Fixed Term Appointment - Security Specialist (NO-C), Johannesburg, South Africa (Open to South African Nationals Only)

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, safety

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Job organizational context****:

The Security Specialist, at the National Officer Level 3, is located in the ESARO sub-regional hub in Johannesburg, South Africa, and reports to Regional Security Advisor, Level 5, who is based in ESARO Nairobi and provides oversight and supervision to the position.

Purpose for the job:

The post is proposed considering the geographical scope and complex threat profiles of the region, with particular security challenges in the southern Africa sub-region. Under the guidance and supervision of the Regional Security Advisor in Nairobi, the position will support the Regional Security Advisor in advising the Representatives of UNICEF Country Offices in southern Africa sub-region on their security duties and responsibilities in accordance with UN and UNICEF Security Management Systems policies and guidelines. The position is responsible for pro-active application and implementation of security risk management (SRM) processes including analysis and early-warning, and other security related functions required to support the implementation of UNICEF programs and operations, and the safety and security of UNICEF staff, dependents and assets in the sub-region.

The position will support security activities within the southern-Africa sub-region in close coordination with all members of the UN Security Management System (UNSMS) including the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) and the respective Security Cells. The position collaborates with NGO partners in line with the Saving Lives Together (SLT) framework agreement. The position supports the Regional Security Advisor in the development of Security Risk Management (SRMs) of the sub-region’s Country Offices’ country-specific Security Plans.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Security Risk Management and Planning
2. Safety and Security Services
3. Programmatic Security Information Analysis
4. Security Networking and Partnership Building
5. Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

1. Security Risk Management and Planning

• Advise Representatives, Managers and Security Focal Points in the execution of their duties with regards to the safety and security of UNICEF personnel and eligible family members, premises and programs in accordance with UN and UNICEF Security Management Systems.
• Provide advice to the Representatives, Managers and Security Focal Points on technical security requirements contained in the SRM, UN Security Plan, Residential Security Measures (RSM), and other relevant policies, guidelines, and assessments and monitor their implementation. Provide technical oversight for contracted security providers.
• Prepare, maintain, and update UNICEF security documentation including security contingency plans and provide Representatives, Security Focal Points, the RSA and the Office of the Security Coordinator (OSC) with mandatory reports in accordance with UNICEF security reporting guidelines. This includes the monitoring/reporting on security compliance and the submission of all Security Incident Reports (SIRs).

2. Safety and Security Services

• Monitor the security situation in the southern-African sub-region and provide independent and comprehensive security analysis with the goal of identifying trends and predicting the specific conditions that would impact on the safety and security of UNICEF personnel, eligible family members, programmes, premises, assets and resources.
• Implement security activities in support of UNICEF operations and participate, coordinate and/or undertake SRM processes for all locations in the locations where UNICEF personnel and eligible family members are present
• Ensure that UNICEF personnel are kept informed of matters affecting their security and the actions to take in the event of an emergency including those identified in the UN Security Plan as it relates to UNICEF. Ensure there is an effective and functioning communications system for security management within UNICEF that is fully integrated into the UN Emergency Communications System. Coordinate with UNDSS to ensure all UNICEF personnel undertake all mandatory security training/briefings and participate in all security related contingency exercises. Conduct security surveys of international personnel residences in accordance with the Residential Security Measures (RSM).

********3. Programmatic Security Information Analysis********

1. Collect information and provide specific analysis, advice and support on security aspects of programme planning and implementation. Conduct analysis to fully understand the issues that have an impact on the delivery of UNICEF programmes, particularly in areas deemed security compromised. Work closely with the UNICEF programme and communication personnel to integrate all relevant security analysis into the planning and implementation

4. Security Networking and Partnership Building

Establish contact and maintain networks with all UNSMS/NGOs security advisors and relevant local authorities as appropriate. Ensure that security collaboration with NGOs, working as UNICEF implementing partners, is undertaken, in coordination with UNDSS and using the SLT policies as a framework.

5. Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Introduce technological innovations and approaches to security procedures and systems.

• Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.

• Organize, plan and/or implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders on security related preparedness and operations.

  IV. Impact of Results

The advice and effective decision-making and planning required in complex security environments, which often involve highly stressful situations, will directly impact on the safety and security of personnel, their eligible family members, programme delivery to affected population as well as organizational premises, assets and resources.

V. Competencies and level of proficiency required

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (3)
• Deciding and Initiating action (2)
• Applying technical expertise (2)

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

VI. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Security Risk Management, International Relations, Conflict Analysis, Intelligence Analysis, Diplomatic Studies, Conflict and Security, Counter Terrorism or another relevant technical field.

*A university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of professional experience in global security risk management and/or security analysis is required.

Demonstrated international security management experience and understanding of the United Nations Security Management System is highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

How to apply…

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their application to the following link: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=534247 by 18 September 2020.

This notice will also appear on http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/, http://www.unicef.org/southafricaUN Job List, UN Jobs.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only complete applications as indicated in the VA will be reviewed. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

We invite you to watch a short video on the system on how to apply: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePgDIQ9RVYs&feature=youtu.be

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at: http://www.whed.net