Senior Officer, Security

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.”  IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) Management and Accountability and (iv) People and Strategy.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. 

In Myanmar, IFRC is working with the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) to roll-out a multi-million Swiss franc humanitarian operation in response to the 28 March 2025 earthquake alongside longer-term programmes. To effectively accompany the MRCS in addressing immediate to recovery humanitarian needs wrought by the earthquake, the IFRC Country Delegation in Myanmar is bolstering its operational capacity.

The Senior Security Officer is responsible for ensuring that effective security planning is conducted and that sound security management structures are established within the IFRC Myanmar Country Delegation. The Senior Security Officer ensures the effective implementation of and institutional compliance with security plans. The plans and responses are guided by effective, accurate, relevant and multi-sourced situational monitoring, recent quality security management training and competence in incident data mapping and analysis.  The Senior Security Officer also maintains working relationships with his/her counterparts in other organizations and key players present in the operational area.  The Senior Security Officer will be assigned to Mandalay to cover the North West region, and additional areas as needed by the operation.

The Senior Security Officer is also responsible for protecting the confidentiality and integrity of the organization.  He / She is responsible for ensuring the utmost security of the country office staff and delegates, by providing quality advice to the delegates and national staff and ensures safe and secure access within IFRC property.

Security assessments, planning and training:

• Responsible to advise the IFRC on safety and security related matters in Myanmar.
• Support to monitor and ensure the implementation of the IFRC Minimum Security Requirements (MSR) and all relevant Federation Security Manuals and Training. Prepares a checklist of all MSR and maintains a status update on compliance or issues to be addressed.
• Supports to ensure all staff is properly trained on security plan and that security procedures are understood, respected and applied by staff
• Analyses the security environment in Myanmar, identifies threats and risks with the aim to provide guidance and advice to the management on measures to be taken.
• Undertake regular field trips in order to monitor and assess the operational areas and field offices as required.
• Keeps track of all issues pertaining to the security condition in the country, by following the news, tracing rumours in the city and through other sources, on a daily basis.
• Conducts daily monitoring of events, incidents and near-misses and assesses risks.
• Conducts or participates in Security related trainings inside or outside the Federation.

Security communication:

• Is the first point of contact for the Head of Delegation (HOD) during incidents in Myanmar.
• Ensures a continuous contact with HOD (or Acting), Senior Management Services Manager and Regional Security coordinator during any incident.
• Reports to HOD (or Acting) or Senior Management Services Manager relevant security issues in daily basis as they occur and gives advice and recommendations on the office’s security regulations and measures to be taken.
• In consultation with HOD (or Acting) and Senior Management Services Manager provides the information for green light for any exceptional expatriate movements in country.
• Tracks all security incidents and electronically updates information maps (such as, but not limited to MRCS incidents, NGO/IO incidents, and in the areas of IFRC field offices.
• Prepares and shares security related information for staff updates at office meetings, or for immediate incidents by SMS or by email.
• Inform HOD (or Acting) and Senior Management Services Manager and as instructed updates Administration/HR department in case of any incident/concerns related to office property, assets and staff’s that the staff Code of Conduct (CoC) has been breached.
• Responsible for comprehensive security briefings of all new delegates and visitors ensuring they are familiar with the IFRC regulations, responses in the event of security incidents (attacks, fire, earthquake, etc) and the protocols for MEDEVAC, hibernation and relocation.   

Lateral relationships:

• Ensures a very close liaison with the fleet to ensure relevant daily security information to drivers, directly or through the fleet supervisor as required.
• Attends security meetings held by IO/INGOs, UN agencies, ICRC and government security related departments. Provides a verbal or written update to the HOD (or Acting) and Senior Management Services Manager

• Maintains a strong relation with MRCS through MRCS security focal point and shares all necessary security related information with each other.  Supports the development of the MRCS security management system as requested and approved by HOD (or Acting) Senior Management Services Manager an maintains a strong relationship, co-ordination and cooperation with relevant ICRC counterparts.
• As requested, develops a relationship with the Security focal points of other international organisations.
• As requested, the Senior Security Officer works closely with the MRCS and ICRC to support the ongoing development of the MRCS security systems.

Passive security

• Ensures all measures are in place for the safety and security of the Office premises, such as offices, residences, warehouses, other asset and inventory.
• Ensures that all offices and other premises are securely locked outside of working hours
• Ensures that the office and residents have all the required items for hibernation.
• Ensures that all fire-fighting equipment, including fire extinguishers are checked, not expired and that staff is trained to use this equipment
• Ensures all passive security measures around all relevant premises are in place and regularly check these for quality and repairs

 Management & Supervision

• Prepare the duty rosters for all watchmen/drivers on a monthly basis and post these at the designated places in the offices, residences and warehouse.
• Ensures the presence of all watchmen/drivers at their duty location by physically checking daily and does unexpected evening checks
• Reports security breaches and concerns to the HOD (or Acting) and Senior Management Services Manager.

Reporting

• Immediately reports any security incident in Myanmar or involving an I/NGO in the country to HOD (or Acting) and Senior Management Services Manager.
• Prepares weekly, quarterly security reports including mapping for Senior Management Services Manager, Regional Security Coordinator and Geneva Security Unit
• Prepares maps of security incidents and electronically updates information maps (such as but not limited to incidents in Yangon and in IFRC field offices, MRCS incidents, NGO incidents).
• Ensures that all relevant incident reports are written, reviewed by Senior Management Services Manager and HOD (or Acting) and filed
• Reports any violation of the security regulations by the staff immediately to Senior Management Services Manager and HOD (or Acting) including non-permitted movements
• Reports on the performance of watchmen/drivers and advises the Senior Management Services Manager and HOD (or Acting) on measures to be taken, additional training required and recommendations to be made on those persons.

Candidate must possess at least Degree or Diploma/Advanced/Higher/Graduate Diploma in Business Studies/Administration/Management or equivalent is required.

At least 5 year(s) of working experience in the related field is required for this position is required.           

Preferably Senior Executive specialized in Security/Armed Forces/Protective Services or equivalent is preferred.

Understanding and experience of Business Continuity Planning is required.         

Experience in the field/humanitarian settings is preferred.

Required Skill(s): Good communication skills, analytic, able to work in multicultural environment, IT literate, fluent in spoken and writing in English is required.            

Strong organizational skills is required.      

Excellent communication skills and ability to network effectively is required.     

Confirmed administrative skills is required.           

Languages

Fluent spoken and written English is required.      

Fluent spoken and written Burmese is required.   

Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) is preferred.

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.