Senior Regional 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 Regional Field Security Adviser

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Senior Regional Field Security Adviser supports, advises and monitors the management of security issues within the countries covered by the regional office.
The incumbent acts as an adviser or representative of the Organization with local authorities, implementing partners, operational partners, governments, and other UN agencies on relevant issues at the working level.
The incumbent has a responsibility to monitor, coach, guide and support staff  within the given area of responsibility

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Operations within a region 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 within the region.

Responsibility
- Advise and support the Representatives or Head of Office in managing staff safety and security of UNHCR staff, partners, operations, premises and refugees or persons of concern.
- Identify security-related priority needs and develop an annual work plan for addressing them.
- Conduct regular missions to countries in the region, providing security advice, training and coaching, including, inter alia, Security Risk Assessments, Security Risk Management measures, operational plans and criticality assessments, beneficiary security issues and security-related administrative issues.
- Ensure that humanitarian and security objectives are reconciled in the region of responsibility, and that security measures are fully integrated into operational planning (including budgetary provisions) at the earliest stages of development.
- Provide regular and proactive analysis of the security environment in the region of responsibility, focusing on factors of risk with potential to impact UNHCR operations.
- Maintain continual liaison with UNDSS, Host Governments and other actors in the region to promote UN Security Management System policies and procedures, including UNHCR¿s Security Policy, in all UNHCR operations through regular inter-agency consultations, networking, mutual support, and information sharing.
- Participate in interagency working groups and other forums to ensure that system-wide policies and practices are sound and support UNHCR's needs.
- Intervene as required to resolve problems at an interagency level, gathering facts and harmonizing views where possible and rendering consistent and well-reasoned judgment. 
- While on mission, provide training and coaching to staff and, as appropriate, partners aimed at developing skills to plan and conduct operations safely within the specific security environment.
- In coordination with Field Security Service and the Global Learning Center, assist in the preparation and delivery of security training organized within the region. 
- Assist in maximising the capacity of national field security staff by helping with their recruitment and selection, providing coaching, mentoring, training and other forms of advice, and identifying their further training needs and assisting in their realization.
- Ensure that information-sharing networks are established with external partners including UNDSS, host governments, NGO and Implementing partners, and that regular feedback and analysis is provided to country managers.
- Provide security analysis and reports to UNHCR offices and the Field Security Service at Headquarters according to established procedures.
- Monitor events and intervene when and where appropriate to ensure that strategic security-related goals are achieved.
- Coordinate with the relevant Bureau and the Field Security Service to ensure cross-regional coherence in the design and implementation of security management procedures. Provide a link between country-based FSAs and FSS on strategic issues relevant to the region, and disseminate guidelines, policies and procedures and the monitor of their implementation in locations where FSAs are not present.
- Maintain linkages with the Staff Welfare Section, and the 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 forums.
- Undertake other functions as required.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of 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 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 (equivalent of Master's) degree specifically successful completion of the Command and General Staff at a recognized military staff college or police equivalent.
- 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.
- Organization management.
- Proven training skills.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.


This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Senior Regional 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>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
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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 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.  S/he will participate in critical assessments.  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 operations.

She/he will also supervise, train, mentor, and evaluate national security assistants working within the region. 

S/he will represent UNHCR in interagency working groups and attend SMT meetings, and therefore s/he must be conversant with UN/UNHCR security Policies, Guidelines and procedures.

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.

Excellent working knowledge in French and English is required as more and more reports, internal as well as external, are requested in English. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hosts 536.271 refugees as of 31 August 2018 countrywide (including 217.766 Rwandan refugees, 176.654 CAR refugees, 46.512 Burundian refugees and 93.995 South Sudanese refugees). 
DRC also hosts more than 4 million IDPs mainly located as follows: 1.4 million in Kasai provinces, 1.1 million in North Kivu province, 545,273 in South Kivu province, 603,000 in Tanganyika province, 210,000 in Ituri province, 147,000 in Maniema province, 96,000 in Haut-Katanga province, 64,000 in Haut-Lomami province and 16,000 in Lualaba province. As lead Protection Cluster, UNHCR continues to play a key role supporting the DRC Government in implementing a durable solutions strategy in order to help end the circle of protracted displacement in the country.  
In April 2018, the United Nations system-wide Level 3 emergency declaration for the Kasai region and the provinces of South Kivu and Tanganyika was de-activated. At the same time, security and humanitarian conditions in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu have deteriorated sharply.  In Ituri, on-going violence has seen a rise in the number of internally displaced persons to almost 350,000. A further 92,000 have fled to Uganda, creating a refugee emergency for which an internal Level 2 emergency was declared. In North Kivu, 500,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of the year, bringing the total number of IDPs in the province to 1.45 million.
Both situations have witnessed, among others, forced recruitment, sexual and gender based violence and kidnapping. The recent outbreak of an Ebola epidemic has compounded matters. Along with other humanitarian actors, and working pursuant to its coordination roles for protection, CCCM and emergency shelter, UNHCR is distributing emergency relief items, meeting other essential needs through cash transfers and implementing shelter programmes for returning IDPs in both provinces. The Office is undertaking protection activities, strengthening the capacity of local communities and authorities at all stages of the displacement cycle, fostering peaceful co-existence and dialogue and promoting participation of youth and women in decision-making and promoting dialogue all with a view to addressing critical protection risks and advancing solutions.
At the same time of addressing the dictates of responding to the ever-changing demands of the IDP emergencies, UNHCR is called to be present to deliver assistance under its mandate to refugee caseloads scattered in various locations throughout the vast DRC territory.
Political tensions are very high in Kinshasa and it is feared that the Presidential elections, which are now planned in December 2018 after having been postponed several times, will bring a lot of insecurity in the big towns of Kinshasa, Goma, Lubumbashi, Kalemie, etc¿ where UNHCR is present.
The Regional Office in Kinshasa supervises and provides support to 5 sub-offices and 13 field offices/units within the Country.  It also oversees operations in Gabon, Sao & Principe and the Republic of Congo which provides support to more than 58,000 people of concern.
The Senior Regional Field Security Advisor will report directly to the Regional Representative, and provide functional guidance to 5 Field Security Advisors and several national security assistants in the region. 
The incumbent takes on the role of leading, coordinating and supervising all activities related to security issues within the region. S/he will provide 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. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the third largest country in Africa, and as a result is quite diverse.  Living conditions therefore vary between UNHCR duty stations, with all usual amenities present in the capital Kinshasa, but only very basic conditions in remote duty stations in the provinces, where, for instance, there may be no guarantee of public power supply nor running water.  Accommodation is very expensive in Kinshasa. There are several Supermarkets in town but consumer items are generally very expensive (as everything is imported). For food, local markets offer a much cheaper alternative.  Kinshasa is considered family duty station since 1 January 2015, despite the fact that most facilities and amenities are still basic. UN international personnel are only allowed to reside within an established Residential Security Perimeter. 

The unit of currency is the Congolese Franc. The US dollar is the other preferred currency. It may be impossible to exchange traveller¿s checks away from the capital city. Credit cards are usually accepted in major hotels and some supermarkets in Kinshasa. In larger towns and cities (e.g. Kinshasa, Goma, Bukavu, Kisangani), it is recommended to open US Dollar bank accounts, while in other places, banks may be absent (including ATMs) and payments will be processed in cash.

In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili. Kinshasa is currently a security level 2 duty station.  Security threats in Kinshasa are mainly from crime and potential civil unrest.  UN personnel are not specifically targeted but criminals focus attacks on those perceived to have money and valuaables.  Crimes are primarily committed by street children locally called ¿Shegues¿, more organized gangs and unemployed youth called ¿Kulunas¿ and sometimes uncontrolled elements of the national security forces (police, soldiers, etc.) Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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