Safety and Security Officer at Mercy Corps Nigeria

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 collaborate to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within, now and for the future. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps operates in over 13 states focusing on key thematic areas of humanitarian response, conflict mitigation and adolescent girls’ empowerment.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Safety and Security Officer

Location: Biu, Borno

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps is an international relief and development organization working in over 40 countries worldwide helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps Nigeria implements a variety of programs with the ultimate goal of building productive, secure and just communities. The organization’s programs are implemented in fourteen states, mainly in north and north east parts of Nigeria and Lagos. Our work covers the following sectors: economic development, livelihoods/food security, adolescent girls &boys empowerment, financial resilience, conflict mitigation and humanitarian response. 
• One of the current challenges is ensuring delivery of high quality programs in insecure and volatile environment. Safety and security of our staff remains the agency priority.

General Position Summary

• The Safety & Security Officer (SSO) is responsible for managing all safety & security systems in South Borno program area, which also includes Gombe and Adamawa.
• The SSO will work closely with the Head of Office and Field Senior Management Team (FSMT) in developing and implementing procedures and policies specific to each situation including security management plans. The SSO will provide support and advice to the Head of Office and Team Leader, relevant program Manager, on safety and security issues and is a member of the Field Security Management Team.   
• The SSO will provide training, mentoring, support and guidance field staffs especially Drivers in each office for humanitarian team based in Gombe/Biu/Damboa.  Moreover, the SSO will provide (or arrange for) necessary training of all Mercy Corps staff and partners, as needed. He/she is expected to assist program teams in incorporating security planning and awareness into program planning.  It is expected that SSO will provide extensive support with frequent dialogue and field visits.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Security Information Gathering:

• Work with Safety and Security Manager Heads of Office and the Field Security Management Team to monitor the security environment in the designated areas of Nigeria, with particular focus in the program areas of operations.
• Prepare weekly security brief and share with all relevant staff, including program managers, SSM, SFPs and security management team.
• Be readily available at all times to the Head of Office, Team Leader and field staff to advice on security developments.

Security System Management:

• Develop, review and ensure effective implementation of the MC South Borno Security Management Plans.
• Draft  share with Head of office, Team Leader SOPs and ensure the effective implementation of field Standard Operating Plans (SOPs)
• Conduct security assessments in all areas of South Borno with support from the SSM on international staff residences, Office and routes to follow with recommendations to the Head of office for any necessary improvements.
• Advise and ensure adequate supply of necessary safety and security-related equipment at all offices in South Borno international staff residences. 
• Ensure that relevant staff members understand and are able to use this equipment, including radios, satellite phones, fire extinguishers, etc through regular training and orientations for new staffs.
• Conduct comprehensive security/risk assessment in potential new program/field sites in South Borno, Gome, Adamawa, as necessary.
• Implement and ensure effective monitoring of a vehicle tracking system in each office.
• Prepare and update as necessary the “constant companion”, both full and pocket-sized versions.
• Review and revise security telephone tree for all locations as necessary for the field offices.
• Conduct mock drills in all MC offices (e.g. fire drill, evacuation drill etc.).
• Promote and support efforts by field offices to meet the Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) through effective planning.
• Work with the Heads of Offices, Team Leader, on community acceptance messaging and other operational strategies in the area of operations in South Borno.

Staff Management:

• Mentor the SFPs to fulfill their safety and security responsibilities at the field-level.
• Work with Head of Office to include necessary safety and security information for staffs and visitors into the field office, including on arrival briefing for new and visiting staffs.
• Work with the Human Resources Officer (HRO) to develop and implement security orientation for new staff (international and national) and visitors.
• Work with the HRO to identify security training needs of team members and include security awareness as an essential part of program trainings and refresher workshops in the field offices.
• Assess the training needs of drivers and guards in consultation with Operations Officer.

Coordination:

• Daily check-ins  and tracking with field teams on transit on mission in the field offices.
• Actively seek opportunities for formal and informal cooperation in security.  
• Develop a network of relationships with peers in the humanitarian community in the field office (UN, NGO, ICRC, appropriate governmental offices, etc.).
• Pursue opportunities to engage others in our community in creative solutions to our security challenges through collaborative efforts.
• Any other duties which are not listed but are essential to the safety and security for MC staff members and properties.

Organizational Learning: 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
• Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, Master’s degree preferred.
• 3-5 years field experience in Safety and Security with a humanitarian or development non-governmental organization.
• Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies.Good context analysis skills.
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
• Effective skills in coordination, organization and prioritization as well as in Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated attentions to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively with team members.
• Experience living and working in Nigeria, and experience in the Northeast preferred.
• Knowledge of Mercy Corps systems and procedures highly desirable.
• English proficiency required: excellent written and oral skills.
• Ability to speak Housa or Kanuri and North East local languages.

Success Factor:

• The Safety and Security Officer is responsible for the implementation of security policies, procedures and systems that are appropriate for the conditions in South Borno Nigeria. Critical to this job is problem solving, and the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with MC and donor regulations. Maintaining strong cooperative relationships with other departments is crucial. The successful candidate will have the ability to interact effectively with national and international staff members and demonstrate ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and provide relevant advice and support in a fluid security environment. The candidate will have a high degree of professionalism and must be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense environment. 

Application Closing Date
11th April, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CV's and Cover Letter in one document, addressing the position requirements to: [email protected] 

Note

• All applications must include the position title in the subject line.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview and we are an equal opportunity organization so women are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.