Regional Safety and Security Director – Middle East and Eastern Europe

The Opportunity

The Regional Safety and Security Director (RSSD) directs the development, implementation and monitoring of an effective strategy, and related policies and practices to identify, analyse and mitigate safety and security risks, enable humanitarian access, maintain continuity of operations and programs, and provide for the safety and security of all SCI employees and assets in MEEE. RSSD supports the Regional Office, Country Offices, and other offices in the region in safety and security risk management improvements consistent with SC Safety and Security Policy and Standards.

The RSSD acts as an advisor to the Regional Director (RD) and MEEE Country Directors and provides input, including comprehensive security risk analysis and recommendations related to strategic, operational, programmatic, partnership, and cross-cutting risks. The RSSD ensures adequate protocols and mechanisms are in place to address country programs’ unique risks and challenges, including in deploying staff to SCI declared emergencies to ensure safety and security management is addressing emergency response needs. The RSSD will provide support and guidance to regional and country directors on crisis management and security incident analysis including post incident lessons learned reviews.

The RSSD is a member of the Regional Office Senior Leadership Team and Crisis Management Teams.

Key Areas of Accountability:

Administration

* Communicate regularly with Country Directors to gather feedback; provide guidance, advice and support; help formulate strategies to improve Country Office (CO) safety and security management, and compliance with SCI S&S standards

* Report regularly to Regional Director highlighting activities, concerns and risks and regional priorities

* Ensure that the monthly/quarterly S&S dedicated reports are shared on time (as SSPR, GSS threat rating scores, Essential standards matrix and improvement plan, SSFP/SMT register and others)

* Manage security incidents through Datix, the SCI online incident reporting tool, analyse the existing/evolving threats in the region as well as the trends

* Provide technical support to CO teams to input adequately proposal development and make recommendations for appropriate safety and security budgets

Country Office/Regional Office Support

* Ensure that all S&S related basics are in place (protocols, procedures, processes, equipment, normative documentation and trainings)

* Ensure the security structure fit the needs regarding security risks, ops spread, staffing and operations; support in the strategy planning to comply with all SCI S&S standards

* Review Country Office safety and security plans (SSMP, HERP, contingency), Crisis / Incident Management Plans and make recommendations for improvement based on established SC standards

* Review all security risk assessments done in country to ensure all threat/hazards are well covered

* Analyse results of Country Office assessments to determine areas where there are compliance issues. Follow-up with Country Office staff to develop and implement improvement strategies.

* Lead in developing and maintaining a structured security risk management culture within APAC where security risks are considered in the decision-making process and the everyday working situations of all managers and staff members.

* Provide feedback to RO/CO/field staff in response to security-related inquiries

* Provide technical input, material support and training to build SSFP capacity

* Ensure that SCI partners also receive security management support benefiting from internal systems and best practices relevant to their operations and operating contexts.

* Monitor events in assigned countries – review incident report submissions for accuracy and follow-up

* Conduct CO/field support visits regularly and issue a report containing an improvement action plan

* Support each CO in S&S recruitment process, yearly internal SSFP workshop, and security risk management trainings for CD, SMT, FMs and managers

Training

* Ensure security briefings/debriefings are provided to travellers, participate in orientation of new CDs

* Design and deliver crisis management / incident management training for Country Office senior management teams and managers

* Ensure each CO provide a yearly S&S training plan

* Design and deliver trainings to improve the skills and capacities of CO safety and security focal persons (SSFP) and S&S teams

* Make recommendations for new or refined security management policies and procedures based on field office inquiries, training needs, and management reports

* Design and deliver safety and security training for CO staff as it applies to their respective positions and the SC Safety and Security Policy and Standards.

* Maintain a comprehensive crisis management plan at the regional office ensuring the CMT are appropriately trained and capable of managing critical incidents.

* Train the S&S newly recruited staff on S&S protocols as well as on the S&S tools (i.e. Datix, GDPR report)

* Train the S&S staff on investigation processes

Emergency Response and Crisis management

* Ensure security management in emergency response procedures are appropriately implemented

* Deploy S&S experienced staff or self to the site of the emergency to establish safety and security procedures and develop local security management capacity

* Provide back-up support to security advisors deployed to emergency response sites

* Facilitate/support on the management/guidance of serious incidents and crisis management processes at country offices.

Liaison

* Stay in contact with the GSS; communicate regularly with the Director GSS on incidents, emerging threats and risks, and lessons learnt for other Regions to consider

* Work collaboratively with CF, risk and safeguarding colleagues, support joint investigations when needed,

* Maintain an efficient network throughout INGO forum, securities entities, united nations security departments and embassies.

* Attend and collaborate with the regional security forum (MHRS) in Amman

Staff Performance Management and Development

* Supervise, coach and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented performance reviews

* Act as technical supervisor/coach for all country security focal points

* Provide constructive feedback, professional development and capacity-building plans for all direct reports

* Liaise with CDs to ensure SSD/SSM/SSFP development plan through Talent process in/out of Security domain

* Plan S&S staff deployment in/out of the region to enhance their experiences in new/challenging contexts

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

* Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

* A minimum of 10 years’ field experience

* Number of years’ experience in a similar role with regional responsibilities preferred.

* Proven ability in overseas program management or humanitarian relief management in complex and/or insecure environments

* Proven ability in security management and/or crisis management in an overseas environment

* Effective technical/instructional writing skills

* Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex tasks independently

* Strong leadership and communication (interpersonal, verbal and written) skills

* Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of the Save the Children’s mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin all aspects of the job.

* Ability to travel up to 30% of the time

* Experience in a multi-cultural environment necessary

* Excellent computer skills with solid knowledge of Microsoft software

* Experience in training adults using modern methods. completion of training facilitator’s course preferred

* Experience travelling to foreign countries preferred

* Experience in conducting assessments preferred

* Arabic language skills would be a plus.

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.