Job Title: Country Access and Security Officer (National Position)

Function: Safety & Security

Job Group: Security

Duty Station: Erbil

Line Manager: Country Safety & Security Advisor

Line Management Responsibility: None

JOB PURPOSE:

The overall objective of this position is to mitigate the risks posed to NP personnel and assets through field offices and through the provision of security advice, ensuring staff adherence to Security Policies and providing access support to the field base. The Country Access & Security Officer responsibility is to monitor the overall security situation, enforce security regulations and provide sound and timely advice to Security Advisor and staff in order to support the safe access and efficient delivery of program activities in the designated areas of operations in Ninawa and Kirkuk governorates. The CASO will advise on and implement the NP Humanitarian Security Management Plan, under the supervision of the Country Safety and Security Advisor (CSSA).

She/he will provide humanitarian access and security risk management advice to CSSA and Country Management Team on building relationships with stakeholders, negotiating and mediating humanitarian access, contextual understanding, managing critical incidents, and providing timely advisories.

KEY OBJECTIVES/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Access:

• Provide briefings, following special assessments, to access groups
• Participate in field and country-level Access coordination meetings
• Represent Nonviolent Peaceforce as a humanitarian organization in community outreach meetings and in access negotiation meetings with government and non-government stakeholders
• Strategically network with interlocutors, in a fully principled and transparent manner
• Coordinate humanitarian negotiations and community outreach plans
• Lead the process of completing the access application for all field locations
• Collect focal point details (Mukhtars, community leaders, food agents etc.) in the target locations;
• Monitor situation in the project area and report changes in access situation to CSSA
• Collect information on the situation in newly retaken areas and contested territory
• Identify and communicate opportunities for access to newly retaken areas to the CSSA
• Support field teams in negotiating access to current and potentially new project locations
• Conduct regular field visits to facilitate communication with community stakeholders
• Establish close links with all relevant stakeholders in the project area as government actors and other humanitarian agencies
• Gather information on activities of other humanitarian actors
• Report any incidences related to the protection of IDPs and host communities
• Report immediately to the CSSA and internal stakeholders any sudden changes on the access in the areas where NP operates
• Develop and regularly update lists of contacts and stakeholder map per district/ sub-district in the NP operational governorates
• Develop and regularly update internal maps on safe and unsafe areas, in coordination with Field Security and Logistics Officers.

Safety System: Security Information Collection, Analysis, Management and Communication:

• Support the Security Advisor with regard to implementing the security management plan
• Conduct security risk assessments of new areas, locations, premises in Kirkuk & Ninawa and report to CSSA
• Proactively contact members of the information network to collect information on security in order to provide advice on day to day security issues
• Immediately report all breaches of safety and security procedures and all threats to NP staff, activities or assets
• Maintain location boards tracking NP office staff and vehicles
• Alert CSSA to important events, from monitoring the internet, news in English and local languages, as well as via security alert systems
• Maintain close vigilance on the local political and military situation in the region and keep the CSSA informed on a regular basis
• Ensure implementation of security systems and procedures
• Liaise with the logistics, transport and Programme teams during field visits
• Perform Fleet assistant duties while he is on leave or on travel
• Fulfil any other related tasks that may be assigned by CSSA

Team Training & Development

Deliver training materials, coaching and advice for staff and partners addressing humanitarian access issues with the support of CSSA. Promote and support the integration of humanitarian access approaches into program design, implementation and operation. With the assistance of the CSSA, build up the capacity, awareness and preparedness of the security guards at NP locations. Provide ongoing support for NP staff on security preparedness, prevention and response. Support may include SOPs; Contingency Plans (CPs); Security Management; Incident Reporting; Prevention and Response Mechanisms; and Communications.

Qualifications & Preferred Skills

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Practical experience of safety assessment, planning and implementation of procedures in the context of UN or NGO humanitarian operations
• Completed Security Management Course
• Previous experience in providing Access and Security advice for personnel and infrastructure against a spectrum of threats
• Ability to speak, read and write English, Arabic
• Excellent communication skills
• Proven experience in communicating, influencing and negotiating with a variety of internal and external actors, including in complex and stressful situations, and with discretion and sensitivity as needed
• Ability to advise and support field staff in a consultative manner
• Excellent organization and administrative skills
• Problem-solving capabilities
• Excellent relationship-building skills
• Able to build secure networks and represent NP externally

Desirable

• Certified First Aid/Trauma Care Trainer for high threat
• Completed a Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) course, ideally within the past 12 months
• Completed Humanitarian Access negotiation course

How to Apply:

• Candidates meeting the above requirements are requested to visit our website https://nonviolentpeaceforce.org/about/work-with-us to download and complete the NP Application to accompany your CV (max. 2 pages) and cover letter (max. 1 page). Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

• Please state in the subject line of the email: “Country Access and Security Officer”

• This position is open to qualified national candidates only

• The closing date for applications is Sunday, 7^th March 2021

• Candidates may be selected before the closing date, apply early

• As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment before participating in an interview.

Special Notice: Nonviolent Peaceforce is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance in its staff at all levels. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. However, all qualified applicants regardless of their gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, or age, will be considered for this opportunity.

Nonviolent Peaceforce acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of employees, contractors, volunteers, interns, beneficiaries and other stakeholders and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practise reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice in the Humanitarian and Development sector.