Job Title: Regional Safety and Security Risk Advisor

Internal Title: Advisor II

Department:  Global Safety and Security Unit

Location:  International Telecommuting

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Background

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Job Summary

As a member of the Global Safety and Security Unit, the Regional Safety and Security Risk Advisor (RSA) supports the work of the Regional Directors for East Africa (EARO) and Southern Africa (SARO). Within the assigned geography, the RSA will design, support and monitor the application of agency safety and security risk management to ensure the safety and security of CRS staff, partners, activities, facilities and assets as well as the continuity of CRS programs.  Working closely with the Regional Teams and country leadership, the RSA will provide management support and technical safety and security risk management solutions in strategic planning, program design, monitoring & evaluation systems, and staff training. This position is an extension of the GSSU and fully integrated into the regions.

Job Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

  • Define, plan, support and monitor the implementation of security risk management systems for the protection of CRS staff, partners, visitors, program participants, facilities, assets and information in support of CRS programming across the two regions
  • Mentor country-based security staff to build their security risk management capacities and guide their prioritizing of activities to meet program activity goals in compliance with CRS safety and security policies
  • Routinely examine the CRS regional security risk management framework and ensure formal assessments of all regional program sites and activities are up to date and effective
  • Assist country programs in aligning safety and security plans and systems with current and future program design and in capacity building of partners, in close collaboration with the Regional teams
  • Develop and maintain an information network to provide analytics of (potential) threats to CRS programs
  • Feed into and support the continuous process of improvement of the global CRS Security risk management system
  • Strengthen and drive the security risk assessment process by overseeing regular threat and vulnerability assessments, adapting procedures, and designing mitigation measures accordingly and monitoring compliance
  • Participate in agency-wide efforts to improve security risk management systems and tools
  • Participate in the design, development and write up of security management/staffing plans and budgets for proposals, as needed

Safety and Security Risk Management

  • Support Regional Directors (RD)  –who are the ultimate responsible for safety and security decisions in the respective region– and Deputy Regional Directors for Program Quality (DRD-PQ) and Management Quality (DRD-MQ) on security management decisions, procedures, policies, and practices, including the management of critical incidents and crisis level situations
  • Develop and cultivate sources and networks relevant to the needs of CRS in the regions to support both day to day security risk management activities as well as manage in times of crisis
  • Provide regular updates and analysis around safety and security trends in the regions. Share relevant products with regional and Country programs senior management and the Global Safety and Security Unit. Stay up to date with international trends and developments in the regions, monitor current events, political decisions, and legislative changes and articulate their potential impact on CRS to aid in proactive planning and response strategies and direct and coordinate activities in reviewing or updating security measures due to changes in the operating environment or threat levels, or due to new requirements
  • Manage complex security improvement programs across the regions, including but not limited to staff tracking, incident reporting and management processes, and staff compliance
  • Carry out regular threat, vulnerability, security risk, and compliance assessments and amend working procedures accordingly
  • Monitor CRS’ security portal to ensure Country Programs’ relevant safety and security documents are updated and disseminated
  • Interface with regional-level and country-level security committees, key contacts, and staff from other agencies to support the revisions of country security plans
  • Provide direct support to the startup and closure of CRS offices/programs and to the Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) during emergency response operations within the regions
  • Make recommendations for the use of subcontracted security service providers in coordination with country leadership, guiding and defining scopes of work and monitoring the effectiveness of their performance

Organizational & Systems Development and Staff Capacity Strengthening

  • Liaise with other members of the CRS global security community for additional sources of technical or training assistance, best practices, and learning
  • Serve as the regional point person for partner assessment data and analysis related to the security management capacities, providing support and guidance to country programs as needed. In collaboration with the RFO and RTA Risk Management & Compliance, identify and respond to critical training needs of strategic partners and those with the least strong internal controls. Promote the use of CRS standardized approaches and tools for partner capacity strengthening
  • Ensure compliance with CRS’s security training and learning policy. Implement agency wide trainings at the regional and country level, including those for drivers and guards
  • Document dates and types of security training staff members have received and make recommendations on training needs. Strengthen local training capacity and facilitate trainings as is needed
  • Effectively implement CRS’ safety and security risk management policy requirements in the regions
  • Assist Country Programs in defining roles and responsibilities for safety and security management, optimizing organizational/departmental efficiency, performance, and accountability
  • Support Country Programs in the recruitment and development of staff involved in safety and security management
  • In coordination with the DRD-MQ and RD, monitor mitigation of risks as reported in the annual risk disclosure reports; plan for and manage situations that involve staff safety and security, fraud, safeguarding, etc.
  • Cultivate and lead the regional communities of practice for security focal points and other interested parties to encourage learning and implementation of best practices in security risk management
  • Collaborate and coordinate with HQ departments on systems and approaches to drive effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability
  • Facilitate the achievement of strategic objectives related to managing Information, Communication and Technology for Development (ICT4D) as they relate to security.  Ensure that technological changes and new trends supported by the agency are integrated into the safety and security management culture

Key Working Relationships

  • Internal: Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director(s), Director of Safety and Security, Senior Advisor for Security Operations, Regional Technical Advisors, Country Representatives, Heads of Operations, Heads of Programs, Security Focal Points, Country Security Managers and Officers, peer SRMs, and the global security team. HQ departments such as GKIM, HR, GSCM, Internal Audit, Ethics Unit, GRC, OGC, RMSS and HRD.
  • External: International and local partners, donors, relevant embassy security staff, contracted security service providers, NGO security organizations, and security staff of other NGOs and UN Agencies operating in East and Southern Africa.

Qualifications

  • Master’s degree required in security management, politics, international development, non-profit management, or related field, or equivalent work experience
  • Minimum of 10 years work experience in security management with 5 years in an international humanitarian organization, UN, or related international development organization
  • Formal technical training(s) or professional certifications in security risk management is a plus
  • Knowledge and familiarity with USG rules and regulations a plus
  • Demonstrated understanding of industry standards and management best practices
  • Demonstrated leadership skills
  • Willingness to travel to and work in difficult environments including emergency response

Technical/Professional

  • Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in security and staff safety
  • Experience working in delicate situations with partner organizations
  • Knowledge of and working experience in the region is 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 and bridgebuilder
  • Proficiency in MS Office
  • Diplomatic, able to manage conflict and move groups toward consensus
  • Good judgment and sound decision-making skills
  • Excellent organization and planning skills, detail-oriented, ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously
  • Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a commitment to humanitarian principles
  • Able to work without close supervision, experience with remote management
  • Quick learner, adaptable and creative

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions
  • Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship
  • Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching skills
  • Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences
  • Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications 

Demonstrated experience of successful security program management across multiple countries, including concurrent management of complex, high and low-value, multi-activity projects, with complicated logistics

Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships

Ability to represent and present at high levels

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

Integrity

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

Builds Relationships

Develops Talent

Strategic Mindset

Accountability & Stewardship

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.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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 protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

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

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

EOE/M/F/D/V – CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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