Area Safety and Security Officer – Somaliland

Area Safety and Security Officer – Somaliland

Save the Children is the world’s largest independent children’s organization, making immediate and long-lasting improvements to children’s lives in over 120 countries worldwide.

Save the Children has a long history of working in partnership in Somalia and it is one of the leading INGO’s working in Somalia for the rights of children. Save the Children has a unified presence in Somalia since January 2010 and is working in the thematic areas of education (including skills training for youth), health, protection and emergency responses. Save the children has an operation in Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia.

Job Details
Employer: Save the Children International
Job Title: Area Safety and Security Officer – Somaliland
Job Type: Full-Time
Location: Hargeisa
Category: Management

About us

For over 90 years, Save the Children has been making a difference in children’s lives in more than 120 countries. We are the world’s largest independent child rights organization. From emergency relief to long-term development, Save the Children secures a child’s right to health, education and protection. Save the Children is an equal opportunity organization dedicated to our core values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity. We are looking to recruit for this position to be based in Hargeisa Somaliland (with frequent travel to field locations – Borama Awdal, Sool, Sanaag, Togdheer regions)

1. Area Safety and Security Officer – Somaliland

TITLE: AREA SAFETY and SECURITY OFFICER

TEAM/PROGRAMME: SECURITY

LOCATION: Hargeisa Somaliland (with frequent travel to field locations – Borama Awdal, Sool, Sanaag, Togdheer regions

GRADE: 5

CONTRACT Length : TBC

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3: the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

To reduce the risks posed to the programme, personnel and assets of Save the Children in Puntland Somalia

This will include ongoing threat assessment and advising on risk management; the maintenance of appropriate guidelines; and ensuring that field working practices are robust and that all staff are aware of, trained in, and adhere to these policies and procedures. Integral to the posting is the ability to work successfully with field teams to cultivate capacity and motivation, thereby ensuring field-based responsibility for security analysis and management

SCOPE OF ROLE

Reports to: Area Representative Somaliland with technical management from the Safety and Security Manager

Dimensions:

Save the Children has a unified presence in Somalia and Somaliland since January 2010 and is working in the thematic areas of education (including skills training for youth), child survival (health, nutrition & livelihood), protection and emergency responses. Save the children has an operation in Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somali with a current staff complement of approximately 370 staff and current expenditure of approximately GBP 30 million each year.

Number of direct reports: Currently none

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Supports the Area Representative and Field Manager/SFPs and logistics to:

 Ensure the Somaliland area offices comply with all Save the Children Management Operating Standards and Standard Operating Procedures

 Ensure the Somaliland area offices maintain effective and consistent communication system and efficiency of available communication equipment

INFORMATION, ASSESSMENT & ANALYSIS

 Preparation & delivery of high quality reports, analysis and security alerts both verbal and written. By gathering information from a variety of sources, the Security Officer will produce analysis of the security situation in Somaliland with particular reference to how it affects SCI staff, assets and operations. This information and analysis will be used for: (a)Written and oral security briefing (b) Production of advisories for specific threats (c) Generating immediate security warnings/alerts and Incorporation it into security trainings

 Monitor the security environment and recommend adjustments to security policies and procedures as appropriate

 Ensure that incident report forms are properly compiled by staff and submitted to country office

 Monitor and provide support to working practices within context of safety and security risks and alert the Area Representative or SM if inappropriate decisions are impacting on the safety and security of the team or external perception of the organization, thereby creating security risks

TRAINING

 Maintain security briefing materials and provide orientation for incoming or newly appointed SC staff

 Provision of security training to SC staff and partners. Trainings are likely to include Personal Safety and Security, medical, communications, guard force and drivers but will also include other higher-level security trainings. Full training will be given to the post holder to enable them to deliver such trainings (although any prior training experience will be looked upon favorably).

 Build capacity of security focal points to conduct threat assessments and security briefings for visitors

INCIDENT RESPONSE

 The successful candidate will assist in SCI incident response procedures. This will include identifying current risks, incident reporting, monitoring current security regulations and responding to critical incidents.

STAFF TRACKING

 SCI receives a number of visitors, particularly to Hargeisa, and has a large number of staff and partner agencies. These visitors & staff require briefing, providing with visitors briefing note, movements tracking for national staff and Internationals, given security updates and on occasion escorted in the field. These duties will require close liaison and cooperation with SCI admin, logistics and management staff. Often Visitors will be nervous and inexperienced.

 Advise on safe movement of staff, e.g. support the logistics in ensuring proper vehicle management procedures, adequate safety and communications equipment in vehicles, and training of drivers in established procedures and requisite skills

 Assist with Threat risk assessments process of field missions to programme areas and potential programme areas; report on findings and advise on necessary improvements through established Risk Assessment format.

COMMUNICATION, LIAISON & REPRESENTATION

 Provide recommendations to SCI staff as to ways in which they can effectively reach out to, gain acceptance from and improve their image in host communities

 Ensure that regular security meetings are conducted with relevant SCI staff; attend external security meetings as appropriate

 Interaction with local Govt, NGOs, Civil Society groups, community members, security forces- SPU commanders, police stations and division commander, UNDSS, and armed groups as required.

 Other security duties as directed by the Area Representative (AR) or Security Manager (SM)

COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Delivering Results (Skilled)

 Delivers timely and appropriate results using available resources

 Takes responsibility for their work and its impact on others

 Plans, prioritizes and performs tasks well without needing direct supervision

 Understands the link between their work and the organization’s objectives

Problem solving and decision making (Skilled)

 Gathers the right information and uses critical thinking to make effective and timely decisions

 Stays with a problem or challenge until a solution is reached or is no longer reasonably attainable.

· Knows when to involve others in a decision
· Demonstrates awareness of the wider external influences that impact on decision making
 Simplifies processes and procedures wherever possible

Applying Technical and Professional Expertise (Skilled)
 Makes decisions based on professional expertise and experience without deferring unnecessarily to others
 Shares knowledge and best practice on technical solutions so that others can make best use of that expertise
 Actively seeks new ways to develop the application of technical and professional standards within the team

Networking (Skilled)
 Actively participates in networks to access and contribute to good practice
 Gathers and distributes organizational intelligence
 Maintains and develops a range of contacts and keeps them informed
 Knows what is needed from contacts and what they need to benefit from the relationship too

Working effectively with others (Skilled)
 Actively listens to new and different perspectives and experiences of those they work with
 Proactively supports team members and trusts their capabilities
 Demonstrates understanding of their skills and how they complement those of others within diverse teams and groups
 Clarifies their role and responsibilities within the team to maximize impact

Qualifications, Experience And Skills:
 Minimum 2 years practical field experience in security management (e.g. military, police, or direct INGO security management) in challenging or insecure environments, with good knowledge of personnel and organisational security issues, threat/risk assessment, security management and awareness;
 A clear understanding of the philosophy and mode of operation of NGOs in Somaliland
 The candidate must have a well-established information network within Somaliland
 Experience in liaising with civilian, police and military government authorities, as well as with regional, national and international institutions
 Experience of incident reporting, information collation and analysis functions
 Ability to balance demands of beneficiary and security actors while maintaining appropriate contextual NGO security advice and coordination
 Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and pragmatism
 Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
 Ability to present complex information in a concise and compelling manner
 A high degree of common sense and a genuine interest in people.
 Excellent planning, coordination and reporting skills, with the ability to organize a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities
 Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, in the event of emergencies
 Willingness to work and travel throughout Somaliland region ability and willingness to travel in remote field areas of SL (particularly Sool, Sanag, Togdhere and Awdal) desirable
 Competency in Internet and Microsoft Office systems including Word, Excel, PowerPoint
 Fluency

Desirable:

 A formal security qualification or appropriate security management training;

 Experience in security provision in emergency response;

 Background in large international non-governmental organisation or other international relief/development body.

 Access and other database/mapping systems

CHILD SAFEGUARING POLICY:

We work with children, communities and governments all over the world and we believe in the right person for the job regardless of where you come from and how you identify yourself. We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to ensuring that only those who are suitable to work with children are considered for these posts. All successful applicants will therefore be required to complete a Police Check and must sign onto our Child Protection Policy and organizational Code of Conduct.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Because Save the Children’s work is based on deeply held values and principles, it is essential that our commitment to children’s rights and humanitarian principles is supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children’s Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT

Save the Children is committed to supporting performance based career progression for female employees. The following are additional benefits which applies to successful female candidates

 16 weeks of maternity leave subject to certain length of service conditions

 Increased health and dependence allowance

 30 days of annual leave excluding weekends [Fridays]

Application procedures:

Interested candidates are required to submit electronic CV and mandatory cover letter quoting the Job Title on the subject line. The file name of the CV and attachments must be the applicants name and sent to Somaliland.vacancies@savethechildren.org. Applications will close on Wednesday October 21st, 2015 @ 3:30PM.

Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer. Women are strongly encouraged to apply

Please refer the below Job Description for the position description and the key selection criteria.

Interested candidates are required to submit a CV and mandatory cover letter quoting the Job Title on the subject line. The file name of the CV and attachments must be the applicants name and sent to Somaliland.vacancies@savethechildren.org.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Applications close on Wednesday October 21st, 2015 @ 3:30PM.

We work with children, communities and governments all over the world and we believe in the right person for the job regardless of where you come from and how you identify yourself. We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to ensuring that only those who are suitable to work with children are considered for these posts. All successful applicants will therefore be required to complete a Police Check and must sign onto our Child Protection Policy and organizational Code of Conduct.

Publish date: 2015-10-07 16:57:14
Premium Job: No
Expiry date: 2015-10-21 16:57:17

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