Regional Safety Coordinator (Middle East Region)

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation.

About the job

The regional safety coordinator (RSC) will advise and assist the Executive Director (ED), the regional senior management team (RSMT) and country directors (CDs) to develop and implement DRC’s Safety Risk Management System (SRMS) across DRC programming in the middle east region. Fully implementing the SRMS will ensure that DRC meets an appropriate level of duty of care for those who fall under DRC’s responsibility as per Global Safety Policy.

The RSC reports to the ED with a technical line report to the Head of Global Safety (HoGS) at HQ. While the RSC does not directly line manage safety staff, the postholder is to provide technical oversight and support to safety staff within the middle east region.

Duties and Responsibilities

Safety Risk Management System

• Assist and monitor the development of country operation safety risk assessments (SRAs); supervise and endorse the assessment of safety levels; ensure that the safety level system is kept current
• Advise the ED and RSMT on available safety management strategies, including the transfer, avoidance, acceptance and/or control of risks
• Assist in the development of safety plans, including local safety rules (LSRs); standard operating procedures (SOPs); critical incident management plans (CIMPs); and minimum operating safety standards (MOSS)
• Support the implementation of safety improvement plans (SIPs), and assist in the implementation of staff capacity training plans, including the delivery and prioritization of training modules, specifically personal awareness, and safety training (HEAT/PAST) and incident management team (IMT) training to country operations
• Develop and maintain regional safety operating procedures (RSOPs) and support the contextualization of the RSOPs at country and area levels, as necessary
• Undertake regular MOSS audits across the region

Technical support, advice, and capacity building

• Provide technical supervision and support to all senior safety staff across the region. Develop their skills and knowledge through constructive feedback, training events and supporting personal development goals
• Assist country offices with the selection, recruitment, and professional development of safety staff
• Provide regular analysis, statistics, and reporting on key developments within the region to ED, RSMT and the regional staff and HoGS
• Provide safety advice as part of programme development and during programme implementation, including programme assessments
• Identify potential scenarios, indicators of change and key decision points
• Conduct ad hoc safety risk assessments post incident or due to low levels of MOSS compliance
• Ensure risk registers identify safety risks where relevant and work with RSMT on identifying risk treatments and porgramme or operation access constraints
• Act as the focal point for technical advice on procurement and installation of safety-related equipment
• Provide strong oversight to consortium’s where DRC is involved to ensure that an appropriate level of duty of care is maintained
• Oversee the travel clearance request system to ensure compliance

Representation

• Be the focal point for safety co-ordination between relevant actors.
• Attend Regional Security Forum (RSF), INSO, UN and other relevant external fora
• Establish a network of contacts and represent DRC at security meetings

Incident and critical incident management and response

• Support the establishment and maintenance of the Regional Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) and country-level Incident Manager Teams (IMT)s
• Coordinate the CIMT in the event of a critical incident
• Ensure effective country-level CIMPs are in place
• Brief CIMT members on their responsibilities and ensure alternate members are available and briefed
• Assist in the management of safety incidents and provide timely and accurate incident reports
• Conduct After Action Reviews following a critical incident

About you

To be successful in this role, we expect you to be a positive, mature leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing safety related initiatives. You thrive in managing a wide range of responsibilities and can effectively communicate and coordinate regional safety processes. You are an effective people manager and enjoy working with teams of committed staff to build collaboration and capacity within the regional team and in support of country operations.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Relevant university degree (in lieu of degree, at least 8 years’ experience in the safety and security sector not including military experience)

• At least 5 years in security and safety management including international safety and security experience in several countries, preferably within the current middle east region
• At least three years as a safety and security manager with an INGO at a country or regional level; preferably with experience in high-risk environments
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized safety and security protocols and systems
• Ability to be flexible and demonstrate an innovative approach to safety risk management
• Substantial experience in information gathering, analysis and report writing, including conducting and producing high quality SRAs.
• Demonstrated experience with critical incident management
• Demonstrated experience with delivering effective safety-related training
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Proven ability to work effectively with minimal supervision
• Stable, dedicated team-player with a good sense of humor and a high level of personal integrity
• Excellent communication skills
• Willingness to travel at least 50% of the time
• Fluent in written and spoken English; proficiency in a regional language is an advantage

Education:

• University degree in relevant field; or at least 8 years’ experience in humanitarian and/or safety and security sectors in lieu of a degree.

Languages:

• High proficiency in written and spoken English
• Additional languages as necessary specific to region

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 

Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

The Contract

Contract length: 2 years (renewable)

Start date: 14th May 2023 

Duty station: Regional Office in Amman with frequent travel to countries in the region

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates or DRC National Staff salary scale. 

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 31 March 2023

Recruitment will be on a rolling basis and DRC reserves the right to offer the position to suitable candidate before the deadline). 

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo