Regional Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports To: Regional Safety & Security Director

Position Directly Supervises: None

Internal: Country Security Leads, Global Safety & Security Unit

External: Peer humanitarian agencies, security forums and training providers

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Working as a member of the regional team and under the direct supervision of the East Africa Regional Safety & Security Director (RSSD), the Regional Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator (RHASC) will support the delivery of consistent and high-quality humanitarian access and security risk management across the region. S/he will support the RSSD in providing technical support to meet the needs of country programs in the region and ensuring compliance with IRC’s internal standards and policies. The RHASC will lead regional capacity strengthening, learning and development initiatives for safety, security and access management for IRC staff and partner organizations. The candidate will be required to travel extensively throughout the region as well as deploy outside the region, including at relatively short notice.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Security Risk Management

• Oversee and validate compliance with the IRC’s minimum standards for physical security across all existing and proposed program sites, offices, guest houses, warehouses and other contracted premises through site visits and reviewing assessments conducted by the Country Programs.
• As requested, support the Country Programs to update Standard Operating Procedures and Contingency Plans ensuring consistency and contextual relevance.
• Identify cross-country gaps and develop standardized tools, templates and guidance which can be implemented across the region.
• Drive improvements in IRC security systems, tools and methodologies in coordination with Country, Regional and Global stakeholders.
• Identify emerging threats and critical vulnerabilities across the region and recommend mitigation measures.
• Strengthen data-driven security risk management across the region.
• Support the responsible adoption of AI and innovate approaches to enhance security risk management and contextual analysis.
• Represent the Regional Safety and Security Director in internal and external engagements as requested.
• Deploy periodically to Country Programs for surge support, gap coverage and high-profile visits.
• Act as a strategic thought partner to the Regional Safety and Security Director on regional risk trends, prioritization and resource allocation.

Context Monitoring and Reporting

• Lead the development and an annual regional security report including risk analysis, incident trends, successes, challenges and forward-looking priorities.
• Monitor the overall quality of incident reports filed on the IRC’s online reporting system and provide guidance to Country Programs on how to improve the timeliness and accuracy of the reporting.
• Ensure that users in the East Africa region have the appropriate access rights to the IRC”s online reporting system and regularly update the list of users.
• Serve as a regional focal point for system functionality and access management issues for the IRC’s online reporting system and follow-up as needed with Headquarters.
• Conduct an annual analysis of reported security incidents to identify key trends and actionable insights to improve overall security risk management.
• On a quarterly basis, ensure Country Programs submit required information online to assess compliance with the IRC’s Security Minimum Standards. Once the submissions are completed, conduct analysis on the compliance results and share with the Regional Safety and Security Director (RSSD) with insights on key successes, challenges and support needs across the region.

Learning and Development

• Support Country Programs to develop annual security learning and development plans aligned with operational risks.
• Identify capacity gaps and design targeted training solutions tailored to the country and regional needs.
• Deliver regional and country-level trainings, including Training of Trainers. Please note that you will need to achieve IRC’s rigorous internal certification requirements before delivering trainings.
• Deploy to Country Programs to support trainings and ensure the quality of delivery.
• Liaise with the Global Learning and Development team to ensure that trainings in the East Africa region are compliant with IRC’s standards.
• Design and facilitate Critical Incident Management Team simulations and exercises as requested by the Country Programs and the Region in coordination with the Global Director of Incident Management.
• Provide after-action reviews and learning reports to promote continuous improvement.
• Monitor training delivery across the region and report progress to the Regional Safety and Security Director on a quarterly basis.
• As requested, coach and mentor key staff to build sustainable in-country security capacity.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum experience of six years in safety and security risk management in humanitarian or high-risk environments.
• Demonstrated experience working across multiple countries. Experience in East African region preferred.
• Proven ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels.
• Experience in training design and delivery in multiple contexts.
• Ability to process large amounts of information and deliver impactful briefings and actionable insights.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in security data analysis and reporting systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build strong partnerships across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to influence key stakeholders without formal authority.
• Ability to deliver timely, high-quality results in high-pressure environments.
• Ability to manage a varied workload with, at times, competing priorities and consistently meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience in identifying and implementing creative solutions, including the use of technology and AI.
• Travel: Willingness and ability to deploy to field locations within the East Africa region on short notice.
• Language: Fluency in written and spoken English.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.