Security Officer at Albarka Health Spring Foundation (AHSF)

Albarka Health Spring Foundation (AHSF) is a non-governmental organization dully registered with Nigerian government through Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC/IT NO: 91613). Existing since October 2016, AHSF focuses on improving the quality of life of vulnerable population across communities in North East Nigeria. AHSF operates both in emergency and developmental context and have its program principally rooted in identifying gaps that affects population or increases vulnerability of population and bridging those gaps through resource base planning and implementation.

AHSF has experience working with various partners in the Northeast, Northcentral and Northwest of Nigeria implementing Nutrition, WASH, Protection / GBV and Health. In the Northwest region of Nigeria, we have worked with NAVANTI Group, a US research-based Non-Profit Organization, on Food Security and Nutrition, to determine food availability, affordability and accessibility within conflict clocked areas, in the northwest states: Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states respectively.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Security Officer

Location: Pulka, Borno
Employment Type: Contract
Sector: Safety & Security
Contract Duration: 12 Months
Start Date: ASAP

Project Objective

• Enhance the resilience and well being of conflict-affected communities in Pulka, Borno State, through comprehensive and sustainable health, nutrition and protection interventions aimed at reducing mortality and morbidity, improving access to quality health care and nutrition services, and strengthening protective environments for vulnerable population.

Specific Objective

• Enhance and sustain safe, dignified and barrier free access to comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC) services, including SRH, Nutrition, MHPSS and protection, for all conflict-affected individuals in Pulka.

Job Overview / Summary

• Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator and technical support of Northeast Humanitarian Access Safety and Security Coordination team (HASSC), the Security Officer (SO) should maintain, improve and expand principled humanitarian access to conflict-affected populations in area of responsibility through development and overseeing the implementation of humanitarian access and security management plans in compliance with AHSF’s strategy and in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, Duty of Care and Gender Equality principles..
• The role supports the teams in any of the community in identifying, analysing, and mitigating risk to facilitate access for humanitarian programming, operates within acceptable Safety & Security risk levels. To achieve this, the SO will be based in Pulka areas of implementation and regularly supports the team in Maiduguri.
• He/She will further entails advising the management team and other project staff on various security matters; contribute to implementing the security policies and facilitate the rollout of security SOPs, and regular reporting on compliance.

Major Responsibilities

• Share Daily Situation Report/updates with SMT, HASS team and the project staff.
• Ensure timely reporting of security incidents and dissemination of security information to all staff and maintain the record.
• Ensures that incident report forms are properly compiled by staff and distributed to the Management team.
• Conduct security briefing and orientation to all newly hired staff, staff on mission or visitors using the standard briefing format.
• He/She will ensure that an updated briefing tracking sheet is maintained.
• With the support of relevant staff, conduct security risk assessment of the program locations in Borno State using the standard SRA & Security Level tool, and to monitor the contextual trends prior to and continuously after deployment of staff.
• Work closely with the project Officers, HR, HASS Coordination team to ensure that Safety and Security Standards in Maiduguri office are maintained and implemented in line with the recommendations from assessment repots.
• Assist the Program officers and HASS team to Collate, analyse, and disseminate security information as approved or advised by the north east HASS Coordinator to AHSF project staff and ensuring the information remains accurate and neutral.
• Contribute to the development and review of Project field offices Field Security Management plans, Contingency plans, and standards operating procedures.
• Enforce Security SOPs within the area of jurisdiction and advise staff accordingly.
• Constantly and immediately notify the AHSF Head of Program of any breach to the procedures in the SOPs.
• Conducting regular checks on AHSF premises in Pulka provide recommendation on their improvement and follow up on their implementation. Any areas of improvement to be reported to HoP, Project Manager, and the HR for immediate action.
• Initiate security alerts as appropriate in line with the ever-evolving security context across all locations through the existing Warden System, Bulk SMS, and Early Warning Group.
• Ensure that staff movement are well tracked and communication using Sat Phone is maintained.
• Guide Field teams on how to undertake security risk assessments during field missions to programme areas and potential programme areas, report on findings and design necessary improvements.
• Work on identification and mitigation of potential security risks to staff, assets and operational/program security and validates mitigation measure within security risk assessments.
• Monitor events, review incidents and coordinate analysis, follow-up actions and recommendations in close coordination with the HASS northeast coordination team and the program officers.
• Provide security update, which includes situational analysis, actions taken, and actions recommended to the Field Management Team on a regular and as per request basis.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Establish Security Focal Group (SFG) in Borno and build the capacity of the team on basic humanitarian access safety and security protocols and policies.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor AHSF Program Officers, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular, positive, and constructive performance feedback.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable the HoP as technical supervisor.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate.
• Train and develop capability and capacity of direct report to perform well in the role.
• Work closely with the program Officer, indirect/technical supervisor, and direct report to promote team spirit.
• Coordination and representation: He/She will represent the department in meetings and serve as focal person for the department in Borno.
• Treat beneficiaries with dignity and apply AHSF’s Code of Ethics and Conduct, the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in the field

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Head of Program
• Indirect / Technical Reporting: Humanitarian Access Safety and security coordination Team N/E
• Position directly Supervises: N/A

Qualifications
Education:

• B.Sc / HND in Social Sciences
• Master's Degree in security studies or relevant course is an added advantage.

Work Experience:

• 2-4 years work experience Previous experience with INGO preferred.

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Excellent oral and written communication are required.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, communication and time management skills
• Ability to organize tasks simultaneously, prioritize work and ensure tasks are completed by deadline.
• Knowledge of Northeast context is required.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of the local language
• Willing and able to be based and travel regularly within remote areas, where services are limited.
• Previous experience with similar position.

Application Closing Date
1st June, 2024.