Humanitarian Access and Security Coordinator - Beirut

Job Description

The IRC is seeking a Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator (HASC) for its Lebanon program based in Beirut with frequent travel to program locations. A member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the HASC will work with country leadership to ensure that organizational security policies and procedures are responsive to the context, are contextually appropriate and known to staff, and will advise on humanitarian access processes and approaches in close coordination with program teams.

Reporting to both the Country Director and Regional Safety and Security Director, the HASC will analyze security trends, advise, update, and implement IRC’s Security Management Plans. The HASC will streamline humanitarian access approaches in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care and the IRC’s strategic action plan for Lebanon. This position will manage the Humanitarian Access & Security (HAS) team in Lebanon.

Location: Lebanon

Travel Requirements: 40% travel to field sites

Project/Dept: Safety and Security

Employee Type: This is a national position based in IRC’s Lebanon country program. Please note you must possess Lebanese nationality or legal work authorization in order to be eligible for this position.

Reporting Relationships and Coordination:

- Reports to: Country Director and Regional Safety & Security Director - Position directly supervises: 1 HAS Senior Officer. Management in partnership of 2 HAS Officers. - Internal: Senior Management Team (SMT), Field Coordinators, Field Managers, Program Coordinators and Managers, and Regional HAS Coordinator, and Regional Context Analyst - External: Partners, donors, peer humanitarian agencies, training providers, specialized networks and forums.

Responsibilities

Safety and Security Management Planning

- Provide technical support to the Country Director on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational security and program continuity in Lebanon. - Evaluate, review and update the Lebanon Security Management Plan on a regular basis. Reference and ensure compliance to IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP and all annexes. - Work with key stakeholders including Programs and Operations departments to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans. - Evaluate, review and update the hibernation and evacuation plans for all IRC offices and residences in Lebanon and ensure that practical preparations are in place and known to all staff involved. - Lead on the risk assessment processes of contracted and prospective offices and residences. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards. - Ensure that safety and security protocols, reporting mechanisms and capacity building initiatives account for gender-specific risks, staff profiles and backgrounds, and are sensitive to the local context. - 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 equipment to facilitate communication between staff, including here proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment. - Develop and maintain a network of security focal points at each field office and program site ensuring gender balance amongst these roles.

Humanitarian Access Management

- Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites. - Ensure humanitarian access approaches are responsive to the local context and include overarching community engagement components. - Develop ongoing relationships with local authorities and other power brokers in Lebanon. - Work to ensure that IRC, its mission and work in all areas of operation is known and accepted. - Work to encourage key stakeholders to collaborate with the IRC to ensure that staff and programs are safe and given permission to conduct humanitarian activities in Lebanon. - Provide technical support in assessing the suitability of establishing programming in new geographic locations. - Liaise with relevant security actors such as NGO security focal points, Saving Lives Together, UNDSS and local authorities. - Identify barriers and opportunities for access and support program teams in developing relevant strategies to ensure durable programming. - Promote and support integration of humanitarian access approaches into program design and implementation.

Contextual Understanding and Reporting

- Compile and submit regular reports that track incidents and trends in humanitarian access and security in IRC’s areas of operation. - Submit daily contextual updates as needed to relevant field and program management staff. - Work closely with IRC teams in Field Offices in Lebanon 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. - In coordination with the Advocacy team and the Regional Context Analyst, monitor the operating environment, identify new threats, assess the IRC’s vulnerability and recommend mitigation actions. - Coordinate regularly with the RSSD on Humanitarian Access and Security, and fulfill reporting requirements to the region.

Security Training and Capacity Building

- Develop capacity building and training plans based on the context and needs of the Country Program. - Provide regular training for IRC staff on humanitarian principles, security preparedness, prevention and response. Trainings may include Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs); Contingency Plans (CPs); Security Management; Incident Reporting; Prevention and Response Mechanisms; Communications protocols, etc. - Strengthen and expand the capacity of field teams in order to prepare and respond in a timely manner to emerging emergencies. - Working with the HR focal point on reviewing and updating the IRC Lebanon Security Information package for new hires and visitors. - Liaise with partners to assess capacity building needs and provide advice and support where feasible and necessary.

Staff Performance Management

- 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 constructive performance feedback and conducting 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. - Promote and monitor staff care and well-being by modelling healthy work-life balances practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs that may arise from security incidents. - Lead with commitment, integrity, inclusion and accountability by adhering to IRC HR policies and procedures, and the “IRC Way” which sets Global Standards for Professional Conduct.

Qualifications

- A minimum of 3 years of non-profit or NGO work experience within international humanitarian assistance programs with demonstrated capabilities in planning, organizing and executing security operations in the field. - Understanding the humanitarian principles, code of conduct and specific sub-sector work linked to NGO field and operations contexts. - Strong negotiation and mediation skills with experience in conflict resolution. - Experience of working successfully with local stakeholders such as local authorities, security forces, government and NGOs. - Advanced knowledge in communications technology, including, satellite communications, cell phone mediums, etc. - Strong experience as a trainer; ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences. - Ability to gain a precise and impartial understanding of the context including various local, regional, country and international policies, operational positions and interactions. - Provide clear dynamic briefings and analysis of given and unfolding security and political situations when they occur. - Understanding of best practices with regards to people and project management. - Exceptional organizational and coordination skills. - Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills with the ability to represent the department at cross-functional internal meetings and with external stakeholders. - Written and verbal English and Arabic Skills essential with French language skills a plus.