Safety Manager (Deputy Head of Safety)

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and implements emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a Safety Manager (Deputy Head of Safety) in Kyiv.  

About the job

The Deputy Head of Safety supports the Head of Safety in ensuring the effective implementation of DRC’s Safety Risk Management System (SRMS), including adherence to the Global Safety Policy, the identification of known and emerging risks, and the development and application of appropriate mitigation measures, mechanisms, and procedures.

The role contributes to continuous context analysis and the day-to-day management of safety and security in close coordination with Senior Management and Safety Focal Points, thereby strengthening the operational continuity and resilience of the DRC Ukraine country programme.

Within the safety structure, the Deputy Head of Safety maintains a primary focus on operational safety management—including oversight of the DRC Operations Room – while the Head of Safety concentrates on strategic and macro-level safety priorities.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

• Manage the Operations Room (OPS Room) on a daily basis, ensuring that alerts are disseminated in a timely manner, staff movements are tracked, and systems are calibrated in line with evolving and emerging threats.
• Ensure operational safety oversight for the Country Office in Kyiv.
• Provide day-to-day technical support and guidance to Area Safety Focal Points.
• Contribute to contextual and security analysis to inform operational decision-making.
• Ensure that the Safety SharePoint folder is consistently updated with the latest documentation and support the Head of Safety with revisions and updates as required.
• Design and deliver high-quality security trainings in both Ukrainian and English languages, reaching a maximum number of national and international staff.
• Develop and facilitate workshops for Security Focal Points, Heads of Department, Area Managers, and other key staff.
• Ensure all new staff receive a pre-arrival security briefing and a comprehensive country briefing upon arrival.
• Act as Head of Safety in the absence of the Head of Safety and support the Country Director (CD) and Senior Management Team (SMT) in safety-related decision-making.
• Coordinate with HQ Crisis Management Team (CMT) when required, and participate in Incident Management Teams (IMT) as necessary.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have minimum of 5 years’ experience in a security-related field in a management position with at least 3 years as Security Manager/Advisor for an NGO in a high risk context. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• Proven experience in context/security analysis and advising humanitarian personnel.
• Experience in developing and updating Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs), contingency plans and other risk assessment and management documents and tools.
• Proven experience in incident/crisis management.
• Experience in conducting safety training for international and national staff, and experience of capacity building.
• Ability to provide conflict analysis (written).
• Proven ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Computer literate, able to use all common software packages.
• Capacity building and mentorship of technical security skills to colleagues, particularly safety staff.
• Be able to encourage, motivate and guide team members to approach safety and security issues with confidence especially during crises.
• Be flexible to travel at short notice to difficult and risky areas.
• Proven ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.
• Fluent English required.

Desirable

• Master degree in relevant subject preferred but not required.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract length: 12 months with the possibility of extension depending on performance and availability of funding after successful completion of a 3-month probationary period.
• Band: F1 – managerial.
• Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv.
• Start date: 1st May 2026.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for employees on national contracts; please refer to our website for more details.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 11th April 2026.

We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified.