the safety & Security Department for the country program. Safety and security coordinator shall advise program team on integrating safety and security risk management into program design and implementation. He or she shall use risk assessment to guide and review program implementation. He or she shall establish a network of pertinent personnel from other INGOs and various stakeholders for the benefit of informed decision making on access and program delivery within acceptable risk boundaries. In collaboration with key field coordinators, prepare and review Security Management plan (SMPs) for each field locations and ensure it is approved on an annual basis or when a significant change in the security or operational contest occur. He/she will strive to safely enable the delivery of essential services to women, men, and children in Kenya Country program. She/he will implement Safety and security management systems and protocols in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care principles, and IRC’s strategy.

IRC Kenya Country program work in the two largest refugee camps in Kenya (Dadaab in Garissa and Kakuma in Turkana), IRC also work in Lodwar and expanding to West Pokot and Nairobi and parts of Kajiado through direct program implementation in Health, Nutrition, Women Protection and Empowerment, protection, and livelihood programs in Nairobi and Kajiado.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Management & Coordination

• Provide technical support to the CD, DDO, and Field Coordinator on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational security, and program continuity.
• Evaluate, review the security management and contingency plans updated by FC on a regular basis in compliance with global safety and security standards and requirements.
• The Safety and Security Coordinator shall, in a timely manner, inform personnel of any change in the security environment and/or security regulations.
• Ensure humanitarian access approaches are responsive to local context and include overarching community engagement components.
• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission, and work in the areas of operations is known and accepted.

Context Understanding and Reporting

• Compile and submit regular reports that track incidents and trends in humanitarian access and local security contexts within the IRC’s area of operation.
• Revise or rewrite the incident report submitted by the field, provide support to them through this report and link with the RSSD to be sure appropriate incident management is followed up.
• In case of severe incident involving death of staff, kidnapping, massive extraction, or evacuation of staff: directly contact the RSSD through the RSSD.
• Provide credible information and contextual understanding of localized and country-wide security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice and analysis to IRC field, RSSD and program management staff.
• Provide technical input and advice in assessments to consider new IRC programs in new geographic areas, and regular assessment reviews for existing locations.
• Monitor and review regularly the Security Risk Assessments (SRA) coming from the FC and share results with Country Management Team with advisory on how to respond to changing context.
• Produce daily (DSR) and weekly reports to the RSSD EA as required by IRC internal regulations.  
• Update the Shield application according to data provided by FC, HR.
• Update the Country score cards objectives on a quarterly basis after a meeting with the RSSD.
• Safety & Security Coordinator shall conduct threat, risk, and vulnerability assessments for all relevant programs. Personnel of diverse profiles shall be consulted in a diversity-sensitive (including gender-sensitive) manner during the risk assessment process.

Training and Capacity Building

• Work closely with the RSSD to identify learning and development needs in the country program.
• Establish the country training plan in link with the FC who will update it according to the findings of the SRAs,
• Provide regular trainings to IRC staff (FC, SMT, Managers…) which address the identified training needs. Trainings may include Standard Operational Procedures; Humanitarian Negotiations; Contextual Understanding; Safety & Security Risk Management; Incident Management & Reporting, humanitarian principles and safety and security preparedness etc.…
• Coach and mentor, the FC and Field security focal points on technical topics as described in the Standards and Requirements.

Program Development

• Participate in program design in close cooperation with the DDP and DDO.
• Participate to the first draft of proposal with the other support team (finance and grants) to be sure a specific budget for security management is taken in consideration.
• Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks pertaining humanitarian access, safety, and security, and contribute to the development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans.
• Make sure that at least once a year, a dedicated meeting is organized at SMT level to discuss IRC risk appetite for each location.

Networking and Liaison

• Maintain and disseminate up-to-date warden tree for all IRC offices.
• Maintain a network of IRC security focal points in the country program as well as with external professional contacts and counterparts.
• Identify, create, and maintain a network with NGO/UNDSS, INSO and other humanitarian access and security specialists.
• Participation to main Nairobi security meeting with sister INGOs

Security contingency Preparedness and Response

• Contribute to development of country security contingency preparedness plans.
• Coordinate with Program and Operational departments to develop operational and programmatic contingency plans that respond to identified emergency scenarios.
• Build capacity of in-country Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) as well as Safety and Security Management Teams (SSMTs – Field Based).
• Maintain up-to-date evacuation plan for international staff.
• Make sure that the proof of life document is up to date and stored in a safe way.
• Update the med evac plan on a regular basis in link with Department.

Human Resources and Staff Development

• Promote team spirit, cohesion, respect, and the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct among all the Security staff in close cooperation with HR department. Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global and IRC HR Policies and Procedures.
• 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. 
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Provide a measurable capacity building plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity and exchanging knowledge within the team. Additionally, ensure that all direct reports develop and implement Capacity Building Plans for their teams.
• Ensure appropriate support to field-based staff via regular site visits, producing reports with action points to monitor.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate.
• Promote and monitor staff care, well-being, and self-care.

Other

• As requested by the CD, support IRC communication, advocacy, and media efforts, including but not limited to facilitating IRC HQ, IRC region or donor field visits.
• Contribute to discussion on how IRC Kenya can improve security culture among national and international staff.
• Budget revision and building twice a year in close link with the DDO and SMT.

Qualifications

• University degree in Business/Organizations Management, Political Sciences, Security Management, or related field, preferred. Technical degree or certification in related field with significant applicable experience.
• No Police or Military background
• At least 5 years’ experience of operational access and security support of multi-sector humanitarian relief or development projects in Kenya or similar context in the region, preferably at senior level positions.
• Strong security management skills and experience, international experience is required.
• Understanding of local context, dynamics, and access limitations related gender, disability, religion, tradition, and local norms.
• Strong experience as a trainer; ability to develop, implement, facilitate, and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.
• INGO experience and knowledge of donor requirements.
• Flexibility, adaptability, culturally sensitive, team player.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

• Proven experience as professional and reliable manager.
• Exceptional organizational and coordination skills.
• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to design and lead training engagements with staff to enhance skills and adapt to changing program demands.
• Ability to ensure staff abide with the security policies.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks.
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.