The organization
Plan International is a rights-based humanitarian and development organisation working for better lives for children. We are independent of governments and have no political or religious affiliation.
Our purpose is to fight for a fair world that promotes children’s rights and equality for girls.
We have been building meaningful partnerships for children for over 80 years and are currently active in over 70 countries.
Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and left behind. We have committed to the ambitious goal of reaching 100 million girls within 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to achieving the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality.
Our organization is transforming to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work.
Purpose
The National Safety and Security Advisor will be responsible for actively overseeing and monitoring the security environment in Honduras by establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with colleagues, peers, and government officials, ensuring that Security Protocols are regularly reviewed and updated and followed by staff and visitors alike, to ensure the safety and security of all Plan International staff and beneficiaries, property, and operations.
This will involve, among other things: overseeing, contributing to, promoting and implementing the Global Security Strategy, policies and guidelines in conjunction with (and in consideration of) the Plan Global Security Policy, Security Standards and Security Plans; promoting a positive security culture among staff; monitoring and analysing the security context in Haiti, facilitating the sending of alerts and the decision-making process; promulgating and updating security documents such as Safety and Health Operating Procedures (SSOPs), Security Risk Assessments, as well as Contingency Plans; preparing security incident reports; and supervising and managing security guards, ensuring best security management practices for staff and facilities, and the continuity of safe operations in the country.
The role of National Security and Protection Advisor will report to the Country Representation and the Cluster Security Coordination, keeping abreast of relevant elements and reporting objectives and results, as well as contributing to the consolidation of information and data. Likewise, this role will have a direct relationship and must report to the Regional Security Management.
General Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
– Identify and mitigate potential security risks to personnel, assets and operational/programmatic security.
– Provide contextual analysis of localized and national security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to the Country Representation, and collaborating with Security Cluster Coordination and Regional Security Management.
– Maintain strong links and relationships with other security-related networks and organizations and help develop effective security networks and context-relevant responses.
– Maintain an appropriate level of contact with Security and Safety staff at Cluster and Regional levels, and other external stakeholders to support the implementation of Plan’s Security strategy.
– Prepare security reports and provide regular security analysis.
– Scan the security environment and propose adjustments to security phases, guidelines and procedures as appropriate.
– Responsible for security management at national level in line with Plan International’s acceptance model and standards.
– Develop national level security and contingency plans and ensure compliance with the organisation’s security policies and procedures.
– Develop capacities of security focal points and officers in field locations.
– Initiate security alerts as appropriate in line with the ever-evolving security context across the country.
– Manage the country’s security budget for operations, programmes, training, facilities, offices, equipment such as safety and first aid kits, etc.
– Conduct security site assessments prior to Plan opening offices/guest houses/emergency response/activities in a new area of the country, as well as annual assessments of hotels, guest houses and offices.
– Ensure and update communication trees and ensure emergency communication plans.
– Support and availability to be deployed for Security Assessments and Security Management during national emergencies.
– Ensure annual review of the Travel Security document and security management of all visits in the country.
– Submit Manuals, Security Plans, Procedures and Protocols to Cluster Security Coordination for validation, prior to Country Representative approval.
– Ensure intersectional approach in all tools, processes, communication, in compliance and validation of Security Risks and Site Assessments, as well as Security Plans and Operating Procedures.
– Develop/Ensure and implement security guidelines during emergencies based on regional and global guidelines/policies.
– Participate or collaborate in Security and/or Access Clusters during humanitarian emergencies.
Policies, Strategy and Implementation of Standards and Performance
– Provide an overview and objective analysis of security trends and risks/issues in Honduras and their implications for Plan as a whole and its partners.
– Offer advice when necessary to Country Representation/Cluster Security Coordination/Regional Security Management on implementation decisions to ensure Plan’s duty of care at all times to its staff and partners.
– Disseminate globally and regionally approved information, guidelines and policies as necessary and appropriate.
– Contribute to global strategy and policy amendments as requested.
– Ensure the use of approved security management templates, tools and guidelines.
– Review the country’s Security SOPs annually, propose any improvements and create ad hoc SOPs or necessary changes and implement changes that have been found necessary and approved.
– Maintain records of security-related training programs throughout the country to ensure and monitor that the security training needs of the country’s personnel are being planned and met.
Reporting, Monitoring and Compliance
– Lead continuous improvement of Plan Honduras capabilities and compliance with global and regional security standards or initiatives.
– Conduct safety and security assessments to inform programming decisions and actions.
– Conduct and/or review the risk matrix for the Cluster countries and ensure proper validation of the risk matrices for any potential Cluster projects.
– Review all security and vehicle incident reports and follow up on the implementation of recommended management actions.
– Monitor events/trends/dynamics, support incident management (any high-risk security incidents and crises will be handled with guidelines from the Regional Security Management)
– Lead Security Risk Assessment to analyze, prevent, mitigate and inform programming decisions and actions.
– Produce quarterly proactive mapping of country-wide security hotspots and upcoming events for the Country Management Team.
– Provide timely, concise and clearly articulated semi-annual security management compliance reports to Cluster Security Coordination and Country Representation.
– Ensure contingency plans and systems for each country office.
– Ensure post-incident support mechanisms are in place and promoted among staff, including medical, family and psychosocial support.
Capacity Building and Training
– Ensures the development of FAST/VESPA/SSAFE/HEAT training in the cluster countries, with the objective of achieving the global KPI of 100% trained personnel in the assigned cluster.
– Support the Cluster Security Coordination in the capacity development of the Focal Points of the Country Offices.
– Assist in delivering security awareness training to staff members.
– Reinforce the culture of reporting security incidents among National Security Focal Points and all national staff.
– Monitor compliance with all security standard requirements related to staff/visitor/contractor travel and security briefings.
– Provides safety briefings to new staff, including personal safety and reference to Safety Protocols.
Networks, Communication and Coordination
– Provide country and cluster level security alerts/trends/analysis in line with the evolving security context of the country.
– Maintain efficient lines of communication between the Cluster Security Coordination and the country SFPs.
– Liaise with internal/external Security Specialists ensuring interagency relationships between security peers to share information, validating with Cluster Security Coordination for alignment and accuracy.
– Oversee and provide support/reporting on government/UN/NGO field security initiatives as needed, and always report and align with Cluster Security Coordination and/or Regional Security Management.
– Identify, create and maintain a security network with NGO/UN and other in-country security specialists.
– Assist in the collection of information for Situational Reports (SitRep) and security-related alerts and notices for Honduras.
– Ensure, coordinate and manage the proper use of telecommunications systems, always ensuring communications in emergencies.
Assessment, Analysis and Monitoring
– Review and recommend approval/non-approval of staff travel requests.
– Ensure and update Security Site Assessments for all offices, hotels, etc.
– Participate in field missions and conduct security risk assessments.
– Lead the identification and minimization of potential security risks to personnel, partners, assets, and operational/programmatic security.
– Monitor events, review incidents, and coordinate analysis, follow-up actions, and recommendations.
– Provide informed recommendations in the context of security assessments and reviews.
– Assess the implementation of security policies and the level of vulnerability of the facility and recommend/monitor any changes required to improve security.
– Ensure quarterly security reporting and management standards, monitor and share KPIs and map security hotspots.
– Develop and implement a security training plan for all staff and partners.
– Conduct and ensure updates to Security Risk Assessments (SRAs), Security Standards Operating Procedures (SSOPs), Site Assessments, and Security Plans (including contingency plans) for each office, providing recommendations for adjustments to security phasing, policies, and procedures.
– Request validation from Cluster Security Coordination of Security Risk Assessments (SRAs), Security Standards Operating Procedures (SSOPs), Site Assessments, and Security Plans (including contingency plans) for each office.
– Support with information on the national security context or any other data requested by the Cluster Security Coordination or the Regional Security Management.
Diversity and Inclusion Approach
– Focus on people and support initiatives that address the unique risks faced by our workforce in all their diversity.
– Ensure intersectionality, gender and child protection are integrated into all safety-related programs, assessments and analysis.
– Lead/ensure the implementation of the ‘Safety for All’ strategy and ensure that the ‘Women in Security Consultation’ action plans and access to PEP kits are implemented in the Country.
Child Protection (CPP), Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)
– Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for child and youth protection and gender equality and inclusion are fully integrated in accordance with the policy principles and requirements, including relevant implementation standards and guidelines as appropriate to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring that staff and partners are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with appropriate procedures.
Key Relationships:
Internal
– Two-way reporting to Country Representation and Cluster Security Coordination
– Regional Security Manager
– Cluster Management Team
– Security/Safeguarding/Communications/Programs/DRM/P&C Focal Points
External
– Security networks within Honduras, especially UN agencies and international NGOs. Leadership and staff of local and international security management companies, and government officials.
Knowledge, skills, behaviors, and experience required to achieve the objectives of the position:
Key Requirements:
– Bachelor’s degree required.
– 3-5 years of relevant work experience in a security and protection management or advisory role, possibly with experience in political-humanitarian crisis contexts.
– Formal technical training in safety and security is an advantage. Previous management roles with international NGOs in complex/insecure environments are an advantage.
– Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and leadership skills. Ability to lead through influence and knowledge, rather than hierarchical authority.
– Experience in designing and delivering training, particularly basic personal security.
– Ability to get along with a diverse group of people, provide service to staff whilst managing multiple priorities
– Ability to work under pressure and provide support in humanitarian emergencies
– Knowledge, capacity and willingness to learn. Plan International’s management and programme tools and frameworks adhere to Plan International’s policies and guidelines
– Mental/Physical Requirements: Willingness to travel up to a possible 50% of the time, primarily within Honduras
Desirable Requirements
– The ability to translate Spanish – English / English – Spanish
– Formal technical training in security and protection is an advantage
– Previous management roles with international NGOs in insecure/complex environments are an advantage
– Humanitarian Access and Negotiations as a plus
Level of contact with children:
– Low contact: Low frequency of interaction
Job Location: Tegucigalpa
Type of Function: Programmatic
Reports to: Bi-directional reporting to Country Representative and Cluster Security Coordination
Deadline/Closing date: August 2, 2024
Plan International Values
We are open and accountable
We create a climate of trust within and outside the organization by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others accountable for the decisions we make and our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.
We strive to make a lasting impact
We strive to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to ensure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, brave, responsive, focused and innovative.
We work well together
We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including our funders and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, young people, communities and our partners.
We are inclusive and empowering
We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and workplace. We support children and young people to grow in confidence and change their own lives. We empower our staff to do their best and fulfil their potential.
Early application is recommended as we will review applications during the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advertisement early.
In accordance with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy, a series of pre-employment checks will be carried out.
As an international child-centred community development organisation, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realisation of children’s rights, including their right to protection from violence and abuse. This means we have particular responsibilities towards the children we come into contact with.
Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. We must not contribute in any way to harming or putting children at risk.
Plan International operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.