Humanitarian Access, Safety and Security Officer

Job Description

BACKGROUND: 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, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries, IRC aims to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to survive.

More than 3.6 million people have fled across borders to seek safety in the 1st month since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and over 6.5 million Ukrainians are reported to be displaced. As the vast majority of the displaced are women, girls, and boys, this could become the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades. Between February 7-23, 2022, an IRC team undertook a scoping mission covering Poland and Ukraine to better understand the context, humanitarian and civil society landscape, and anticipated service gaps in the event of an escalation of conflict in Ukraine and consequent displacement into neighboring Poland. As of February 24th, the IRC has pivoted to an emergency response, and have identified partner agencies in Ukraine and Poland to facilitate immediate assistance that can be used where it is the most needed. Simultaneously, the IRC is establishing operations across Ukraine and Poland to complement partner response services either in breadth or scale.

SCOPE OF WORK: The IRC is seeking a Humanitarian Access and Security Officer (HASO) for its Ukraine operations with travel to program locations. The HASO will work within the corresponding Field Office with support from the Humanitarian Access and Security Department, 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 the Field Coordinator, the HASO will implement IRC Safety & Security management measures, as well as support in providing contextual analysis and understanding to decision makers, and engage with key stakeholders to gain and maintain humanitarian access to those most in need. The HASO will prioritize the humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care and the IRC’s strategy action plans for Ukraine in their work. The HASO will conduct onsite briefings for staff, support the development and implementation of appropriate plans, standard operating procedures, and contingency plans. S/he will support in providing expert humanitarian security and access advice to all levels of IRC staff across the program including building relationships, negotiating and mediating humanitarian access, contextual understanding, and conflict analysis, advisories, and incident management.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS AND COORDINATION: Managerial Reporting to: the Field Coordinator Technical Reporting to: the Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Manager/Coordinator Supervises: If any security staff as program expands. Key Interfaces: Program teams, Operations teams, Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Department and other relevant staff as necessary with program expansion. External:

RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety and Security Management - Support the Field Coordinator by providing technical support to the Programs and the wider team on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational security and program continuity. - Support the Field Coordinator in evaluating, reviewing and updating security management plans on a regular basis. Reference and ensure compliance to the IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP and all annexes. - Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt. in working with key stakeholders to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans. - Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in evaluating, reviewing and updating the hibernation and evacuation plans for IRC sites in Ukraine and ensure that practical preparations are in place and known to all relevant staff. - Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in conducting risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices and residences. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards. - Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in undertaking continual assessments of equipment, and the protocols by which that equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met. - Implement best possible solutions for use of equipment to facilitate communication between staff, including proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment. - Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards - Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in ensuring 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.

Networking and Liaison - Monitor and provide support and reporting on NGO field security initiatives, as required. - Work to ensure that IRC, its mission and work in all areas of operation is known and accepted.

- Work to encourage stakeholders to collaborate with IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and given permission to continue humanitarian activities in Ukraine

- Liaise with relevant security actors e.g., NGO security staff, security forces, local community stakeholders, local authorities.

Context Understanding and Reporting - Compile and submit regular reports that track incidents and trends in humanitarian access and local security contexts within IRC’s areas of operation. - Submit daily contextual updates as needed to relevant field and program management staff. - 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 - Coordinate regularly with the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt on safety and security, and fulfill reporting requirements to the respective office(s) as well as other locations of IRC interest - Provide credible information and contextual understanding of localized and country-wide security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to IRC field and program management staff.

Program Development - Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in advising program staff developing conflict-sensitive and contextually appropriate approaches in Ukraine - Support the Field Coordinator and the HA&SS Dpt in participating 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 humanitarian access, safety, and security, and contribute to the development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development - If applicable, 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 - If applicable, as required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with IRC Staff Employment Policies - Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

REQUIREMENTS

Job Requirements

Education: Graduation from a higher education facility in a relevant subject is preferred, however secondary eduction and significant professional experience will be considered.

Work Experience: - Demonstrable experience of civilian, non-profit or NGO work experience within international humanitarian assistance programs, having undertaken planning, organizing and executing security operations in the field. - Experience of obtaining information on local, national, and international development, and providing clear dynamic briefings and analysis of given and unfolding security and political situations when they occur (both written and verbal) Demonstrated Technical Skills: - Skilled in organizing large-scale, fast-paced, responsive field programs - Situational awareness and opportunity awareness - Solid ability to provide team-building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation - Strong organizational and coordination skills - Knowledge and proficiency in the use of communications technology, including, satellite communications, cell phone mediums, etc. Demonstrated Leadership Competencies: - 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 ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders - Experience of working successfully with local stakeholders such as local and international NGOs, local authorities, government etc. with sensitivity and diplomacy. - Experience in design and supporting training engagements with staff and partners to enhance skills and adapt to changing program demands

Languages Required/Preferred: Fluency in spoken and written Ukrainian, Russian and English.

Computer/Other Requirements: Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Ability to Travel: up to 50% traveling

This position will be based in locations where IRC have presence. As this is a fluid and rapidly changing context, the location of this assignment may change based on the needs of the program. This position will be unaccompanied, with the possibility of review at the end of the first year. Housing will initially be in hotels, or shared, IRC accommodation, unless it is in HASO’s personal residency.

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.

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