Safety and Security Officer- Readvertised at Borno Women Development Initiative (BOWDI)

Borno Women Development Initiative (BOWDI) is a women-led, registered Nongovernmental, Non-profit Organization with its head office in Borno State, Nigeria. BOWDI has been active in Humanitarian and development activities in the Northeast, especially in education, peace-building, advocacy, food security, livelihood, and protection.

Experience3 years
Location Borno.

Job Description

The Field Security Officer (FSO) assists in maintaining a safe and secure environment for BOWDI employees and visitors, premises, and assets as well as maintaining regular communication with staff during field movement. The FSO is responsible for ensuring that appropriate systems and procedures (Safety and Security Protocols) are in place to maximize safety and security and that they are always adhered to.  The FSO is responsible for coordinating operational security issues and sourcing of relevant security information within BOWDI project activity areas and in Borno state. The FSO supports the Executive Director and Program Manager to ensure that safety and security is mainstreamed into all field operations across Borno Office, and at the same time provides a high-quality information for decision making.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Policies and Procedures:

• Be familiar with BOWDI’s Safety and Security procedures and policies and Safe and Sound Manual and support the Executive Director in ensuring they are always adhered to.
• Work with the Executive Director to develop, consolidate, implement, and regularly review operating procedures and security plans across Borno State operational areas.
• Provide training(s) that may include Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Contingency Plans (CPs), Security Management, Incident Reporting, Prevention and Response Mechanisms, Communications (including satellite phones), and risk/threat analysis.

Communication:

• Provide thorough security briefings to BOWDI staff and visitors upon arrival in the State.
• Initiate, review, and collate security incident reports for each field site.
• Implement, maintain, and regularly update the BOWDI State staff and visitors list, Security Communications Tree and SOPs as needed
• Ensure the communication equipment functions at all times (HF radio, sat phone, internet, and phone lines). Follow-up on any calls made by satellite phone and radio

Staff and Vehicle Movement:

• In collaboration with the Travel Team, monitor movement and provide security guidance to international and national staff on the current situation in operational areas.
• Daily track and record all BOWDI field movement within Borno State. 
• Maintain strong communication to report and record observations, information, and occurrences during staff movement.
• Serve as focal point with drivers during interstate movement by tracking the location of all vehicles and staff and communicate with BOWDI Security Focal Points in other states.
• Regularly conduct 50% field visits to assess field site compliance with safety and security procedure during field activities.
• Ensure vehicle and personal tracking systems are appropriate, fully resourced, and operational

Monitoring and Analysis:

• Collect information regarding politics and security in Borno State as well as on safety and security issues concerning BOWDI.
• Respond to security relevant incidents with information gathering and inform the Executive Director.
• Undertake continual assessments of equipment (including vehicles) and organizational assets to ensure that minimal conditions for security are met.
• Prevent loss and damage by reporting irregularities, informing violators of policy and procedures.
• Ensure that perimeter security staff (guards) have the capacities to perform their duties as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Conduct monthly health and safety inspections such as, but not limited to: fire extinguishers, smoke/fire detectors and inspection of BOWDI facilities in Borno State 
• Regular inventory and stock taking of hibernation kits, first aid kits, and vehicle safety kits; ensure that staff know what is in the kits and how and when to use them.
• Submit regular contextual updates (weekly/monthly situational reports) to the Executive Director.
• Work closely with BOWDI field teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written Incident Report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately.
• Take appropriate measures to secure BOWDI premises, personnel, assets, and properties by regularly monitoring and control of BOWDI existing security set-up.
• Check that facilities and equipment conform to security norms (closures and doorways are in a good state, open spaces lit up, buildings identified, fire extinguishers present, electrical installations buried, etc.).
• Review lodging options for staff Borno State and in field locations, ensuring they meet BOWDI standard operating procedures.

Coordination:

• Maintain a wide professional and personal network of influential actors and clearly communicate BOWDI’s status and mission in Borno.
• Build acceptance to facilitate continuity of current BOWDI programs and any future humanitarian or development programming by liaising with local communities, local authorities and other humanitarian actors and stakeholders within the state.
• Attend and represent BOWDI at UN Sector, and other meetings relating to access and security as appropriate, following guidance from the Head of Office and the CP Security Manger. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups
• Ability to plan and organize work and write clear and concise reports and communicate effectively (both written and verbal).
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Word, PowerPoint). 

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:  

• Internal: Executive Director, Program Manager, Admin Officer, etc.
• External: INGOs, UN Agencies, Government Agencies, Partners etc.

Method of Application

Interested and qualified? Go to Borno Women Development Initiative (BOWDI) on forms.gle to apply