Back ground

The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), is a US based non-profit humanitarian organization working on torture rehabilitation throughout the world. In Ethiopia, CVT is works in partnership with RRS (Refugee and Returnee Service) and UNHCR targeting refugees and IDPs in Tigray and Gambella, training and supervising local Counsellors and providing trauma counselling interventions to the refugee populations since 2013.

General Description of Role

The Risk and Safety Specialist (RSS), based in Shire, Ethiopia will report directly to the Zonal Manager (ZM) administratively while to the Risk and Safety Manager (RSM) technically. The RSS will play a key role in planning and implementation of all security policies and practices for CVT locations in the Tigray region. The responsibilities encompass a range of issues including, but not limited to, physical safety, security, and well-being of CVT Ethiopia staff, clients, contracted workers, and visitors; as well as safeguarding of physical, financial, intellectual, and reputational assets under CVT’s control. This position will play a key role in the CVT Tigray security management team and advise the team regarding physical security threats and risk and the mitigation options to ensure the appropriate level of protection.

Main Responsibilities

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

• Conduct risk assessments in operational sites by liaising regularly with the RSM and referring to available sources of risk management information, including participation in regular health, safety and security activities and briefings within the (I)NGO, diplomatic and UN communities as well as communicating with local administration and security sector to continuously update and modify existing policies and procedures appropriately.
• Monitor the political, economic, environmental and social context of the area of operation as well as at the regional and country level.
• Provide oversite and ensure compliance with security strategies, policies, procedures, standards and practices that mitigate risks.
• Advise the ZM who is the security focal person (SFP) in Tigray. Respond to incidents, and limit the organization’s exposure to risk of unauthorized disclosure, misuse, theft, vandalism, and damages of the information and physical assets under CVT’s control; financial and reputational losses; and/or injuries, illness, or death of staff members and clients. Advise and laisse with the ZM and the RSM to respond to incidents.
• Determine and advise on the appropriate level of protection for clients, staff, physical assets, intellectual property and information assets throughout Tigray, while ensuring optimal use of personnel, technology and equipment. Recommend procurement of additional equipment as appropriate.
• In consultation with the RSM, conduct risk assessments in new areas of operation or after security incidents or risk levels change.

Risk Management Coordination

• This position will play a key role in the CVT Tigray security management team
• Serve as CVT’s key risk management contact in Tigray, ensuring local team members understand protocols and policies related to health, safety and security.
• Advise the Tigray Zonal Manager in identifying, developing, implementing and maintaining security processes across program sites.
• Arrange regular testing for safety and security devices in all the operations sites (e.g. fire extinguishers, first aid kits, fire drills); report immediately any malfunctioning equipment, locks, or doors; maintain log of completed, pending, and future checks.
• Manage and ensure the security and safety of staff, premises, materials, and assets in all CVT locations in Tigray with comprehensive security management systems and procedures.

Security Communication Management

• Prepare and advise the ZM on all safety and security-related telecommunications systems, including phone-tree incident notifications and satellite phone oversight.
• Serve as a focal person for convoy and verify security status and make Go/No-Go determination in Tigray communicating the decisions to all relevant staff members and partner agencies. 
• Liaise with partner organizations to facilitate radio communication as needed.
• Update the Risk and Safety Manager on local developments.
• Provide all new and traveling staff in location with comprehensive health, safety and security briefing in collaboration with local resources and partners.
• Communicate with and manage relationship with security service providers in Tigray.
• Support, advise, and guide logistics staff in monitoring the work of security guards in field offices and in camps.

 Incident Response

• Prepare and submit security incident reports for Tigray to the Tigray ZM.
• Assist the staff in ensuring internal incident reporting systems are understood, utilized, and responsive to ongoing developments while recommending any necessary improvements.
• In consultation with the ZM, oversee and/or conducts investigations of security incidences as needed, liaising with local law enforcement authorities as appropriate.
• Keep track of all incident reports, regularly analyze any trend, and submit monthly Risk Management report to the Risk and Safety Manager.

 Others:

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Environment:

• Office environments with regular travel to the operation sites.
• Position is based in Shire with frequent travel to Mai Tsebri and other locations within Tigray.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear and see. The employee frequently is required to sit, stand, walk and climb stairs; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift and carry heavy supplies. This position requires car travel up to 2 hours per one-way journey.

Travel: Regular travel to locations within Tigray, depending on project development and security conditions.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Terms of Employment:

• Starting immediately, and subject to 60 working-days of probationary period.  

Supervisor (Administrative): Zonal Manager

Department: Administration

Supervisor (Technical): Risk and Safety Manager

Supervisory Responsibilities: No direct supervisory responsibilities.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in security, risk management, development, business, logistics, or a related field is required.
• At least five (2) years of experience working in a security, risk management, coordination, logistics, facility management, or operational capacity in different locations in Ethiopia is required; experience in a humanitarian setting is strongly preferred.
• Formal risk management and security training required. 2 years of professional experience in security and risk management position can be substitute for formal training.
• The ability to train other staff in risk management and security strongly preferred.
• At least 2 years of experience working with an international organization is required, ideally with regular interaction with expatriate staff.
• Must be detail- and result-oriented, a self-starter, flexible, adaptable, analytical, approachable, ethical, impartial, and an excellent team player with excellent organizational skills and commitment to humanitarian work.
• Effective verbal, written, presentation, and listening communications skills including report writing. Can multi-task effectively, with ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Written and spoken fluency in English, Tigrigna, and Amharic is required.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing security measures.
• Demonstrated experience sensitively building trust with local communities and partners.
• Strong analytical skills and sound judgment, with the ability to synthesize diverse and complex information from a wide range of sources, and to develop clear and actionable recommendations based on that information.
• Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements, client or staff needs and security climate.
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve creatively and mitigate risks effectively to support successful project implementation.
• Political, culture and gender awareness in the context of Ethiopia. Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism while interacting with many internal and external actors from various cultural, political, linguistic communities.
• First aid certification is preferred.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should email their CV with application letter, articulating motivations, qualifications, and experiences that are relevant to the post, prepared in English, to cvtethr@CVT.ORG ,

with the subject title “RSS Application [Your Name].” PLEASE DO NOT SEND OTHER ATTACHMENTS. 

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.