Safety Specialist

Contract

This is a DRC - Expatriate or National contract. More about DRC - Expatriate or National contracts.

Position Title Safety Specialist Supervised by Country Director Reporting to Country Director Duty station Bangui Area of Operation RCA Employment period 6 months Type of contract Expatriate or National Salary & Benefits G2 Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background

Present since 2006, DRC is one of the largest international NGOs in the Central African Republic, working in two districts (Ouham, Ouham-Pendé) with 3 bases (Paoua, Batangafo and Bocaranga) in addition to an office in the capital (Bangui) with a portfolio of projects in various sectors. The program strategy for 2023 focuses on the following three sectors: protection, economic recovery and livelihoods, and emergency response to immediate needs linked to population displacement.

Overall purpose of the role:

Under the authority of the Country Director, the Safety Specialist will provide advice and technical support on the four stages (Assess, Decide, Plan, Act) of DRC Safety Risk Management system (SRMS) in the Republic of Central Africa, ensuring compliance with DRC Global Safety and Global Access policies.

The Safety Specialist will be based in Bangui but is expected to travel up to 50% of the working time throughout the country to deliver trainings on the implementation of the SRMS. Example of such trainings include and are not limited to :

1) How to plan and conduct field movements;

2) How to correctly do a Safety Risk Assessment;

3) How to select, monitor and update contingency plans’ indicators.

This position requires a previous experience in safety and humanitarian access, strong communication and analysis skills to feed informed decision-making regarding DRC field operations.

Responsibilities: The Safety Specialist will support the Country Director in maintaining the mentioned aspects of the DRC Safety Risk Management System (SRMS) in the country, for all DRC operations within CAR. Under the direct management of the Country Director, he/she is expected to pursue the following objectives and duties in his/her daily work:

Overall objectives

• Oversee the development and implementation of the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC’s) Safety Risk Management System (SRMS)
• Support the Country Director and the Country Field Offices in ensuring compliance with DRC safety policy
• Responsible to provide specialized technical guidance and operational know-how to develop policies and procedures (SOPs) in close coordination with project staff, and contributes to quality assurance once implemented.
• Regularly visit the Area offices in the N-O to ensure all agreed safety rules are respected, that the evacuation plan and contingency stock are both in place and up to date.
• Delivers specialized safety training to DRC staffs on the diverse aspects of the SRMS and the associated SOPs
• Works independently to conduct SRMS assessment in all geographical areas of interest for DRC within the country and identify opportunities for continuous improvement within the organisation’s delivery model.

SRMS:

• Ensure that the country is up to date with the different components of DRC’s Safety Risk Management System: Contingency plans; Safety Level System (SLS), Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS), Local Safety Rules (LSR), Safety Risk and Threat Assessments (SRA); Record of Emergency Data (RED) as per the SRMS tracker that will be provided.
• Ensure the timely submission of updated Safety Risk Assessments (SRA), Context Assessments and Programme Assessments for each programme area within the country, pursuant to DRC’s Country Safety Policy.
• Ensure each programme area has appropriate SOPs developed and implemented. Monitor compliance with SOPs. Keep track of the SOPs in the SRMS tracker.
• Ensure that appropriate Safety improvement plans (SIP) accompany the MOSS audits to address outstanding requirements not yet met.
• Conduct regular reviews with Incident Management Teams (IMTs) in country offices to ensure that all components of the contingency plans (e.g., Hibernation, Relocation, Evacuation, Medical Emergency and Abduction) are up to date, realistic and properly understood by all.
• In case of absence of the Country Director as the primary point of contact for safety related matters, ensure specialized coverage with the Regional Office and other local actors.

Capacity Building

• Conduct – or facilitate the delivery of – safety training for staff at all levels. Ensure that the country is at par with DRC Safety Training agenda.
• Regularly travel to Area offices in NO to deliver training to DRC staff on the diverse aspects of the SRMS and the associated SOPs. Contribute to maintaining a “safety culture” by mainstreaming DRC Global Safety Policy and SRMS at all levels of DRC country operations.
• Assist and mentor the Area Safety Teams (i.e., Base Managers, Safety Assistants, Guards) on their role of custodians of the SRMS’s integrity.

Information Management and Reporting

• Maintain detailed soft and hard copy files of all relevant safety documents and make sure they are rapidly accessible to Critical Incident or Crisis Management Teams.
• Maintain the SRMS tracker and the Safety SharePoint up to date and available online to all the designated users.
• Conduct regular calls with the Area Safety Teams in the regions to monitor the overall situation and provide regular situation reports regarding compliance with DRC’s Global Safety Policy.
• In case of absence of the Country Director. ensure an up-to-date visitor briefing package is provided to all visitors and international staff arriving in country.
• Be able to substitute the Country Director on short notice in conducting safety briefings for all visitors and staffs at the Country level.
• Provide briefings on specific thematic and issues, as requested by the Country Director or the Regional Safety Coordinator.

In addition to the above, the Safety Specialist may be asked to carry out any other duties as requested by the Country Director.

1. Required Qualifications

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 3 years of practical experience in sector area working for an INGO
• Management and/or supervisory experience within an NGO or similar organisation
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized protocols and systems.
• Ability to conduct and produce high quality safety risk assessments (SRAs).
• Experience with critical incident management.
• Proven commitment to accountability practices.
• Experience with information gathering, analysis and report writing.
• Experience working with national partners, local/government authorities, and UN organisations

Education:

• Master's degree (e.g., political science, international development, or economics)
• In lieu of the above, a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience in the sector

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Full professional proficiency in both French and English

1. Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills is a must
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humour

1. General Regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality, and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request

1. Application Process

Are you interested? Then apply for this position online**: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies.** All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages).

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, sex, colour, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.

However, all applicants shall take into consideration that DRC cannot offer an international work contract to a citizen of the country of assignment (in this specific case: Republic of Central Africa)

Applications close on the 20th of July 2023 at midnight (GMT-time). Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.