Senior Officer, Security

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability. 

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

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. 

This position will be based in Sudan’s Khartoum to support the Head of Country Cluster Delegation and the Regional Security Coordinator in day-to-day strategic and operational security management of the country.

The Senior Security Officer will work with the Africa Region Security Coordinator to ensure that the IFRC’s Minimum Security Requirements (MSR) are implemented in Sudan.

The role will constantly monitor the volatile security situation in the country, throughout the different regions where activities are being implemented, as well as the travel routes to those locations. Additionally, the Senior Security Officer coordinate effective security processes and procedures that aim to further improve the IFRC’s overall security management in operations.

Strategic management/support

• Advise and support the Head of Country Delegation (HoCD)/ Operations Manager on security related matters focusing on personnel and assets that are under IFRC security management responsibility.
• Provide technical guidance in relation to security related issues in appeals and budgets, for continued operations.

Operational management/support

• Guide and support the in-country security risk management process, e.g., the development of a comprehensive security risk assessment and the identification of functional and practical risk prevention and mitigation measures.
• Assist the HoCD/ Operations Manager in creating security management systems and provide rapid and professional support/assistance to the various components of the mission, including but not limited to, conducting security assessments at field locations, create and maintain security regulations/emergency procedures, undertake site security assessments (as required) and provide recommendations for accommodation, coordinating, if needed, staff relocation and support to Staff Health for medical evacuations.
• Follow-up on security incident reporting and assist the HoCD in incident analysis and incident mapping.
• Monitor and analyse the security / political and socio-economic situation in the operational area and identify possible security related trends and issues that may affect the IFRC operations. Update the IFRC Risk Register as and when necessary and report any changes and make appropriate recommendations to HoCD / Operations Manager.

Compliance

• Guide and support the development of in-country minimum security requirements (MSR), including the relevant documentation, procedures, compliance, and trainings/exercises.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on the implementation of MSRs.

Coordination

• Establish and maintain a security network of internal and external contacts and participate in relevant meetings both internally and externally, e.g., with National Society, ICRC, PNS, UN Security, INSO, INGOs, and local authorities and Ensure that this security network is well documented to facilitate handover at EOM.

Training and development

• Conduct security briefings for all incoming personnel (and National Society; only on request) and provide general or more specific trainings (e.g. defensive driving [in coordination with Fleet], radio communications [in coordination with IT], guard training [in coordination with supplier]).
• If time allows:
• Provide generic or more specific security management trainings to National Society personnel to enhance security management capability, strengthen the security culture and contribute to more safe and secure operations.
• Mentor NSs’ security focal point/security managers to build security management capability.

Duties applicable to all staff

• Work actively towards the achievement of IFRC’s goals.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

• Bachelor’s degree in a field related to Security Management or equivalent experience in a related field. Required.
• Successfully Completed the Stay Safe Global Edition 1-3 e-learning courses. Required.
• IMPACT or equivalent knowledge. Preferred.

• At least 5 years of relevant humanitarian field experience. 3 years of experience in security management within a humanitarian or development sector. Required.
• Experience of IFRC management procedures and security approach. Required.
• Previous experience with NGOs / the Movement. Preferred.
• Experience in a medium to high-risk security area, preferably with IFRC or RC field assignment in a management position. Including, experience of developing contingency plans and implementing of relocation / evacuation. Required.
• Experience of relationship-building, interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively represent IFRC at forums with external stakeholders including, government authorities, military, police and UN. Required.

• Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically while under pressure. Required.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (i.e., Internet, Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.).  Rapid and well-argued decision-making skills as well as skills to analyse and draw conclusions. Required.
• Valid driving license for more than 1 year; public driving license is preferable. Required.
• General security knowledge of the region/country. Required.
• Good oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly & persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders As well as, developed networking and negotiation skills. Required.
• Relevant security training (HEAT, Security Management & CIM course attendance) Including, successful completion of IFRC Stay Safe online (Personal & Management) courses. Required.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment as well as to communicate in such environment. Required.
• Fluent spoken and written English. Required.
• Fluent spoken and written Arabic. Required.

• 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
• Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance; Managing staff development.
• Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others.