IRC Global Surge Team:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 30 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.
The IRC’s Global Surge Team (GST) is a roster of esteemed and highly qualified humanitarian professionals who deploy on short notice to non-emergency and emergency contexts to support the IRC’s mission. Members of the GST provide specialist support where talent is most needed for short-term deployments of up to three months. The GST is a flexible employment opportunity for staff, requiring members to be available for deployments only 50% of the year (with opportunities for additional deployments if incumbent is interested).
Job Overview
The IRC is seeking a Security & Access Coordinator to join its surge team, to meet the ad-hoc Safety & Security needs of IRC country programs globally. This may include coverage of gaps of security leadership during recruitment processes, or specialist tasks such as the delivery of training, security risk assessments, or supporting emergency response teams in responding to emerging humanitarian crises. The Coordinator will work with country leadership to ensure that organizational security policies and procedures are implemented, responsive to the context, and known to staff. They will advise on humanitarian access approaches in close coordination with program teams, as well as provide contextual analysis and understanding to decision makers. They will prioritize the humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care and the IRC’s strategy action plans in their work.
Type: Job
Career category: Program/Project Management
Years of experience: 5-9 years
Major Responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities will vary in line with the Terms of Reference of tasks, however, the following is indicative of the expected deliverables of a Safety & Security Coordinator.
Safety & Security Management
• Provide technical support to country management on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational security and program continuity.
• Evaluate, review and update security management plans on a regular basis. Reference and ensure compliance to the IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP and all annexes.
• Work with key stakeholders to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans.
• Evaluate, review and update the hibernation and evacuation plans for IRC sites and ensure that practical preparations are in place and known to all relevant staff.
• Conduct risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices and residences. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards.
• Undertake continual assessments of equipment, and the protocols by which that equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met.
• Provide and implement best possible solutions for use of communications equipment, including proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment.
• Develop and maintain a network of IRC Security Focal Points at each field office and program sites enhancing gender balance.
• Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards
• Ensure safety and security protocols, reporting mechanisms, and capacity building initiatives account for gender-specific risks, staff profiles and background, and are sensitive to local contexts.
• Work closely with IRC field management teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately. Ensure that final incident reports are provided when IRC is closing the case.
• Monitor the operating environment in the region, identify new threats, assess IRC vulnerabilities and recommend possible responses
Humanitarian Access Management
• Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites, and include overarching community engagement components.
• In line with the humanitarian principles, develop ongoing relationships with appropriate local authorities and other key stakeholders, encouraging collaboration with IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and with permission to continue humanitarian activities
• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission and work in all areas of operation is known and accepted.
• Provide technical input and advice on assessments to consider IRC programming in new geographic locations.
• Liaise and coordinate with relevant security actors e.g., NGO security staff, security forces, local community stakeholders, local authorities.
Training and Capacity Building
• Provide training to IRC staff on relevant Safety & Security and Access skills, including but not limited to:
o Standard Operational Procedures
o Emergency and Contingency Plans
o Safety and Security Risk Management
o Incident Management & Reporting
• Liaise with partners to assess development needs and provide advice and support where feasible and necessary.
• Work with relevant internal focal points to develop, review, and deliver on-boarding packages and briefings for new hires and visitors.
Program Development
• Participate in program design in close cooperation with program staff, supporting in the development of conflict-sensitive and contextually appropriate approaches
• Participate in program review meetings and contribute to implementation plans to ensure the timely, safe, and secure delivery of IRC service to beneficiaries
• Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks pertaining to Safety & Security and Humanitarian Access, and contribute to the development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans.
Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development
• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the IRC Staff Employment Policies
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of all staff
Requirements
• An undergraduate university degree or higher in Political Science, Security Risk Management, Policing, or other equivalent is preferred, though candidates with a technical degree, certification in a related field (e.g., CPP, CSMP, etc.), or significant applicable lived experience will also be considered.
• At least 5 years experience in High-Risk and Complex environments, with at least 2 years experience working with NGOs – all of them as Security or Humanitarian Access staff.
• Experience in delivering training; ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.
• Proven management experience, including people and projects.
• Highly skilled in organizing and coordinating large-scale, fast-paced, responsive field programs.
• Solid ability to provide team-building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation.
• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with external stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation and mediation skills essential with experience in conflict resolution essential
• Superior oral and written communication skills, with the ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Fluency in English. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Working knowledge of Arabic, French and/or Spanish is strongly preferred.
• Digital literacy: MS Word, Excel & email applications required; MS Access, Project & GIS preferred.
Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Working Environment: Staff must comply with all IRC security policies and procedures applicable to IRC employee.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.