Senior Field Security Adviser

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior Field Security Adviser

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The post of Senior Field Security Adviser takes on the role of leading, coordinating and supervising all activities related to security issues within a country or operation.
The incumbent maintains contact with other UN agencies, NGOs, government partners and implementing partners to facilitate the operation.
The incumbent directly supervises UNHCR Field Security personnel within the operation, and reports to the Representative or the Deputy Representative.
The incumbent has a responsibility to monitor, coach, guide and support  staff within the given area of responsibility

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Country operations receive practical and well-reasoned security advice and support, helping ensure an appropriate level of safety for UNHCR's staff and operations and compliance with security guidelines and procedures.
- UNHCR benefits from effective and responsive support from host country law enforcement agencies and the UN Security Management System.
- Staff are aware of threats/risks and how to manage 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 regular travel within the country, assess current and potential risks and provide timely and proactive analysis to support managerial decision making.
- Provide specific recommendations regarding measures and procedures to ensure and improve the safety of UNHCR staff, operations, premises, partners and persons of concern, with specific attention to agency-specific needs such as camp security, refugee convoys and security issues related to urban refugees: provide follow-up support to ensure implementation.
- Develop plans for evacuation, medical evacuation and other contingencies.
- Provide regular and forward-looking analysis of the security environment, focusing on factors of risk with potential to impact UNHCR operations.
- Ensure that offices are in compliance with standards established through the Security Risk Management process; make sure that deficiencies are brought to the attention of management.

- In cooperation with senior management, ensure that humanitarian and security objectives are reconciled in the area of responsibility, and that security measures are fully integrated into operational planning (including budgetary provisions) at the earliest stages of development.
- Conduct or participate in security risk assessments for UNHCR programme activities. Advise on programme criticality processes.
- 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 effective relationships with security-related actors including host government law enforcement authorities and other actors within the operating environment to ensure effective support and information sharing; provide regular feedback and analysis to country managers.
- Ensure UNHCR's effective participation in the UN Security Management System, by maintaining close co-operation with staff of the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) and security personnel of other UN agencies, ensure UNDSS understanding of agency requirements and contribute to development of policy and procedures to support these, cooperating in the development of security plans and procedures, and supporting UNHCR¿s role in security forums such as the Security Management Team. 
- 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 training and advice to staff and partners aimed at developing skills to plan and conduct operations safely within the specific security environment.
- Provide country-relevant security briefing, training and advice to UNHCR staff at all levels, and where appropriate, to staff of NGOs and implementing partners in all areas of field safety and security risk management.
- Provide security analysis and reports to UNHCR offices within the region of responsibility and the Field Security Service at Headquarters according to established procedures.
- Maintain linkages with the Staff Welfare Section, and Medical Service, referring cases as required.
- Undertake other functions or responsibilities in the interest of UNHCR as appropriate and 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
- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) with a focus on Security Management and/or related disciplines (Business Administration, Political/Social Science, International Relations) plus minimum 8 years of previous work experience relevant to the function including 5 years security risk management experience in an international capacity. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Also relevant would be military or police academy degree (at Officer level) at the equivalent of a Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) specifically successful completion of the Command and General Staff at a recognized military staff college or police equivalent.
- Strong drafting skills.
-       Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Excellent communication skills, written and oral.
- Proven competences in security analysis.
- Negotiating skills.
- Organisation management.
- Proven training skills.
-      Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Senior Field Security Adviser positions. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. 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 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
========================================================================================================
See below for this postion's Operational Context
========================================================================================================

For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

 

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

 

The SFSA will be based in Ndjamena with a country wide coverage, and put in a strategy to enable operations within the framework of `stay and deliver. He or she is expected to:

- Carry our regular SRAs, Program criticality assessments  and SRM
- Evaluate security measures in place and propose risk mitigation/reduction measures
- Collect and analyses security information and share same with Management  and staff through advisories (as necessary)
- Regularly brief Management and staff
- Support the Rep in managing crises
- Coordinate, mentor and build the capacity of the FSA/ AFSAs
- Factor-in security into operational planning to balance operational imperatives with staff safety and security.
- Factor-in physical security needs during the construction of the new BO office
- Support the Field offices in managing critical incidents ¿ evacuations, relocations, arrests etc
- Liaise with local authorities and forces of law and order (DPHR/Police/Gendarmerie)
- Actively participate in  Security cell meetings and factor in UNHCR imperatives
- Work with UNDSS to update various country plans
- Draft/update various UNHCR specific plans, train staff, carry out simulations, MOSS/MORSS inspections etc
- Support staff in the preparation/facilitations of field missions and monitor tracking system
- Implement SMT/Management decisions
- Support staff in managing stress as well as individual and professional problems
- Support Implementing partners.
- Coordinate reporting from field based colleagues, submitting weekly reports to Senior Management and HQ.
Advise the representative on critical security issues.
Follow up close the management of camp security with government officials. The relative peace and stability that hitherto characterized the sub region in general and Chad in particular is seemingly being eroded as the security risk environment deteriorates. Extremism and jihadists¿ ideologies are spreading across the region, facilitated by strain, unemployment and hardship. Idle youths are vulnerable to recruitment, criminality rising as the social-economic situation deteriorates. State coffers are dwindling as the price of oil falls. Social projects are on a standstill, payment of salaries delayed, provoking discontent and public manifestations. Porous borders facilitate the proliferation/trafficking of arms across borders. South of Libya is void of state authority and a potential breeding ground for extremists groups.
The security level in Ndjamena and the Lake region has risen to 4 (substantial). Boko Haram (BH) activities are spreading from north eastern Nigeria to neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Military pressure on BH within Nigeria is dispersing their combatants all over the region, constituting dormant terrorists cells. The lake region is gradually becoming a zone of armed conflict against BH. A multinational force with HQ in Ndjamena to fight BH is yet to be operational. By declaring is allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), BH¿s outreach to the global terrorism network seems to be paying off as terrorist attacks in the region increase.
The relative stability at the Chad-Sudan borders could be disrupted at short notice due the weak state authority on the Sudanese side of the borders and the activities of non-state actors therein.
Stability is gradually returning to Central Africa Republic (CAR) but large areas, particularly the north bordering Chad remains under the control of armed groups. The Interim Government is gradually extending its influence beyond Bangui with the support of the UN mission while the French Sangaris operation downsizes. It is expected that the elections of October, 2015 will further stability The SFSA for Chad covers the whole country and coordinates a team of 1 FSA Roving and 12 AFSAs. He or she will be based in Ndjamena but will regularly carry out field missions to support operations. Field missions will be conducted by road and by air.
In the field he/she will be supported by fiend based colleagues and use Guest House facilities under the conditions stipulated by administration. The Government of Chad, as the primary responsibility, remains committed to protecting their national territory in general and the humanitarian community in particular, logistics and human resource constraints notwithstanding. The DPHR (Detachment pour la Protection des Humanitaires et des Refugies), the police and Gendarmerie respectively provide escorts, patrols and static protection for refugee camps and UN facilities in field locations. UNHCR and other UN agencies support them with fuel. The non-payment of DPHR allowances has left the elements greatly demoralized Given the considerable and diverse work load, it is important that the applicant be motivated, hard-working, organized and fluent in French (written and spoken), as all communications within the office and with external partners such as Government and humanitarian agencies are conducted in French. Working knowledge in English, especially written, is also required as more and more reports, internal as well as external, are requested in English.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2018 Compendium is Thursday 18 October  2018 (midnight Geneva time).