Deputy Regional Safety and Security Advisor for Central Africa

Job Summary

As a member of the Regional Team under the direct supervision of Deputy Regional Director for Operations (DRD-Ops) and the close technical oversight of the CARO/WARO Senior Regional Safety and Security Advisor (SRSSA), the Deputy Regional Safety & Security Advisor (DRSSA) supports the delivery of consistent and high-quality health, safety and security risk management across the Region, context monitoring and principled humanitarian access. You will provide technical support to country programs in the Region and ensure compliance with CRS’ HSS policy and standards while enabling durable programming activities including in high-risk environments. The DRSSA also has a significant role implementing regional capacity strengthening, learning and development initiatives and mentoring activities for CRS staff and partner organizations. The DRSSA role requires extensive travel, including at relatively short notice.
Responsibilities

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Technical Support to specified CPs (Up to 60% of time)

Constantly monitor contextual safety and security events and dynamics, providing insight, situation reports and supporting CP and regional level security decisions
Provide technical advice and direct support to Country Programs placed under his/her responsibilities on safety & security risk management, trends, processes and best practices.
Review risk assessments, security management plans, SOPs and contingency plans as requested.
Advise on the development, implementation and monitoring of contextualized access and security risk management strategies for CP.
Analyze mitigation measures across Country Programs, including their prioritization, status and resourcing. Use this analysis to inform possible regional improvements strategy and projects.
Support Country Program level incident management responses.
Monitor CPs adherence to CRS HSS policy and standards and analyze the results to prioritize support needs.
Assist Country Programs with HSS annual HSS KPI objectives
Support initiatives across countries and the Region to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion in safety, security and humanitarian access management.
Advise Country Programs on HSS information collection and analysis to support decision making
Support Country Program Security Focal Points with qualitative HSS reporting.
Travel to country programs to provide gap coverage, support key projects or during the onset of an emergency and/or in support of entry to additional countries in the Region. Some of this support may be delivered remotely.

Training, Learning and Knowledge Sharing for specified CP (Up to 30% of time)

Identify CPs’ learning and development needs on HSS risk management, personal security, principled humanitarian access and support durable programming.
Track learning and development activities across CPs.
Support capacity-sharing initiatives with implementing partners in coordination with the Country Programs and other existing regional partnership initiatives.
Support Country Programs in liaising with established external training providers to identify and assess effective training options.
Through in-country training activities, participate in building a core group of HSS Trainers across the Region to exemplify Learning and Development capacities and reach.

Regional and Global HSS initiatives and activities (Up to 20% of time)

Deputize for the SRSSA and other Deputy RSSA when needed.
Participate in Regional HSS improvement strategy definition and projects (security app, online movement approval and tracking tools, staff and assets tracking and tracing technologies…)
Actively participate in developing and implementing a regional approach towards capacity-building with partner organizations for security risk management and personal security.
Participate in the development of tools to assess the impact of learning and development activities across the Region.
Actively participate in HSSU global improvement initiatives

Required Languages – Fluency in French and English required

Travel – Maximum 50% of the time, primarily to/within the regions, and sometimes in remote areas with minimal amenities available. Often with short notice.

Supervisory Responsibilities: none

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Senior Regional Advisor Safety and Security Risk Management, Deputy Regional Director, Regional Technical Advisors, Country Representatives, Heads of Operations, Heads of Programs, Security Focal Points, Health Safety and Security Unit and Humanitarian Response Department.

External: International and local partners, including local and US Catholic agencies, US Embassy RSOs within the region, contracted security service providers, security officers of other international and local NGOs operating in CARO.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions
Strong communications and relations management abilities including ability to influence without authority. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
Sound working knowledge of humanitarian access and security, and a commitment to humanitarian principles.
A strong track record in learning and development initiatives in Humanitarian Access and Security
Experience in project management, including project planning, scoping and delivery, proposal writing, budget planning/spending, and delivery.
Strong track record of HSS risk management including context analysis and prospective scenario planning
Demonstrable competence in and enthusiasm for practical training methods
Ability to manage a complex workload and meet tight deadlines with minimal supervision.
Proactive, resourceful, solutions-and results oriented

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in security management, international development, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
Minimum of 5 years work experience in operational safety and security management with an international humanitarian organization.
Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in security and staff safety

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in related discipline
Familiarity in working for Non-governmental Organizations in high-risk environments
Experience working in delicate situations with partner organizations
Knowledge of and working experience in the regions strongly preferred
Strong cross-cultural skills
Ability to train and convey information to non-security personnel
Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills
Excellent writing skills and strong communicator
Proficiency in MS Office
Diplomatic, able to manage conflict and move groups toward consensus
Ability to make sound decision, including when to escalate issues
Excellent organization and planning skills, detail-oriented, ability to work on multiple task simultaneously
Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a commitment to humanitarian principles
Able to work without close supervision
Quick learner, adaptable and creative
Demonstrated experience of successful safety and security program support at regional level
Previous experience with partner engagement
Ability to present and train different levels and compositions of staff and partners
Formal technical training(s) in safety and security certification and track record is a plus

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

WHAT WE OFFER

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

About Us

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements. All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.