Job Title: Regional Safety and Security Risk Advisor
Internal Title: Advisor II
Department: Global Safety and Security Unit
Location: International Telecommuting
About CRS
Catholic
Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United
States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic
identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a
part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular
traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in
need.
Background
Catholic Relief Services is the
official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in
the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in
need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or
nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through
programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education,
microfinance and peacebuilding.
Job Summary
As a
member of the Global Safety and Security Unit, the Regional Safety and
Security Risk Advisor (RSA) supports the work of the Regional Directors
for East Africa (EARO) and Southern Africa (SARO). Within the assigned
geography, the RSA will design, support and monitor the application of
agency safety and security risk management to ensure the safety and
security of CRS staff, partners, activities, facilities and assets as
well as the continuity of CRS programs. Working closely with the
Regional Teams and country leadership, the RSA will provide management
support and technical safety and security risk management solutions in
strategic planning, program design, monitoring & evaluation systems,
and staff training. This position is an extension of the GSSU and fully
integrated into the regions.
Job Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Define,
plan, support and monitor the implementation of security risk
management systems for the protection of CRS staff, partners, visitors,
program participants, facilities, assets and information in support of
CRS programming across the two regions
- Mentor country-based
security staff to build their security risk management capacities and
guide their prioritizing of activities to meet program activity goals in
compliance with CRS safety and security policies
- Routinely
examine the CRS regional security risk management framework and ensure
formal assessments of all regional program sites and activities are up
to date and effective
- Assist country programs in aligning safety
and security plans and systems with current and future program design
and in capacity building of partners, in close collaboration with the
Regional teams
- Develop and maintain an information network to provide analytics of (potential) threats to CRS programs
- Feed into and support the continuous process of improvement of the global CRS Security risk management system
- Strengthen
and drive the security risk assessment process by overseeing regular
threat and vulnerability assessments, adapting procedures, and designing
mitigation measures accordingly and monitoring compliance
- Participate in agency-wide efforts to improve security risk management systems and tools
- Participate in the design, development and write up of security management/staffing plans and budgets for proposals, as needed
Safety and Security Risk Management
- Support
Regional Directors (RD) –who are the ultimate responsible for safety
and security decisions in the respective region– and Deputy Regional
Directors for Program Quality (DRD-PQ) and Management Quality (DRD-MQ)
on security management decisions, procedures, policies, and practices,
including the management of critical incidents and crisis level
situations
- Develop and cultivate sources and networks relevant
to the needs of CRS in the regions to support both day to day security
risk management activities as well as manage in times of crisis
- Provide
regular updates and analysis around safety and security trends in the
regions. Share relevant products with regional and Country programs
senior management and the Global Safety and Security Unit. Stay up to
date with international trends and developments in the regions, monitor
current events, political decisions, and legislative changes and
articulate their potential impact on CRS to aid in proactive planning
and response strategies and direct and coordinate activities in
reviewing or updating security measures due to changes in the operating
environment or threat levels, or due to new requirements
- Manage
complex security improvement programs across the regions, including but
not limited to staff tracking, incident reporting and management
processes, and staff compliance
- Carry out regular threat, vulnerability, security risk, and compliance assessments and amend working procedures accordingly
- Monitor CRS’ security portal to ensure Country Programs’ relevant safety and security documents are updated and disseminated
- Interface
with regional-level and country-level security committees, key
contacts, and staff from other agencies to support the revisions of
country security plans
- Provide direct support to the startup and
closure of CRS offices/programs and to the Humanitarian Response
Department (HRD) during emergency response operations within the regions
- Make
recommendations for the use of subcontracted security service providers
in coordination with country leadership, guiding and defining scopes of
work and monitoring the effectiveness of their performance
Organizational & Systems Development and Staff Capacity Strengthening
- Liaise
with other members of the CRS global security community for additional
sources of technical or training assistance, best practices, and
learning
- Serve as the regional point person for partner
assessment data and analysis related to the security management
capacities, providing support and guidance to country programs as
needed. In collaboration with the RFO and RTA Risk Management &
Compliance, identify and respond to critical training needs of strategic
partners and those with the least strong internal controls. Promote the
use of CRS standardized approaches and tools for partner capacity
strengthening
- Ensure compliance with CRS’s security training and
learning policy. Implement agency wide trainings at the regional and
country level, including those for drivers and guards
- Document
dates and types of security training staff members have received and
make recommendations on training needs. Strengthen local training
capacity and facilitate trainings as is needed
- Effectively implement CRS’ safety and security risk management policy requirements in the regions
- Assist
Country Programs in defining roles and responsibilities for safety and
security management, optimizing organizational/departmental efficiency,
performance, and accountability
- Support Country Programs in the recruitment and development of staff involved in safety and security management
- In
coordination with the DRD-MQ and RD, monitor mitigation of risks as
reported in the annual risk disclosure reports; plan for and manage
situations that involve staff safety and security, fraud, safeguarding,
etc.
- Cultivate and lead the regional communities of practice for
security focal points and other interested parties to encourage
learning and implementation of best practices in security risk
management
- Collaborate and coordinate with HQ departments on systems and approaches to drive effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability
- Facilitate
the achievement of strategic objectives related to managing
Information, Communication and Technology for Development (ICT4D) as
they relate to security. Ensure that technological changes and new
trends supported by the agency are integrated into the safety and
security management culture
Key Working Relationships
- Internal:
Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director(s), Director of Safety and
Security, Senior Advisor for Security Operations, Regional Technical
Advisors, Country Representatives, Heads of Operations, Heads of
Programs, Security Focal Points, Country Security Managers and Officers,
peer SRMs, and the global security team. HQ departments such as GKIM,
HR, GSCM, Internal Audit, Ethics Unit, GRC, OGC, RMSS and HRD.
- External:
International and local partners, donors, relevant embassy security
staff, contracted security service providers, NGO security
organizations, and security staff of other NGOs and UN Agencies
operating in East and Southern Africa.
Qualifications
- Master’s
degree required in security management, politics, international
development, non-profit management, or related field, or equivalent work
experience
- Minimum of 10 years work experience in security
management with 5 years in an international humanitarian organization,
UN, or related international development organization
- Formal technical training(s) or professional certifications in security risk management is a plus
- Knowledge and familiarity with USG rules and regulations a plus
- Demonstrated understanding of industry standards and management best practices
- Demonstrated leadership skills
- Willingness to travel to and work in difficult environments including emergency response
Technical/Professional
- Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in security and staff safety
- Experience working in delicate situations with partner organizations
- Knowledge of and working experience in the region is strongly preferred
- Strong cross-cultural skills
- Ability to train and convey information to non-security personnel
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills
- Excellent writing skills and strong communicator and bridgebuilder
- Proficiency in MS Office
- Diplomatic, able to manage conflict and move groups toward consensus
- Good judgment and sound decision-making skills
- Excellent organization and planning skills, detail-oriented, ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously
- Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a commitment to humanitarian principles
- Able to work without close supervision, experience with remote management
- Quick learner, adaptable and creative
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong
strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills,
with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
and decisions
- Strong relations management abilities. Ability to
relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in
how you approach each relationship
- Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching skills
- Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated
experience of successful security program management across multiple
countries, including concurrent management of complex, high and
low-value, multi-activity projects, with complicated logistics
Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships
Ability to represent and present at high levels
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These
are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and
used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and
achieve the desired results.
Integrity
Continuous Improvement & Innovation
Builds Relationships
Develops Talent
Strategic Mindset
Accountability & Stewardship
What we offer
CRS
offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life
insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity
to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to
improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
***Our
Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations.
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of
the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome
as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who
share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’
processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and
vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Disclaimer: This
job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties,
and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’ talent
acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and
vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
EOE/M/F/D/V – CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
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