Safety and Security Officer/SSO (Re-Advertised) – Swiss Church Aid/HEKS Ethiopia
Social Sciences and Community, Security
Swiss Church Aid/HEKS Ethiopia
About Swiss Church Aid/HEKS-EPER
Swiss Church Aid/HEKS is the aid organization of the Protestant Churches of Switzerland and has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland. Swiss Church Aid/ HEKS works towards a more humane and more equitable world, assisting people and communities to overcome economic, social or humanitarian disparities in order to gain autonomy and to live with dignity both in Switzerland and abroad. Therefore, Swiss Church Aid/ HEKS engage in development cooperation, humanitarian aid and church cooperation and works in more than 30 countries and runs around 200 projects world-wide. Swiss Church Aid/ HEKS is a member of the ACT Alliance.
About Swiss Church Aid/HEKS
Swiss Church Aid/HEKS is the aid organization of the Protestant Churches of Switzerland and has its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. SCA/HEKS works towards a more humane and more equitable world, assisting people and communities to overcome economic, social or humanitarian disparities in order to gain autonomy and to live with dignity both in Switzerland and abroad. Therefore, SCA/HEKS engages in development cooperation, humanitarian aid and church cooperation working in more than 30 countries and running over 200 projects world-wide. SCA/HEKS is a member of the ACT Alliance.
Role purpose
The overall objective of this position is to reduce the risks posed to the program personnel and assets of Swiss Church Aid/HEKS in Ethiopia through the provision of specialized, coordinated and focused security management support, security risk management, briefings and inductions, security information management and trainings.
The Safety and Security Officer/SSO will advise on, update and implement SCA/HEKS Country Security Plan/CSP for the country office in Ethiopia. Moreover, the SSO will build acceptance of SCA/HEKS’s presence and humanitarian efforts within Ethiopia by liaising extensively with local stakeholders. The SSO will travel to all field locations, providing support, capacity building and documentation to field coordinators as well key staff within the country program.
Specific responsibilities
Safety and Security Management Planning
- Provide technical support to the country program on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational security and program continuity.
- Develop, review and update the Ethiopia CSP on a regular basis. Ensure all field locations have updated and relevant security plans, including context-specific security risk assessments. Ensure compliance to SCA/HEKS security management protocols and procedures.
- Work with the PM and other relevant key staff and field coordinators to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans.
- Evaluate, review and update the hibernation, evacuation, relocation plans for all SCA/HEKS offices in Ethiopia, by the same token ensure that the practical preparations are in place and known to all staff involved.
- Conduct risk assessments of field offices, prospective field offices and most used travel routes.
- Undertake continual assessments of equipment and vehicles, and the protocols by which those assets are used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met.
Building Acceptance to empower and expand humanitarian and development programming
- Develop ongoing relationships with community leaders, elders and other stakeholders in SCA/HEKS areas of operations to ensure that SCA/HEKS mission and work in Ethiopia is known and accepted. Work to encourage stakeholders to work with SCA/HEKS in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and allowed to continue development and humanitarian activities.
- Provide technical input and advice in assessments to consider SCA/HEKS interventions in new geographic areas, and technical input in the writing of new program proposals as required.
- In coordination with the PM, liaise with relevant security actors for example: INGO security focal points, regional and national UNDSS contacts.
Monitoring, Analysis and Supervision
- Identify, establish and manage context appropriate approach to ensure SCA/HEKS facilities are secure, for example through third party security companies or directly hired SCA/HEKS security guards.
- Compile and submit monthly security reporting that track incidents and trends within SCA/HEKS areas of operation. Submit weekly contextual updates as needed.
- Work closely with SCA/HEKS and other ACT Alliance members staff 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 also that final incident reports are provided when SCA/HEKS is closing the case.
Security Training and Orientation
- Design and update security training materials with support from HQ and other relevant actors, ensuring that key security messages are conveyed to SCA/HEKS staff and visitors.
- Provide regular tailored trainings to SCA/HEKS Ethiopia staff on security preparedness, prevention and response. Trainings may include Standard Operating Procedures/SOP; contingency plans; security management; incident reporting; prevention and response mechanisms and communications protocols.
- Develop, review and update SCA/HEKS security information package for new staff.
- Reports to: Country Director
Duty Station: Addis Ababa with frequent visits to the field
Required No: 1
Contract Duration: 6 months with possibility for extension.
Experience
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience for BA degree holders and 4 years of experience for post graduate degree holders in social sciences.
- At least 2 years of management experience with INGOs
- Proven experience within humanitarian assistance or development programs, with demonstrated capabilities in planning, organizing and executing safety and security activities.
- Understanding of humanitarian principles and codes of conduct.
- Experience as a trainer, with the ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.
- Must have a proven track record of proactively identifying and communicating potential problems and proposing solutions.
- Ability to gain a precise understanding of the various local, regional, country and international policies, operational positions and interactions, providing clear analysis of given and unfolding safety, security and political situations when they occur.
Skills and Abilities
- Excellent organization skills with proven ability to manage large amounts of information.
- Must be able to function effectively in a complex work environment and to set appropriate priorities and deal effectively with competing priorities and pressure.
- Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
- Highly developed interpersonal communications skills, including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
- Should be a strong collaborator with effective interpersonal skills and the capable to manage conflicting views.
- Strong ability to communicate concisely and with impact in perfect English.
- Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint as a minimum),
- Commitment to Swiss Church Aid/HEKS’s mission, purpose, and values.
As per the scale of the organization and benefit package
