ERT Safety & Security Coordinator At International Rescue Committee

Multi-lingual skills crucial – with priority placed on French, Spanish and Arabic

The IRC Emergency Response Team (ERT) staff is expected to be deployed in the field, either in an emergency or roving capacity, for 65% of the time and must be able to deploy to the site of an emergency within 72 hours of notification; emergency deployments take precedence over other duties.

Members of the ERT are deployed to either support existing country programs in their emergency response, or to initiate a new program in the crisis zone. The overall responsibility of the team is to rapidly and effectively design, develop and manage the IRC’s on-site humanitarian response to meet the immediate needs of the affected population. The ERT is also responsible for supporting the transfer of responsibilities and knowledge to the long-term staff to ensure the continuity of IRC programming and operations.

The ERT Safety and Security Coordinator (SSC) will be responsible for the overall management and implementation of IRC’s Safety and Security Policies during emergency deployments. S/he will work with the Director of People & Operations in Emergencies, to ensure that organizational security policies and procedures are adapted to the specific context of each response, adequate and known to staff. The SSC will conduct training on site for staff and others (external security providers) and facilitate development and implementation of appropriate security management responses including plans and Standard Operating Procedures that fits IRC’s policy and standards. S/he will provide expert security advice to all levels of IRC staff working in the emergency response including security updates, travel advisories, and incident management.

Major Responsibilities

Emergency Response

1. Safety and Security Management Planning

• Conduct Security Risks Assessments of the environment and provide prioritized recommendations for context specific security management requirements to the ERT Country Director. Execute all approved recommendations.

• Based on the outcomes of the Security Risk Assessment; produce, roll out and maintain updated security management planning policies for the IRC ERT / Country Team, ensuring compliance to global IRC safety and security policy and standards.

• Establish and ensure maintenance of all IRC S&S management framework components including incident reporting and trend analysis systems to advise program design and implementation, staff movement, and contingency responses.

• Construct a suitable communications infrastructure to allow the ERT /field team to communicate appropriately. Using this infrastructure implement context appropriate movement control protocols.

• Train staff on IRC safety and security management policy, approaches, systems and practices specific to response. Supervise compliance, suggesting refreshers or reassignments where required.

• In cooperation with other IRC functions among the ERT team and country office, ensure safety and security cost are included into proposals

• Ensure sustainability of the safety and security management systems and appropriate handover to Country office Security Focal Point.

2. Building Acceptance to empower and expand humanitarian programming

• Within each response build with critical team members, a community outreach and acceptance plan, and collaborate closely with the ERT Country Director to ensure that appropriate staff time is allocated to achieve implementation, follow up and efficiency analysis of the plan.

• Develop ongoing relationships with community elders and other power brokers within response regions. Work both internally and externally to ensure that IRC, its mission and work in the region is known and accepted. Encourage partners to work with the IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and allowed to continue humanitarian activities. Liaise with program staff to ensure partners’ feedback are advising program design and implementation.

• Provide technical input and advice in assessments to consider new IRC programs in new geographic areas, and technical input in the writing of new program proposals as required;

• In coordination with ERT Country Director, liaise with relevant security actors

• Ensure monitoring of the context preparing and disseminating daily update and context brief while deployed

3. Monitoring, Analysis and Supervision.

• Identify, establish and lead context appropriate approach to assure IRC facilities are secure – i.e. third party security companies or directly hired IRC security watchmen.

• Compile and submit security reporting that track incidents and trends within the IRC’s area of operation. Submit daily contextual updates as needed to the ERT Country Director and Chief Safety & Security Officer

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

• Coordinate regularly with the designated Regional Safety and Security Director/Advisor, and fulfil reporting requirements.

• Report to Chief Safety & Security Officer on all technical and contextual safety and Security issues

4. Team Management

• Identify, recruit, and train new security staff for new country programs, when appropriate ensure mentoring/capacity building of existing country office security staff

• Ensure all staff receive appropriate safety and security orientation and reference materials.

• Provide Technical support to Safety & Security staff on the Emergency External Roster (EER)

5. Emergency Preparedness

• Work with the EHAU and high risks country programs to implement security emergency preparedness through in country training, mentoring and remote technical support.

• Participate in and contribute to security content for EHAU training and conferences.

Travel: up to 65% must be able to deploy

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of non-profit or NGO work experience within international humanitarian assistance programs with proven successes in planning, organizing and leading Safety and security in complex and volatile environments. Ability to commit to deployment within 72 hours of notification of assignment for a minimum of 6 and up to 12 weeks;

• Understanding of humanitarian principles, codes of conduct and ideally, specific sub-sector work linked to NGO field operations contexts;

• Advanced level knowledge of communications technology, including VHF, HF radio systems, satellite communications, cell phone mediums, etc.;

• Meaningful and detailed, prior experience as a trainer and training skills – the ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.

• Ability to gain a precise understanding of the various local, regional, country and international policies, operational positions and interactions, providing clear dynamic briefings and analysis of given and unfolding security and political situations when they occur.

• Multi-lingual skills crucial – with priority placed on French, Spanish and Arabic

EHAU strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a unit and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation

Narrowing the Gender Gap: The International Rescue Committee is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including a flexible hours (when possible), maternity leave, transportation support, and gender-sensitive security protocols.