Staff Security Officer – South Africa National Hire At Church World Service

Position Title: Staff Security Officer

Reports To: Regional Security Risk Manager

Division : Immigration & Refugee Program+ (IRP+)

Department: Administration

Job Location: Pretoria, South Africa

Grade Level: Grade 5, Officer, National

Introduction: Church World Service (CWS) is a not-for-profit, faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable solutions to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. CWS does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, genetic information, age, disability or veteran status in employment or in the provision of services.

Primary Purpose:

This position is primarily responsible for supporting, implementing, and ensuring the systematic application of safety and security policies for all CWS Africa operational activities and programs in South Africa. The Staff Security Officer will compile and draft Weekly Country Security Updates, conduct expat residential surveys, analyze and complete security assessments of ongoing activities in South Africa as well as ensure proper documentation and filing of security electronic and physical files. This position will act as the primary focal point in daily security operations in the country.

Essential Duties:

1. Compile and draft Weekly Country Security Updates including dissemination of security alerts from the partner agencies, and share the same with the Regional Security Risk Manager;
2. Submission of situational reports and monthly country security reports to the Regional Security Risk Manager;
3. Train all new staff on safety and security procedures and provides periodic refresher training to regular staff in liaison with the training unit;
4. Conducts new hire and visitors’ security orientation;
5. Conduct pre-departure and on arrival security briefing to CWS travelers and maintain the use of the CWS travel portal, schedule security briefings, and monitoring travelers in area of operation.
6. Dispense security advisories to all in country CWS staff, including SMS alerts, phone alerts, and email alerts;
7. Requests guards’ deployment, supervises and conducts regular briefings of the contracted guard force and also activation response and panic button testing;
8. Continuously monitors surveillance cameras and works closely with the IT team to ensure surveillance systems are up and running;
9. Collects, updates and communicates information regarding the security situation in areas of operation using existing CWS Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) and security manual guidelines;
10. Coordinates and liaises with the facilities unit on servicing of fire extinguishers, first aid boxes, in all country office locations to ensure that CWS country offices are OSHA compliant;
11. Conducts security site assessment of identified expat residences before occupancy as requested using CWS Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) and advises staff on the findings with recommendations. Also review the security of existing expat residences with recommendation for any security upgrades;
12. Oversee, in close cooperation with trained fire wardens, Periodic office(s) building evacuation and lockdown drill in liaison with the Regional Security Risk Manager;
13. Attends security meetings called upon or organized by partner security agencies (private security service providers, partner agency security meetings and any other security meetings as directed by the Staff Security Coordinator). Prepare and follow up on action plans arising from such meetings that pertain to staff security and take minutes of the proceedings;
14. Undertakes periodic office security risk assessment and advices the Property Manager and the Regional Security Risk Manager on findings;
15. Ensures proper documentation and filing of security electronic and physical security files;
16. Conducts field site assessments for program staff as required, maintain updated field safety and security protocols and contingency plans in assigned areas of operation;
17. Familiarize themselves with emergency evacuation plans, maintain contact with team leaders deployed within assigned area of operation and support Regional Security Risk Manager in emergency response in the field;
18. Undertake additional duties as requested by the Regional Security Risk Manager and the management.

Qualifications:

Experience:

• Four (4) years paid working experience required.
• Experience in conducting Contextual security risk assessments required.
• Experience in compiling and drafting security reports including incident reporting is required.
• Experience in coordinating response to security emergencies required.
• Experience in Training Needs Assessment, conducting security training to staff is required.
• Two (2) years working experience with similar INGO or humanitarian agency.

Skills:

• Demonstrated knowledge of Security Risk Management framework and other international NGO security frameworks.
• Sensitivity to gender and cultural issues.
• Excellent communications skills, with fluency in written and spoken English.
• Writing skills test may be requested.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.

Able to establish contact with in-country Embassies, consulates, UN security agency and law enforcement agencies including the diplomatic police wing.

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a security, humanitarian, development or discipline related field, or four (4) years of paid work experience in the same field in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree is required
• Country level security risk management certification e.g. INSSA Country level certification.

Abilities:

• • Manage large and diverse workload under pressure with competing priorities. – Maintain the integrity of official records; – Analyze and solve complex problems and make sound decisions; – Work with minimal supervision – Maintain a high performance standard with attention to detail; – Work independently and contribute to overall operations of CWS/RSC Africa; – Actively participate in the implementation of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

Important Requirements:

• • Strong English communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment required.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and willingness to support CWS’ Platform on Racial Justice as a CWS employee required.

Special Requirements:

• COVID Vaccination is strongly recommended for all successful candidates.
• The candidate should be of good health, willing and able to travel extensively in often difficult conditions, and have a high degree of flexibility. Must have proof of Yellow Fever vaccination before traveling for RSC Africa.
• This position is based in Pretoria, South Africa.
• This position requires use of laptops at all time, competence in Microsoft office packages is required.
• This position may require travel in sub-Saharan Africa on short notice and under sometimes difficult conditions to meet demands of a dynamic operational program.
• Driver’s License Code 08.
• Background check, which includes references and an educational criminal check is required before the start of employment for International applicants.
• A valid passport and the ability to maintain a valid passport throughout the entire appointment is required, which includes having enough passport pages for travel.
• Internationals – International applicants must be legally eligible to work and obtain a work permit in South Africa OR A valid U.S. passport and the ability to maintain a valid U.S. passport throughout the entire appointment is required, which includes having enough passport pages for travel.
• Physical: This position requires bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, kneeling, sitting, standing, walking, pushing/pulling, handling objects (manual dexterity), reaching above shoulder level, using fine finger movements and lifting/carrying heavy loads.
• Environmental: Incumbents in this position will be exposed to excessive noise, marked changes in temperature and/or humidity, dust and infectious diseases, harsh weather climates, long work hours, bumpy roads, extended travel, excessive sun exposure, and non-ventilated spaces.
• Full time.
• All employees should be prepared to work from the CWS office within their location of hire. Remote work arrangements may vary depending on location and the governing rulings regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disclaimer: Please note that this position is subject to the approval of funding and only upon approval will the position be filled.