Field Safety Adviser

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the IOM-FOM issued for this Compendium / Fast Track exercise, as well as the  Revised Policy and Procedures on Assignments (UNHCR/HCP/2015/2 refers). Field Safety Adviser

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Field Safety Adviser takes on the role of leading, coordinating and providing appropriate guidance  related to security management within an office.
The incumbent maintains contact with other UN agencies, NGOs, implementing partners, government partners in the area to facilitate the operation.
The incumbent directly supervises general service staff in the office, and reports to the Head of Office.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- Country operations receive practical and well-reasoned security advice and support toward helping ensure an appropriate level of safety for UNHCR¿s staff and operations and compliance with security guidelines and procedures.
- UNHCR benefits from effective relationships with host country law enforcement agencies and the UN Security Management System.
- Staff are aware of threats/risks and how to respond to them, understand and comply with guidelines and procedures.
- Security management is efficient, well-coordinated and consistent with policies and procedures.

Responsibility

- Advise and support the Representative or Head of Office in managing staff safety and security of UNHCR staff, partners, operations, premises and refugees or persons of concern.
- Undertake periodic security assessments in close co-operation with UNHCR senior staff members and interagency partners, analysing security factors and levels of risk related to UNHCR activities and programmes.
- Evaluate existing security measures to determine their appropriateness and identify areas needing improvement.  Follow up with actions to oversee or implement those improvements.
- Assist in ensuring compliance with Minimum Operational Safety Standards (MOSS) and Minimum Operational Residential Safety Standards (MORSS).
- Assist in the development of plans for evacuation, medical evacuation and other contingencies. 
- In cooperation with UNHCR senior staff members, ensure that security measures are fully integrated into operational planning, including budgetary provisions, at the earliest stages of development.
- Participate and support in activities to advise on programme criticality assessment process.
- As a member of a multi-functional team, contribute to efforts to ensure the physical protection and security of refugees and other persons of concern by providing security assessments, analysis and advice in developing and implementing effective strategies which underpin the responsibilities of the host state.
- Develop and maintain relationships with security-related actors, including host government law enforcement authorities and other stakeholders  to ensure effective information sharing; provide regular feedback and analysis to country managers.
- Maintain close co-operation with staff of  the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), ensuring UNHCR's understanding of applicable requirements, cooperating in security assessments and planning and supporting UNDSS understanding of agency requirements.
- Support UNHCR staff serving as members of the country Security Management Team (SMT), or Area Security Management Team (ASMT), Area Security Coordinators (ASC) and Wardens.
- Provide country-relevant security advice and training to UNHCR staff, and where appropriate, to staff of  NGOs and implementing partners in areas including, inter alia, preparation for and conduct of  road  missions, radio telecommunications  and  responding to specific threats within the environment.
- Conduct rehearsals and practical exercises to ensure that staff are familiar with contingency plans and can implement them confidently in an emergency.
- Prepare periodic analytical reports on security in accordance with UN and UNHCR standard operating procedures, sharing with managers in the country of assignment and FSS.
- Maintain linkages with the Staff Welfare Section, and the Medical Service, referring cases as required.
- Undertake other security-related functions or responsibilities as delegated by the supervisor.

Authority

- Provide security-related advice, in written and oral form, to the manager and other staff
- Advise on, and upon approval, implement, needed mitigating measures.
- Participate in criticality assessments.
- Represent UNHCR in interagency working groups and attend SMT or ASMT meetings as an observer.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- University Degree with a focus on security management and/or related disciplines (business administration, political/social science, international relations). Also relevant would be military or police academy degree (at Officer level).
- Minimum 8 years of previous relevant job experience including 2 years security risk management experience in an international capacity.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of UN working language of duty station ans working knowledge of English)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Proven competences in security analysis.
- Excellent communication skills, written and oral
- Negotiating skills
- Relevant training an asset C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3 The incumbent should have proven ability to analyse security factors, trends and levels of risk related to UNHCR activities.  She /he should be able to evaluate existing security measures to determine their appropriateness and identify areas needing improvement.  In close collaboration with UNDSS, MONUSCO, State/Country security authorities, the incumbent will be required to oversee and coordinate the day-to-day safety/security of UNHCR staff and refugees in Ituri and Haut-Uele Provinces. She/he will also supervise, train, mentor, and evaluate national security assistants working under her/his supervision. 

Given the considerable and diverse work load, it is important that the applicant is motivated, hard-working, organized, and that s/he has the requisite communication and leadership qualities to inspire and gain the confidence of colleagues, the Management, as well as UNHCR partners. He/she must also be flexible and available when his/her presence is required during a critical situation.

Fluency in French is essential. Good working knowledge in English is also required as more and more reports, internal as well as external, are requested in English. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is characterized by ongoing conflicts and tensions, poor or non-existent infrastructure and highly challenging logistics, all of which make access to refugees and other populations of concern quite difficult.
After the 2016 clashes which occurred in Juba between Vice-president Riek Machar¿s and President Salva Kiir¿s allies, the political situation in South Sudan remains unpredictable and very volatile.  DRC has already received 77,473 refugees as of 30 April 2017.  UNHCR protection monitors deployed at main entry points in Ituri and Haut-Uele provinces provide daily information and reports on the situation.  Due to the growing number of arriving refugees and the worsening security situation at the border between DRC and South Sudan, DRC authorities have instructed all refugees living in the border villages to be relocated deeper into the country.  Facing this situation, UNHCR recently opened three offices (FU Aba, FO Dungu and FO Aru).  Due to the central location, banking facilities as well as the presence of MONUSCO forces, Aru has been selected to become a Sub Office.
UNHCR supports the DRC Government, through the National Commission for Refugees (CNR) by ensuring protection of refugees and asylum seekers through capacity building and regular coaching. UNHCR works in cooperation with national and international partners, and in collaboration with other UN agencies such as UNICEF, UNFPA, WFP, IOM and UNHABITAT and the peacekeeping mission in Congo DRC, MONUSCO. From Dungu, the FSA will assist the HoSO in Aru with assessments, recommendations and guidance to support decision making on security issues for staff and PoCs for the entire Ituri and Haut-Uele operation. He/She will establish a functional linkage with the UNHCR operation in South Sudan and with MONUSCO security, to provide analysis and support services for the operation.  The decision to locate the new FSA position in Dungu rather than in Aru with the Head of Sub-Office is dictated by the highly unstable security situation at those two locations compared with Aru.  This decision will also reduce the number of missions that he/she would otherwise have to make from Aru.
The incumbent will report directly to the Head of Sub-Office in Aru.  S/he will also receive guidance from the Senior Regional Field Safety Advisor in Kinshasa.  She/he will supervise one Field Safety Associate G6 in FU Aba. Dungu is a small town in Haut-Uele Province, located at the confluence of the Dungu and Kibali rivers where they join to form the Uele River, south of the big Garamba National Park.  Dungu¿s terrain is wooded savannah, and its climate is tropical.
Dungu is the principal town in the Dungu Territory.  It has a small airport.  In 2004, its population was estimated at over 23,000. 
The quality of the water is poor and most of the time is not available at night time. Housing opportunities are also very limited and of low quality.  There are very limited medical facilities in Dungu that are not equipped for serious medical cases.  2 flights per week are guaranteed which makes difficult in-out movements limited. Air ambulance evacuation can be organized for life threatening emergencies during day time.  Candidates with conditions requiring regular treatment or medical supervision should be appropriately advised. Malaria is the most common disease.  The Office is of the view that, the two year SAL should be upheld to avoid burnout.
There are limited banking facilities in Dungu. Telephone network are not very reliable but the Office has Wifi, and PAMA is being installed. Dungu is a security level 3 duty station with a six weeks R&R periodicity. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add. 3 to March 2017 Compendium is Thursday, 3 August 2017 (midnight Geneva time).