Humanitarian Access Safety and Security Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The IRC is seeking a Humanitarian Access and Security Officer (HASO) for its Ukraine operations with travel to program locations. The HASO will work within the corresponding Field Office with support from the Humanitarian Access and Security Department, to ensure that organizational security policies and procedures are responsive to the context, are contextually appropriate and known to staff, and will advise on humanitarian access processes and approaches in close coordination with program teams.

Reporting to the Field Coordinator, the HASO will implement IRC Safety & Security management measures, as well as support in providing contextual analysis and understanding to decision makers, and engage with key stakeholders to gain and maintain humanitarian access to those most in need. The HASO will prioritize the humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care and the IRC’s strategy action plans for Ukraine in their work.

The HASO will conduct onsite briefings for staff, support the development and implementation of appropriate plans, standard operating procedures, and contingency plans. S/he will support in providing expert humanitarian security and access advice to all levels of IRC staff across the program including building relationships, negotiating and mediating humanitarian access, contextual understanding, and conflict analysis, advisories, and incident management.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS AND COORDINATION:

Managerial Reporting to: Field Coordinator

Technical Reporting to: Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Senior Manager and Sr HASS Coordinator

Supervises: Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Assistant

Key Interfaces: Program teams, Operations teams, Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Department and other relevant staff as necessary with program expansion.

External:

RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety and Security Management

• Support IRC by providing technical support to the wider team on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational security.
• Support IRC in evaluating, reviewing and updating security management plans on a regular basis. Reference and ensure compliance to the IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP and all annexes.
• Support the HA&SS Dpt. in working with key stakeholders to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans.
• Support the HA&SS in evaluating, reviewing and updating the hibernation and evacuation plans and ensure that practical preparations are in place and known to all relevant staff.
• Support the HA&SS in conducting risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices, residences and hotel. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards.
• Support the HA&SS in undertaking continual assessments of equipment, and the protocols by which that equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met.
• Implement best possible solutions for use of equipment to facilitate communication between staff, including proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment.
• Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards
• Support the HA&SS in ensuring safety and security protocols, reporting mechanisms, and capacity building initiatives account for gender-specific risks, staff profiles and background, and are sensitive to local contexts.
• Conduct security risk assessment for new areas of intervention to implement program activitie
• In charge to track all the movement in Ukraine.
• Monitor the local sirens and disseminate alerts to IRC designated WhatsApp groups
• Ensure to update the operational security data
• Provide on arrival security briefing for newly joined staff and visitors in Dnipro.
• Sign Travel Authorization Form (TAF) for staff travelling from and to Dnipro

Networking and Liaison

• Monitor and provide support and reporting on NGO field security initiatives, as required.
• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission and work in all areas of operation is known and accepted.
• Work to encourage stakeholders to collaborate with IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and given permission to continue humanitarian activities in Ukraine
• Liaise with relevant security actors e.g., NGO security staff, security forces, local community stakeholders, local authorities.

Context Understanding and Reporting

• Compile and submit regular reports that track incidents and trends in humanitarian access and local security contexts within IRC’s areas of operation.
• Submit daily contextual updates as needed to relevant field and program management staff.
• Work closely with IRC field management teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately. Ensure that final incident reports are provided when IRC is closing the case.
• Monitor the operating environment in the region, identify new threats, assess IRC vulnerabilities and recommend possible responses
• Coordinate regularly with the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt on safety and security, and fulfill reporting requirements to the respective office(s) as well as other locations of IRC interest
• Provide credible information and contextual understanding of localized and country-wide security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to IRC field and program management staff.

Program Development

• Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in advising program staff developing conflict-sensitive and contextually appropriate approaches in Ukraine
• Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in participating in program review meetings and contribute to implementation plans to ensure the timely, safe, and secure delivery of IRC service to beneficiaries
• Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks pertaining to humanitarian access, safety, and security, and contribute to the development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• If applicable, coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
• If applicable, as required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with IRC Staff Employment Policies
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

REQUIREMENTS

Job Requirements

Education: Graduation from a higher education facility in a relevant subject is preferred, however secondary education and significant professional experience will be considered.

Work Experience:

• Demonstrable experience of civilian, non-profit or NGO work experience within international humanitarian assistance programs, having undertaken planning, organizing and executing security operations in the field.
• Experience of obtaining information on local, national, and international development, and providing clear dynamic briefings and analysis of given and unfolding security and political situations when they occur (both written and verbal)

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Skilled in organizing large-scale, fast-paced, responsive field programs
• Situational awareness and opportunity awareness
• Solid ability to provide team-building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation
• Strong organizational and coordination skills
• Knowledge and proficiency in the use of communications technology, including, satellite communications, cell phone mediums, etc.

Demonstrated Leadership Competencies:

• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with external stakeholders
• Strong negotiation and mediation skills essential with experience in conflict resolution essential
• Superior oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders
• Experience of working successfully with local stakeholders such as local and international NGOs, local authorities, government etc. with sensitivity and diplomacy.
• Experience in design and supporting training engagements with staff and partners to enhance skills and adapt to changing program demands

Languages Required/Preferred: 

• Fluency in spoken and written Ukrainian and English.

Computer/Other Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Ability to Travel: up to 50% traveling

Standards of Professional Conduct The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Working Environment

Staff must comply with all IRC security policies and procedures applicable to IRC employee.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

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