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Field Security Specialist

Mazār-e Sharīf

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Mazār-e Sharīf
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Security and Safety
  • Closing Date: Closed

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

BACKGROUND

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and the rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP supports the Afghan people’s aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. UNDP is currently implementing its flagship response Programme, ABADEI (Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives), as part of the ongoing UN-led response to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and the breakdown of Afghanistan’s economy following the August 2021 shift in power.

The ABADEI Strategy is a tailored area-based integrated programming approach to support basic human needs, complementing short-term humanitarian life-saving assistance with safeguarding livelihoods and strengthening community resilience. It is centered around addressing worsening poverty and vulnerability, supporting community resilience and social cohesion, addressing climatic vulnerability, and enabling the rehabilitation of small-scale infrastructure vital for basic human needs. It supports the creation of immediate sources of income through vocational skills training, cash-for-work, cash-for-market, small businesses, and livelihood opportunities with a particular focus on agri-business and regenerative agriculture infrastructure and services that are under threat. It is sensitive to the chronic and newly emerging vulnerabilities of Afghan women and girls and aims at providing them assistance in a manner that does not exacerbate their susceptibility to violence and deprivation of opportunities and rights.

•           UNDP aspires to be a world-class knowledge leader and seamless knowledge sourcing and sharing entity. To align the systems for improved coherence between policy and programme, incentives, culture, and resources needed to move the needle on the sustainable development, UNDP Afghanistan is establishing the Policy and Knowledge Team within the programmatic units of the Country Office. The Policy and Knowledge Team will have a renewed focus on macroeconomic and SDG related research and how it can be applied to UNDP Afghanistan programing, by collecting, analyzing, and using evidence from a country perspective, and from external and internal experience. It will also work in close collaboration with the M&E Unit at the CO level.

Position Purpose:

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the UNDP Country Office (CO) Senior Field Security Specialist (SFSS), the Northern Area Field Security Specialist (Northern Area FSS) will work closely with UNDSS to undertake her/his duties and responsibilities which includes the overall safety and security of all UNDP personnel and their eligible family members, eligible contractors, resources, assets, facilities and programs. The FSS will be promoting, enabling and supporting Northern Area programme delivery throughout Afghanistan while ensuring compliance with all United Nations safety and security policies, procedures and regulations. This will be achieved through:

  • Advising that UNDP security support should feature prominently in the programming process at project and Country Office level.
  • Strengthening the security arrangements of the project and UNDP and maintaining a security network with international and national security personnel, as well as relevant local counterparts.
  • Assessment missions throughout the country.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Enable Northern Area project activities:

  • Provide security policy guidance and security management support to enable effective project planning, implementation and delivery within the framework of all UN security policies and procedures.
  • Review the impact of current as well as future potential security factors and trends on UNDP planning, project design and delivery, as well as the possible impact that design might have on the stability and security, ensuring that support needs identified, and improvements implemented.
  • Liaise and coordinate activities with relevant counterparts in the planning, preparation and execution of missions, ensuring the safety and security of UNDP Northern Area personnel as the highest priority.
  • To protect and minimize the risk to UNDP personnel, project personnel, property and operations in all locations and at the same time enabling UNDP programme delivery throughout the country.
  • Access coordination and support in collaboration with the Senior National Security & Government Liaison Officer (SNSGLO) and SFSS.
  • Maintain a security network with relevant international and national security counterparts.
  • Participate as a member of the Security Cell and ASMT established by UNDSS in country.
  • If required, identify options for office and accommodation locations in areas where UNDP Northern Area might be expanding

Security Risk Management:

  • Conduct security risk assessments of operations in the districts, provinces, and regions where projects are implemented, identify, and implement appropriate risk management measures.
  • Assist/provide input to UNDSS in preparing a comprehensive security risk assessment of the country to include all locations where UNDP personnel, eligible family members and equipment are present.

Security Plan and Business Continuity:

  • Provide inputs to ensure that UNDP procedures conform to the UN security framework.
  • Provide input and assist UNDSS in establishing, maintaining, and updating the country specific security plan and contingency plans in accordance with the UN Security Management Policies and Procedures.
  • See that all UNDP personnel are included in the Security Plan being prepared by UNDSS.
  • Provide inputs into updating the UNDP Northern Area component within the country-specific security and contingency plans.
  • Update the UNDP Northern Area warden system, train UNDP Northern Area wardens and follow up on their specific needs accordingly for both international and national personnel.
  • Provide security related contributions to the CO Business Continuity Plan.
  • Take necessary action to secure security clearances for all UNDP personnel travelling in security phase areas.

Minimum Operating Security Standards:

  • Ensure UNDP personnel and equipment are MOSS compliant.
  • Ensure that personnel members are provided with; and proficient in the use of, safety and security equipment, including communications equipment, vehicle emergency equipment and personal security safeguards required for work in the field.
  • Use and maintain internal communication systems and ensure UNDP communications are integrated into the appropriate UN Security Emergency Communications System.
  • Provide advice on selection and procurement of appropriate equipment for security (vehicles, telecommunications equipment, etc.).
  • Provide advice on the security of transportation and logistics.
  • Coordinate with UNDSS 24-hour response to all security related incidents involving UNDP Northern Area personnel and eligible family members.

Information Management:

  • Provide timely and accurate security advice to the UNDP Management, programme managers, project managers and visiting consultants.
  • Immediately report all security-related incidents involving UNDP to the SFSS.
  • Ensure that UNDP programme personnel members are provided with situation reports and other appropriate security information as required.
  • In cooperation with the HR unit, maintain updated UNDP Northern Area personnel lists, including details of visiting missions and consultants.
  • Encourage an exchange of information relative to risk management for UNDP programme implementation.
  • In coordination with UNDSS in-country, conduct investigations of death of a personnel/family member under suspicious and unclear circumstances.
  • Participate in inter-agency security coordination efforts as delegated.

Office and Residential Security:

  • Conduct appropriate security assessments of UNDP premises and equipment and advise on shortfalls in security preparedness with recommended improvements and solutions.
  • Assist UNDP in developing and implementing office security requirements for sub-offices and offices of UNDP implemented projects.
  • Establish and implement access control mechanisms (visitor/vehicle screening) as necessary for UNDP and project offices based on the security phase.
  • Represent UNDP Northern Area security interests in any common premises that UNDP occupies ensuring that personnel safety and security are primary considerations.
  • Ensure that UNDP premises and international personnel residences are MOSS compliant.

Security Related Training:

  • Provide orientation and training to international and national personnel members on security guidelines, communication procedures, travel precautions, emergency procedures and existing restrictions in movement, such as curfews, restricted and dangerous areas.
  • Scheduling and implementing fire safety, first aid, and radio communications training for the appropriate personnel members.
  • Participation in the security trainings for the UNDP and allied UN agency personnel members.
  • Any required security training.

Managerial Functions:

  • Manage, supervise and execute the work programmes for the Security Team in UNDP’s Northern Area of Afghanistan, coordinating and preparing inputs, determining priorities and estimating required resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
  • Assist in the performance evaluation of the private contractors, suppliers and consultants providing Security Services to the Country Office, as required.
  • Serve as the first reporting officer on performance evaluations of all individuals assigned security functions in UNDP’s Northern Area.

General security support:

  • The Northern Area Field Security Specialist will, in consultation with the SFSS respond to requests from the DO/UNDSS, to perform UN system related security tasks.
  • Crisis, incident and post-incident coordination and support.
  • Assist UNDP CO Security Unit as and when required.
  • Any other security related tasks assigned by the UNDP CO SFSS.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

  • The Field Security Specialist will be responsible for supervising the Security Associates reporting to him/her.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Security Services - Security advice, planning and coordination: Ability to provide with authoritative advice and guidance on security management, plan and coordinate security activities

Security Services - Security risk management: Ability to assess threats and risks, identify and oversee implementation of mitigation measures, including ability to design and test security plans

Security Services - Security incident management & monitoring: Ability to provide adequate response to security incidents/events

Security Services - Physical/premises security design, implementation and management: Ability to conduct accurate premises assessments on UN facilities to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are in place. Ability to design, support the implementation and test physical security systems for UNDP premises

Security Services - Security crisis management & response: Knowledge of crisis management and response arrangements as well as the ability to prepare for, respond to, support/manage security crisis events

Business Direction & Strategy - Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPs objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions

Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Business Direction & Strategy - System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

RECRUITMENT QUALIFICATIONS

Education

  • Master’s degree in social sciences, management, or a related security field,
  • or formal multi-year education in Security Management, such as military or police, Junior Command and Personnel College (minimum 9 months full time) qualification with command experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, management, or a related security field, or formal multi-year education in Security Management, such as military or police, Junior Command and Personnel College (minimum 9 months full time) qualification with command experience with 2 additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.
  • Formal multi-year education in Security Management, such as military or police senior Command and Staff College (minimum 9 months full time) qualification, with command experience at senior level, is considered equivalent to an Advanced University Degree.
  • Formal training in security risk management.

Experience

  • At least 5 years (with a master’s degree) or 7 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of relevant security and development-related experience
  • Previous experience of working in a conflict/post-conflict or crisis environment is an asset.
  • In-depth knowledge of security management and risk management is mandatory. 
  • Knowledge of UN/UNDP business, operations and programming cycle is required.
  • Knowledge of UNDP Country Office structure; roles and responsibilities of the Resident Coordinator, Resident Representative, DO, SMT, UNDSS and Security Management System

Language Requirements

  • Proficiency in oral and written English is required.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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