The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC Ethiopia began its operation in 1999/2000. Currently IRC Ethiopia is operating in eight regional states and implements through direct programming and through local and international partnerships. Currently the IRC Ethiopia is implementing WASH/EH, ERR, Health, Economic Recovery Development, Education, Child Protection and ECCD projects responding to the needs of refugees, host community and or IDPs. With an annual budget more than US $50 million, IRC’s programs are supported by more than 1,200 staff and over 1,700 incentive workers.

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Country Director and technical supervision (Management in Partnership) of Regional Safety & Security Director, the Senior Security and Access Coordinator will be responsible for overall security matters and access aspects of IRC Country program in Ethiopia. The major focus of this role is to enable the country program and its staff to securely and safely deliver programs in a complex environment, and to proactively identify and address deficiencies and risks. The position will be part of the Senior Management Team (SMT) of the country program and will contribute in the growth of IRC’s overall profile and portfolio in the country by devising and employing efficient and effective strategies and policies for ensure operational continuity and quality delivery of programs.

Major Responsibilities:

The Senior Security and Access Coordinator will perform major responsibilities outlined under three key areas below:

Safety & Security

• Promote the development of appropriate security information networks relevant to all IRC teams working in Ethiopia

• Responsible to be a full and active part of Country Senior Management discussions on programs, strategies, operations

• Make strategic input to Programs and Grants in designing new programs and project proposals to donors

•  Support managers/teams in collecting and disseminating relevant security information thus enabling line management to manage security and safety effectively. This includes the security level and its implication

• Act as a close advisor to CD on context and security analysis in order to help decision making

• Support staff in methods ensuring security information is recorded and analyzed regularly, and help management provide regular, concise and clear written security updates

• Provide technical input and advice in assessments to consider new IRC programs in new geographic areas, and regular assessment reviews for existing locations.

• Make sure that at least once a year, a dedicated meeting is organized at SMT level to discuss IRC risk appetite for each location.

• Work with SMT, Technical Coordinators and the Grants team to ensure security budgets and staffing levels are in alignment with the assessed levels of risk in each location.

• Attend relevant security meetings led by the Security Coordinator

• Design and deliver security management training to all field office senior staff and security focal points

• Design and supervise the implementation of awareness training strategy for all staff, and SMT

• Undertake regular program site assessments of IRC new locations or existing program facing context change

• Monitor the Review of the security plans and policies by the Security Coordinator

• Maintain an updated list and contacts with focal points across the programs

• Liaise with other agency security focal points, including NGOs, UN and local authorities concerned for security related issues

• Develop weekly security update and progress reports for submission to Country Director and Regional Safety & Security Director

• Maintain confidentiality, impartiality and neutrality in all aspects of security arrangements

• Develop periodic context analysis (internal and external) including: incident maps, stakeholder analysis, review of existing security management arrangements and capacity assessment

Crisis Preparedness and Response:

• Coordinate with Program and Operational departments to develop operational and programmatic contingency plans that respond to identified crisis scenarios.

• Build capacity of in-country Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) as well as Safety and Security Management Teams (SSMTs – Field Based).

• Maintain up-to-date evacuation plan for international staff

• Ensure that the Security Contingency plan is taken up to date by the Security Coordinator and perfectly implemented

• In case of severe incident involving death of staff, kidnapping, massive extraction or evacuation of staff: directly contact the RSSD to develop an action plan in link with the Sop Critical incident management.

• Make sure that the proof of life document are up to date and stored in a safe way

• Participate in global working groups around Duty of Care topics where relevant and possible with workloads

Access/Liaison

• Build relationship with multiple local stakeholders, formal and informal, govt and community, connecting with opposing armed groups (if possible).

• Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites throughout Ethiopia

• Train and guide the field coordinators on access and acceptance strategies

• With Emergency Response Coordinator, is responsible for developing country wide access strategy for emergencies

• Ensure humanitarian access approaches are responsive to local context and include overarching community engagement components.

• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission, and work in the areas of operations is known and accepted.

• Compile and submit regular reports that track incidents and trends in humanitarian access and local security contexts within the IRC’s area of operation.

• Pro-actively collaborate with key members of the leadership, operations and program leads to ensure that the humanitarian access and security management strategies are appropriately aligned with response priorities across all locations.

• Implementing access/negotiations training in all field sites

• Works closely with the program team to do the follow up of the SAP goals and to identify new areas of work

• Do actor mapping for each field sites and updates them regularly

• Work closely with the Field Coordinators to understand the local dynamic and the potential impact/opportunities for programs

• Maintain a network of IRC security focal points in the country program as well as with external professional contacts and counterparts.

Apart from the above-mentioned responsibilities, the post holder will also carry out any other relevant task assigned by the supervisor in consultation with the post-holder.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Directly Reports to:           Country Director
Position directly supervises:             Security & Safety Coordinator

Indirect Reporting (MiP):                Regional Safety & Security Director

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal:         Field teams and field team leadership, Program’s team, Grants and Partnerships Department, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, Govt. Liaison, IT,

External:        Other INGOs Safety & Security, Police, Government Security Agencies, HINGO, UNDSS, multiple local stakeholders, formal and informal, community leaders, armed actors.

Job Requirements

Education:                 University Degree

Work Experience:     Relevant overall experience of 5-7 years, with at least 2 years of management experience in complex and volatile environments, preferably with INGOs.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Highest moral and professional integrity

• Broad understanding of the work of the IRC in the humanitarian context

• Ability to work under pressure in an unstable security environment

• Able to handle sensitive information with strict confidentiality

• Able to maintain impartiality and neutrality in all aspects of  his/her work

• Good convincing and influencing skills;

• Good computer skills

• Understanding of country’s legal frameworks

• Experience in comprehensive security management

• Proven level of technical security expertise

• Demonstrated coaching, training and capacity building skills

• Demonstrated initiative and pro-active problem-solving skills

Preferred

• Understanding and familiarity of business continuity and access processes

• Understanding of Duty of Care approaches and elements of staff wellbeing

Language Skills:

• Fluency in English 

How to Apply

Register using this LINK

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

• Name of the position you have applied for

• Date of application

• Summary of  your qualifications and experience

• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address

• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. 

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.