Safety and security manager in Mercy Corps

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About Mercy Corps:

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 partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.  

Now, and for the future. 

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary) 

The Security and Safety Team, headed by the Security, Safety and Access Director, ensures the safety of Mercy Corps staff and provides security support to national partners.

General Position Summary:

The Security and Safety Team, headed by the Security, Safety and Access Director, includes the Security and Safety Manager, Security and Safety Coordinators, Security and Safety Officers, and designated Security Focal Points embedded across departments.
The Security and Safety Manager reports directly to the Security, Safety and Access Director and is responsible for leading and coordinating the Security and Safety Team in achieving its goals. The position is based in Kyiv, with up to 50% travel to field offices to provide leadership, guidance, and direct support.
This role combines strategic leadership with operational oversight. The Security and Safety Manager ensures that Mercy Corps’ humanitarian and resilience programming can be implemented safely in high-risk and hard-to-reach areas, while upholding the organization’s legal and duty of care obligations to staff. The Manager guides the team in providing peer-to-peer support to the relevant national partners’ staff, while demonstrating composure under pressure, expertise in NGO security risk management, and strong people management skills to lead the team through evolving security challenges.

 Essential Responsibilities

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks andmitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Security strategy and planning

• Develop and regularly update a comprehensive security strategy and framework tailored to the risks faced by Mercy Corps staff in Ukraine.
• Lead the development and maintenance of contingency plans for different emergency scenarios, ensuring they are practical, communicated, and regularly tested.
• Coordinate and conduct threat analyses and risk assessments with SSC/SSOs to identify risks and organizational vulnerabilities.
• Maintain updated security documentation, including the Country Risk Register, Security Management Plan, and related protocols.

  Team Management and Collaboration

• Lead and support SSCs, SSOs, and Security Assistants, ensuring clear workplans, regular follow-up, and professional development.
  Recruit and mentor Security staff and maintain a pipeline of trained Security Focal Points (SFPs).
• Foster a culture of trust, responsiveness, and collaboration within the Security and Safety Team and across departments, ensuring security considerations are integrated into program design.

Crisis Management and Response 

• Coordinate and activate crisis management systems in response to incidents, ensuring staff safety and program continuity.
  Implement contingency plans during emergencies, including medical evacuation and other critical measures.
• Provide real-time updates and coordination with relevant teams during crises.

 Security Risk Mitigation and External Liaison

• Advise senior management on risk mitigation measures, including movement restrictions, security protocols, and adaptation to changing dynamics.
• Stay abreast of technical means of security risk prevention and mitigation; propose innovative approaches to strengthen organizational resilience.
• Ensure operability and consistent use of security tools and mechanisms to safeguard staff, programs, and assets.
• Coordinate with government and military actors through the Civil-Military and Government Liaison Team to resolve security-related issues affecting operations.

Networking and Information Sharing

• Build and maintain effective relationships with other NGOs, UN agencies, and security networks.
• Engage with Mercy Corps’ national partners and their Security Focal Points as a key source of security information from the ground.
• Share relevant security updates and best practices with stakeholders to strengthen collective humanitarian security approaches.

Contextual Analysis and Adaptation 

• Monitor and analyze political, social, and cultural dynamics in conflict-affected areas.
• Adapt security strategies and measures in response to evolving risks and contextual changes.

Incident Management and Learning

• Ensure systems are in place across all offices for effective management of safety and security functions.
• Act as Security Focal Point during critical incidents and emergencies.
  Maintain the Security Incident Log and ensure systematic reporting, analysis, and follow-up on incidents.
• Promote organizational learning from incidents to improve future risk management practices.

Staff Safety and Well-being

• Ensure staff are regularly briefed on risks and preventive measures.
• Refer staff affected by incidents to relevant Well-being Officers (HR) for appropriate support, while upholding Mercy Corps’ duty of care obligations

Training and Capacity Building

• Plan the training needs of Mercy Corps Ukraine and lead the process of organizing security-related trainings.
• Originate the procurement of training providers, assess the quality of delivered trainings, and report outcomes.
• Oversee training programs for SSCs, SSOs, and SFPs in line with organizational requirements.
• Coordinate specialized trainings such as Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT), trauma first aid, defensive driving, and crisis management.
• Identify additional training needs and propose them to senior management for approval.
• Foster a strong security culture across Mercy Corps by leading and monitoring training initiatives.

Supervisory Responsibility Security and Safety Coordinators, Security and Safety Officers. The Manager also provides functional oversight and guidance to designated Security Focal Points across departments. 

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Security, Safety and Access Director

Works Directly With: Operations Team, Senior Management Team, Program Departments, IT Team, People’s Team, other teams as required, and all staff in general.