Regional Safety and Security Director, Asia at Save the Children

The Opportunity

The Regional Safety and Security Director (RSSD) directs the development, implementation and monitoring of an effective strategy, and related policies and practices to identify, analyze, and mitigate safety hazards and security risks, enable humanitarian access, maintain continuity of operations and programs, and provide for the safety and security of all SCI employees and assets in APAC.

The RSSD acts as an advisor to the RD and APAC CDs and provides input, including comprehensive security risk analysis and recommendations related to strategic, operational, programmatic, partnership, and cross-cutting risks.

The RSSD serves as the subject matter expert on humanitarian access and community engagement strategies in APAC. The RSSD ensures adequate protocols and mechanisms are in place to address country programs’ unique risks and challenges.

S/he provides direction and technical support direction in developing and maintaining country programs’ context-specific field security management plans and leads/facilitates the regional crisis management team. The RSSD has the authority to direct and implement appropriate safety and security measures for SCI country programs. Reporting to the Regional Director and the Global Safety & Security Director (GSSD), the RSSD is a member of APAC regional management team and of the global safety and security function organization-wide.

Key relationships include: Regional Director; Regional Programme Operations Director; Country Directors; Deputy Directors; Counterparts in other regions; Global Safety & Security Director;

Key Responsibilities

Regional Context Analysis & Networking

Provide credible and comprehensive context analyses and recommendations related to strategic, operational, programmatic, partnerships, and cross-cutting risks of localized and regional security situations and incidents along to COs and ARO SMT

Monitor the security environment in the region, identify new threats, assess SCI vulnerabilities and recommend possible responses

Monitor the Health and Safety environment in the region, identify or support the identification of new hazards, assess SCI vulnerabilities and recommend possible responses

Identify, create and maintain a network with NGO/UN and other security specialists suitable for the region. Facilitate regional NGO security coordination through networking, collaboration and coordination with humanitarian actors

Safety and Security Risk Management:

Lead departmental safety hazard and security risk identification and mitigation actions that align with organizational and regional risk-management initiatives.

Lead in developing and maintaining a structured security risk management culture within APAC where security risks are considered in the decision-making process and the everyday working situations of all managers and staff members.

Ensure safety and security risk management processes and best practices are inclusive of gender-specific risks and gender equality is embedded into such processes

Manage security risks with best practices in accordance with SC Safety and Security Policy and Standards; and international standards. Ensure that SCI partners also receive security management support benefiting from internal systems and best practices relevant to their operations and operating contexts.

Provide technical input to proposal development and make recommendations for appropriate safety and security budgets

Monitor and case manage Datix entries from country programs or the regional office related to safety and security incidents, provide timely feedback and when appropriate support or lead investigations to case closure

Communicate regularly with the Director GSS on incidents, emerging threats and risks, and lessons learnt for other Regions to consider

Develop and maintain a database of security incidents in the region

Develop and maintain a database of safety incidents and near misses in the region

Maintain the network of Security Focal Points at each country program office and conduct regular update calls with country Programme Operation leads and security focal points

Actively contribute to the development and roll-out of duty of care initiatives globally and regionally

Support the Region and GSS with travel risk management of all travellers to the region in accordance with ISO 31030 and SCI Travel Policy and Procedures

Humanitarian Access Management:

Establish principled and secure humanitarian access to enable durable programming across APAC

Assist in the continued development of humanitarian access teams and activities across the region

Contribute in developing and implementing guidelines for humanitarian access and engagement with non-state actors

Oversee and advise on the implementation and review of tailored acceptance and community engagement strategies

Maintain a high level of preparedness vis-a-vis predicted contextual fluctuations operationally and programmatically

Advise on the development of operational and programmatic contingency plans that responds to different emergency scenarios that look at sudden changes in context

Enhance SCI image and acceptance within the community and amongst stakeholders by providing guidance on inclusive visibility strategies

Security Management Planning and Compliance:

Ensure that each country program in the region has current, complete, accurate and adequate security management plans on file and that each plan is revised and updated as needed but not less than once per year ;

Ensure that Country safety and security management planning, policies and procedures are in compliance with SCI’s organizational policy and procedure requirements

Provide a draft safety and security management plan (SSMP) template as required, and provide support, advice and feedback as offices develop or revise SSMPs that are country-specific or field site-specific

Direct CO security plan revisions when there is significant change in the security environment

Inform RD, RPOD and CDs of any areas of concern, non-compliance, or potential or suspected violations

Security Capacity Development & Learning:

Support the Regional Security manager (RSM) to develop security orientation packages for incoming staff and visitors, and monitor compliance with the security orientation policy

Create and deliver, in collaboration with the RSM, security training programs that reaches a maximum number of national and international staff, as well as, where appropriate, SCI partners. Keep useful records on staff training and report at least annually on training performed at all levels

Ensure capacity development and learning initiatives account for gender-specific risks and requirements

Support each country program team in ensuring that each new employee, visitor and country staff returning to the program – international or national – receives a safety and security orientation within 48 hours of arrival in-country. Provide a framework for field security orientations and ensure that security information is up-to-date and utilized

ensure that every new international employee receives an appropriate security briefing packet and, when possible, a briefing on personal security, SCI security policies and the relevant country-specific security management plan

Participate actively in the design and delivery of worldwide safety and security trainings organized by SCI Global

Assist country program offices in arranging ad hoc security training workshops appropriate to security environments, deliver training to country and/or source adequate trainer on behalf of COs

Assist in recruitment, selection and orientation processes for international and national security staff

Emergency Response and Crisis Management:

As required, support and advise the RD, Country Director(s) and GSSDs during humanitarian or security/safety emergencies, serving on a Senior Management Crisis Team

Assist with the security component (situation analysis and background information, security assessments) of the Emergency Response Team deployments in the region

Staff Performance Management and Development

Supervise, coach and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews

Act as technical supervisor for all country security focal points and most senior humanitarian access staff

Provide constructive feedback, professional development and capacity-building plans for all direct reports

Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff

Supervisory Responsibilities: 1 direct report – Regional Security Manager. Management in Partnership supervision with Country Directors to humanitarian access, safety and security management teams in the region.

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. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers

Closing Date for Application: 26 Jan 2022

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.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.