Security Coordinator

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutionsinto action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Department Summary

The war in Syria continues; more than 11 million people have been displaced from their homes and the number relying on humanitarian assistance continues to grow. With a large and complex portfolio of work across the country, Mercy Corps has established itself as an analytical, strategic and flexible responder, adapting continually to shifting front lines and operational realities to respond effectively and efficiently through multiple modalities with teams inside Syria and working cross-border from neighboring countries. Mercy Corps has a large and diverse portfolio of work and a substantial team that works in multiple languages across multiple locations, many of which are managed remotely.

Mercy Corps has been working in Syria focusing its interventions on humanitarian and recovery programming. With funding from USAID, DFID, EC, Unicef, and others, Mercy Corps has been able to work together with communities in Syria to respond to in WASH, Protection, Emergency, Livelihood, and Civil Society sectors bringing benefit to families and communities inside Syria.

Position Summary

The incumbent will support risk and security management and will contribute to quality programming by ensuring situational awareness for the partnership team members. S/he will closely track the context and developments in Syria and will work closely within the Safety and Security Team to develop analyses, draft procedures and plans, and assist in the handling of incidents affecting partners.

S/he will be the primary focal point for the Mercy Corps’ partnership program for security management including incident reporting and provision of real time security support where assessed needed to implementing partners. He/she will also support Mercy Corps’ partners as they develop their own security management systems and plans, including risk mapping, as well as capacity strengthening based on their understanding of training needs and methods to do so. He/she also needs to be able to understand and contextualize the capacity strengthening and programming needs of the partners to the current security situation on the ground in the areas they operate.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Hub/Program Security (90%)

Program Support

• Ensure all partnership program-specific risk analysis and risk management documentation is up to date, including Security Risk Assessment (SRA) tools at country, local, and programmatic levels.
• Support on all program-related needs for security and risk management documentation, including during proposal phases, regular reporting and all business-development item.
• Coach and mentor program team to fulfill their roles in risk management, conducting assessment, context sensitivity, and other required work.
• Provide insights to identify new areas of programming and associated threats/constraints.
• Support in drafting context updates and analysis sections of donor, internal and ad-hoc reports and requests.

Operation Security and Partner Support

• In line with program managers, monitor the security environment and inform partners of any emerging risk or incident within areas of operation.
• Review partner security documentation and provide technical guidance to meet Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS).
• In line with the above, develop and implement a coherent capacity strengthening strategy for partners, including as needed identifying their security management needs and provide technical support and assistance in risk assessment, contingency planning, etc.
• Roll out and support program partners in incident reporting and follow-up, maintain ‘issues log’, and report incidents to the security department, as relevant
• Engage with PAQ and monitors to ensure appropriate operational security support is provided including assessing risk for movement and ensuring adequate tracking.
• Ensure all security SOPs are up to date, known by all staff and systematically applied, including on communication, firewalling and alias.
• Ensure any relevant incident is systematically reported, in a timely manner, to the relevant stakeholders, in line with Incident Reporting protocols (IR).

Context Monitoring

• Follow all socio-political and security developments in-country and neighboring countries, inform CSM and PD accordingly.
• As directed by CSM, make sure to attend all relevant internal and external security platforms and briefings, as well as to read and process all associated security documentation
• Provide in-depth briefing to new joiners, and ad-hoc requesters (including regional and HQ staff), onto the risk environment and security set up, along with relevant mapping and presentation tools.
• Contribute to staff contextual understanding, though regular updates, both verbal and in writing, including weekly forums.
• Support partners in reviewing inputs for and drafting the Risk Assessment and Mitigation sections of partner proposals for submission to the donor.

Other Tasks 10%

Ad-hoc Support

• Contribute to capacity building and security needs on demand.
• Liaise with the coordination forum to ensure operational readiness and security requirements.
• Engage with the crisis analysis team to mutualise analysis, context monitoring and resources.

Office Security

• Escalate any security concern to the relevant office Security Focal Point (SFP)
• Ensure Staff participation into drill, trainings and all essential safety and security practices onsite
• Orientate and facilitate any request from the Country Security Manager (CSM) towards the office/team staff

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability

Line Managed by: Partnership Director

Technical Reporting Line to: Country Security Director

Works Directly With: Partners, Mercy Corps’ partnership team, Director of Program, program team, grants team

Collaborates With: Crisis Analysis team and Regional Security Department

Knowledge and Experience

• Excellent understanding of local dynamics and authorities in the Middle East.
• Relevant educational background. Consummate experience can be taken in lieu of an advanced third level degree.
• At least 4 years of relevant experience in the humanitarian or security/risk management sectors.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills
• At least one year of experience working in NGO and humanitarian agencies.
• Experience of managing security, safety & risk capacity development trainings.
• Strong interpersonal skills, particularly regarding liaison and training competencies.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles.
• Computer literate; strong MS-Excel and MS Word skills.
• Excellent spoken and written English and Arabic languages.
• Conscientious with an excellent sense of judgment.
• Strong organizational skills, and ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks.
• Knowledge of cyber and data security best practices.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will have the ability to identify and communicate security trends to departmental management in a way that effectively increases our safety, security and informs programming in a practical manner. Maintaining strong, cooperative relationships across departments is crucial. S/he will be able to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment. S/he will be a self-starter, take initiative and offer to assist in decision making processes that could benefit from a safety/security perspective.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to apply:

Preferable to receive CVs before July 25, 2023.

*If you are interested, kindly apply as soon as possible, since resumes will be reviewed on rolling basis. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted before the submission deadline.

“Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision, and we encourage people from all backgrounds, especially women, to apply.”

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

اضغط هنا للتقدم للوظيفة من الموقع الأصلي