oPt Security & Access Manager At Relief International

More Information

Experience 5-10

Title : oPt Security & Access Manager

Location : Gaza oPt

Travel :60%

Job Family and Grade : Professional Family P6

Pre hire checks

This role is classified as requiring standard pre-employment checks /enhanced due diligence

Scope

Department: Security & Access

Reporting to: Country Director

Direct reports:

Direct supervision:

Security & Access Coordinator

Budget responsibility: NA

2. Context

About Relief International

Relief International (RI) partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and well-being.

Currently, RI is active in 14 countries around the world, including some of the most fragile: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.

Relief International includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: Relief International Inc., Relief International-UK, Relief International-France and Relief International-Europe Under our alliance agreement, we operate with a single, shared management structure.

About our Country Program/ Regional Programs

Relief International was operational in OPT starting in 2007, and after entering hibernation period in 2017, has recently reactivated its operations at the end of 2023. Relief International is currently building its response to the current and evolving situation in both Gaza and the West Bank through both a direct implementation and partnership approach. Relief International’s programming in OPT follows Relief International’s global strategy with Health as a central focus with components linked to our work in Health through the sectors of WASH, Protection, Education and Livelihoods. The context in OPT is extremely dynamic and requires focus on nexus programming that brings together both humanitarian service delivery combined with systems strengthening and longer-term programming.

3. Job Profile

The Security and Access Manager is responsible for developing humanitarian access strategy, program risk analysis and program risk management, incident management, capacity building, and ensuring that RI staff in Country are appropriately supported to implement program activities. In the extremely volatile context of OPT, this position is a leadership role within the country senior management team. This position is expected to deploy to high and extreme risk locations to facilitate and lead programme start-ups in OPT. The incumbent is expected to have significant and proven experience being a leader in complex environments including being self-sufficient in hostile areas where access restrictions are very high.

Key responsibilities

Accountability & Complexity

Strategic Leadership: Leads security, access, and risk management strategies to ensure staff safety and operational success in complex environments.
Decision-Making: Exercises autonomy in high-stakes decisions, consulting only on the most complex issues.
Impact: Develops and implements policies and plans that directly affect operational and strategic outcomes.

Security and Access:

Collaborate with the country team and Regional Security and Access Director to identify and mitigate risks in operational environments and project locations.
Lead access negotiations with stakeholders, providing strategic advice to the Country Director (CD).
Ensure regular capacity-building initiatives for staff, focusing on security and access.
Develop, review, and maintain country risk management tools, SOPs, and contingency plans, ensuring staff adherence and preparedness.
Proactively report security incidents, implementing timely mitigation and response measures.
Maintain consistent communication with the Regional Security and Access Director on operational and contextual developments.
Prepare and monitor budgets for security-related needs, ensuring efficient resource allocation.
Conduct security risk assessments and establish effective mitigation measures to safeguard staff, premises, assets, and the organization’s reputation.
Oversee the development, implementation, and monitoring of country and area contingency plans to ensure their relevance and effectiveness.
Analyze access dynamics and provide actionable guidance to align with program demands, including humanitarian principles and stakeholder analysis.
Identify risks and threats to program activities, advising the senior management team on mitigation strategies.

Team Management

Provide technical guidance and oversight to area security focal points and safety focal persons.
Design and implement capacity-building plans in collaboration with HR and the Regional Security and Access Director, ensuring targeted staff training on Security Risk Management (SRM) and access.
Ensure effective performance management for security and access focal points, promoting accountability and professional growth.
Foster a healthy workplace environment by balancing workloads, ensuring proper leave management, and addressing staff care needs.
Work with HR to identify and mitigate risks of workplace stress and burnout, implementing preventative measures.

Coordination and Representation

Represent RI in access and security coordination mechanisms, including Access and Security Working Groups.
Maintain robust communication and collaboration with INGO and UN humanitarian access focal points to align on shared priorities.

4. Behavior and conduct

Ensures that behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies
Acts with integrity and holds themselves accountable for being respectful, inclusive and professional
Reports any concerns

Person Specification

Bachelor’s degree is desirable with commensurate work experience. Prior relevant working experience will be considered without a third level degree.
Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in security and access management in high-risk settings.
Certification in SRM or risk management is desirable.
Strong analytical skills with significant experience providing high quality risk and security risk assessments.
Experience in OPT is desirable but not essential. The role will deploy to all OPT areas.
Strong and proven experience for providing high quality SRM training including HEAT.
Minimum of FREC 3, MIRA or equivalent qualification which is current is essential.
Qualified to deliver emergency first aid/trauma care is desirable.
Prior experience leading teams in high risk locations including providing medical cover for team members.
Prior experience in critical incident management and providing CMT/IMT training to senior management teams.
Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with colleagues in a multi-cultural setting.
Ability to work independently, set priorities, and manage time efficiently.
Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including ability to give effective feedback and to guide and mentor direct reports.
Proficient in Microsoft Office suite and mapping software such as ARC GiS or similar platforms.