Security Officer at United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Security Officer

Job No: 584577
Location: Sokoto
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Level: NO - 1
Categories: Operations

Background

• The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations.
• The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action.
• For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism.
• To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated.
• There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.
• This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations

How can you make a difference? 
Purpose for the job:

• The Security Officer reports to the Security Specialist or CFO.
• Under the direct supervision of the CFO and general guidance of the Security Manager, the Security Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance to the supervisor to manage a range of activities on security risk management, operational and administrative planning, ensuring the safety and security of personnel and their eligible family members as well as safeguarding of UNICEF premises, assets and resources at the duty station.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
Security Risk Management and Planning:

• Provide input related to the safety and security of UNICEF personnel and eligible family members, premises, assets and resources in accordance with UN and UNICEF Security Management Systems. 
• Assist in the implementation of all technical security requirements contained in the SRMs and Contingency Plans, Residential Security Measures (RSM), and other relevant policies, guidelines, and assessments.  Provide technical support for contracted security providers.
• Assist in providing technical support for all UNICEF contracted security providers.
• Provide technical input to UNICEF security documentation including security contingency plans and assist in drafting mandatory reports in accordance with UNICEF security reporting guidelines including Security Incident Reports (SIRs).

Safety and Security Services:

• Monitor the security situation and provide information, through the supervisor, on emerging security threats to UNICEF personnel and eligible family members, premises assets and resources.  Assist in security activities that support UNICEF operations and enable programme field missions at an acceptable level of risk. Coordinate, manage and participate in the development of mission security plans and operations, including where field mission operations occur at a High level of risk and require measures such as the use of armed escorts.
• Ensure that UNICEF personnel are kept informed of matters affecting their safety and security and the actions to take in the event of an emergency including those identified in the UNICEF/UN Security Plans.
• Support the establishment of an effective and functioning communications system for security management within UNICEF that is fully integrated into the UN Emergency Communications System. 
• Coordinate and ensure that all UNICEF personnel undertake mandatory security training/briefings and participate in security related contingency exercises.
• Assist in the implementation of security surveys of international personnel residences in accordance with the Residential Security Measures (RSM).

Security Networking and Partnership Building:

• Actively participate and maintain official liaison with UNSMS, I/NGO, diplomatic and international community security advisors and relevant local authorities as appropriate.  
• Collaborate and coordinate with UNDSS and the Security Cell to enable UNICEF activities.

Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity building:

• Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders on security related preparedness and operations.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is mandatory: Security Risk Management, International Relations, Conflict Analysis, Intelligence Analysis, Diplomatic Studies, Conflict and Security, Counter Terrorism, or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience: A minimum of one year of professional experience in global security risk management preferably in the military or police service  is required. 
• Demonstrated international security management experience and understanding of the United Nations Security Management System is highly desirable. 
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Application Closing Date
18th November, 2025; 11:55 PM West Central Africa Standard Time.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online