Job Description

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in Six regional states: Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples(SNNP), Amhara, Gambela and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies and participating public. Mercy Corps has a growing portfolio of programs in Ethiopia that focus on food security; agriculture and livestock market systems development; maternal and child health and nutrition; youth economic productivity; resilience and humanitarian response. In Ethiopia, some of our donors include USAID, SIDA, EU, DFID, and WFP.

Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

Position Title: Safety and Security Specialist

 Duty Station: Addis Ababa

 Open Position: 1

 GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Senior Operations Manager, the Safety & Security Specialist will be responsible for the policy analysis and strategic planning support required by the team within the geographical areas of operation. The Safety & Security Specialist is responsible to assist in managing the safety and security of team in program operation areas. The Safety & Security Specialist is responsible to deliver regular reports, briefing papers, key messages or position papers as required. The post-holder will be responsible for outreach and coordination with other INGOs, local NGO networks, UN agencies and other partners to support coordinated engagement work within the relevant geographical areas. This position is specifically responsible to develop safety and security management plan; conduct safety and security risk assessment for the country office and program areas; development of standard operating procedures and contingency plans; provide travel advice and clearance for staff; provide safety and security briefing to visitors; facilitate or conduct training and capacity building initiatives to staff members.

 ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES.

In conjunction with relevant internal focal persons, monitor the security environment within the designated geographical area with particular focus on program areas of operations.

• Verify acquired security information through secondary sources and update management and team.
• Be the point person in analyzing and assessing security situation and threats in MC areas of operation and ensure that appropriate measures are taken for safe operation.
• Maintain regular contact with field staff about security situation in their respective assigned geographical area.
• Provide required periodic safety and security updates (daily reports, weekly updates, incident reports, meetings summary etc.) to staff so they can better plan their work.
• Review the weekly/daily movement of staff in the field and provide on-time and real time advice for program and operational activities ongoing within the field
• Be readily available at all times to field staff to advice on security developments.
• Alongside with the relevant operational focal people, conduct comprehensive risk assessment in potential new program/field and its field offices.
• Ensure orientation of new expatriate staff is completed on first day of arrival. Provide regular briefings/trainings to national staff on preventative security measures, conduct on and off MC premises.
• Coordinate with MC supervisory staff in tracking national staff movements in the field. Establish a communication system with field staff when/where necessary. Advise on travel restrictions or precautionary measures, as required.
• Coordinate with MC supervisory staff in tracking national staff movements in the field. Establish a communication system with field staff when/where necessary. Advise on travel restrictions or precautionary measures, as required.
• Stay abreast of contextual developments and humanitarian trends in Ethiopia and informing project members where relevant.
• Ensuring sufficient capacity and knowledge to support policy analysis and strategic planning around the humanitarian architecture and operational issues.
• Collaborate with the country leadership to act as official representative on behalf of Mercy Corps at meetings with external engagement targets.
• Identify and liaise with external partners.
• Liaise with leads from relevant international coordination structures.
• Ensure collaboration with the NGO and UN security clusters and attend any security coordination meetings.

·       Coordinate with Transport Manager to ensure drivers are trained on security issues and have appropriate security awareness orientation. Conduct security courses on a regular basis. Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor degree in related field (Advanced degree preferred).
• 5 years relevant experience and a minimum of 02 years of security management experience with international NGO is required.
• Relevant work experience in policy analysis, influence, strategic planning, communications, research, media, data gathering and/or information management

·       Ability to manage and resolve conflict, Situational leadership skills including being able to lead by example, Cultural sensitivity, Listening skills, Communication skills,

• Demonstrated capacity to develop and implement strategies with clear theories of change
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and often demanding environment
• Fluency in English required, with demonstrated writing skills
• Computer literacy in using Microsoft Office and email/internet.
• Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies. Good context analysis skills.

Demonstrated attentions to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively with team members.

How to Apply

*All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents. Applications will not be returned and will not be retained for future recruitment efforts. In order to ensure fairness to all applicant’s personal inquiries are not permitted.

 Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

 “Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and   diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

 DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 22 November 2020/ 4:00 PM 

Please send non-returnable applications and credentials to one of the following address:  

et-recruitment@mercycorps.org

 Note: Please make sure that you mention the position title in the subject line of your email application. OR: Mercy Corps Recruiter Addis Ababa: P.O. Box 14319 Arbaminch: P.O. Box 33 , Jijiga: P.O. Box 225    Negelle Borena: P.O. Box 116  Dire Dawa: P.O. Box 974