Analyst of security threats in a humanitarian organization/ Security Officer in Medair Ukraine

Reports to: North Project Coordinator and Matrix Manager – Lead Security Threat Analyst
Reporting to Head Office: Security Advisor – on all issues related to goals, results, training and expertise/skills

Overall Objective: As a critical member of a diverse team committed to serving the world's most vulnerable people with practical and compassionate assistance, the Security Threat Analyst is the primary point of contact for all security and security issues within the program, providing background information and technical advice. Daily work includes monitoring and communicating current safety information, working with field team managers to ensure the safety of all Medair staff in Ukraine and visitors. An important aspect of the role is risk reduction through briefings, training and implementation of safety protocols.

Project overview: Project overview: Medair is an international Christian humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance to the most vulnerable people in conflict, disease and disaster to ensure they live in dignity and hope. It began its activities in Ukraine at the beginning of March 2022 as a result of the escalation of Russia's military operations in Ukraine. Medair has implemented numerous activities in different sectors such as: housing, health care, cash and non-financial information, social support, WASH, mental health. Medair teams are located in the east, north and west of Ukraine to provide a multi-sectoral approach to assistance. We are seeking a qualified professional to join us in supporting vulnerable communities.

• Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Safety and Security Management

• Provide technical support to management in assessing the context and situation to understand factors that may affect security (culture, ethnicity, politics, religion, economics, crime, social issues, etc.), mainly in Sumy Oblast.
• Support teams in conducting risk, threat and vulnerability assessments.
• Provide incident detailing and reporting, including mapping.
• Track personnel movements.
• Monitor Telegram channels and make calls to shelters.
• Provide risk analysis (according to the Medair approach on acceptable risk) that informs and supports managers in decision-making.
• Implement measures to reduce the likelihood or impact of identified risks.
• Assist teams in writing and regularly reviewing security plans for specific locations.
• Support the lead threat analyst withoutpecs in reviewing and/or developing new standard security procedures, ensuring they are implemented.
• Assist with incident reporting, including analysis and appropriate response.
• Ensure team housing and offices meet Medair requirements, including hotel assessments.

Crisis Management

• Work with managers to establish a network of helpful contacts to prevent or resolve incidents.
• Develop and regularly review the crisis management plan, including establishing a field crisis team and conducting simulations to test preparedness.
• Be a member of the field crisis team.
• Regularly review documents and equipment to support crisis management (contacts, personnel files, communications, emergency supplies, safe rooms etc.).

Communications

• Participate in local and national safety coordination meetings representing Medair.
• Gather up-to-date safety information and disseminate it to Medair personnel.
• Conduct regular safety briefings for management, teams and visitors.
• Ensure information is available to all employees in an understandable manner form.
• Be the contact person for security checks during staff movement.
• Interact regularly with the senior security officer.

Training

• Conduct briefings for new employees and visitors on specific security issues in Sumy, provide refresher training as needed.
• Recommend appropriate security training (personal security, use of communications, mine safety, first aid, etc.).
• Support Medair facility management colleagues in facility security by providing training and coaching.

Quality Management

• Use Medair e-library and standard procedures, ensuring compliance with formats and policies.
• Verify program security compliance with policies Medair.

Qualification / Experience

• Required: High level of training in security and security management
• Desirable: Higher education or relevant qualification in the field of security management in conditions of instability

Work experience

• Required: Experience security management after qualification, preferably in an NGO
• Desirable: Experience in the field of security in conditions of instability

Languages

• Required: Good command of English (oral and written) and fluency in Ukrainian

IT

• Required: Confident PC user, knowledge of Excel, Word, Outlook

Competencies

• Motivation: Compassion, independence, energy, autonomy; strong Christian commitment
• Desirable: Understanding of humanitarian issues
• Teamwork: Ability to work in a team, interpersonal skills; ability to lead a large diverse team
• Adaptability: Ability to work under pressure, manage stress; creativity, flexibility, self-education; readiness for basic field conditions
• Technical expertise: Ability to solve problems, calm in a crisis, organization, communication skills, knowledge of safety procedures
• Leadership: Coordination skills, ability to build trust, prioritize, analyze large volumes of information; senior management support
• Experience: Office administration, security

Working conditions: This is a field position, working and living conditions may differ significantly from the usual.

MEDAIR UKRAINE BRANCH strives to create diverse and inclusive workplaces and is an equal employment opportunity employer. For more detailed information, please contact us.                              

Headquarters:Security Advisor: for everything related to objectives, deliverables, training, and expertise/skills

Overall Purpose:Working as an important member of a diverse team who are committed to serve the world’s most vulnerable with practical and compassionate care the Security Officer is the primary contact for all safety and security issues within the program providing a reference point and technical advice.

On a day-to-day basis this involves the monitoring and communicating of relevant security information, working with the field managers to ensure the safety and security of all in-country Medair personnel and visitors. An important aspect of the role is mitigation and risk reduction through briefings, training and enforcing security protocols.

Project Overview:Medair is an international Christian humanitarian organization that provides emergency response to most vulnerable people occurring amidst conflict, disease, and disaster to ensure their life in dignity and hope. It launched its activities in Ukraine in early March 2022 as a result of the escalation of Russian military actions in Ukraine. Medair has implemented numerous interventions in various sectors, such as Shelter, Health, Cash and NFI, Case Management, WASH, Mental Health. Medair teams are located in the East, North and West of Ukraine to ensure multi-sectoral approach to assistance. We are looking for a qualified professional to join us in supporting vulnerable communities.                                                              

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Safety and Security Management

·  Provide technical support, as required, to field management during context and situational assessments to help develop an understanding of the issues that can affect safety and security (e.g. culture, ethnicity, politics, religion, economics, crime, social issues, etc.) in primarily Sumy oblast.

·  Support teams in conducting, risk, threat and vulnerability assessments.

·  Provide details of incidents and reporting, together with mapping.

·  Track staff movements.

·  Monitor Telegram channels and call shelter.

·  Provide risk analysis (in line with Medair’s approach to acceptable risk) that informs and supports relevant field managers in their decision making

·  Introduce mitigating measures that reduce the likelihood or impact of identified risks

·  Support teams writing and regularly reviewing location specific security plans

·  Support Senior Security Officer in review and/or developing new security related standard operating procedures, ensuring and enforcing their usability by the relevant Medair team members

·  Support other team members with the reporting of security related incidents, including full analysis and appropriate follow-up

·  Ensure team accommodation and offices are safe and meet the Medair requirements, including hotel assessments.

Crisis Management

·  Work with field managers to build a network of useful contacts to help prevent or resolve security incidents

·  Develop and regularly review the crisis management plan, including the setting up of a Field Crisis Management Team and the conducting of simulations to test crisis preparedness

·  Be a member of the Field Crisis Management Team

·  Regularly review documents and equipment to support crisis management, ensuring items are in line with standard procedures, up-to-date and in good working order. This includes, but is not limited to, contact information, personnel files, communication equipment, emergency supplies, safe rooms, etc.

Communication

·  Attend locally and nationally convened security coordination meetings as appropriate, representing Medair as the security focal point for the programme

·  Collate relevant security information from available sources and distribute to Medair staff as appropriate

·  Provide regular security briefings, as appropriate, to the field management, other team members and visitors

·  Ensure relevant security information is made available to staff in a language they understand or is explained verbally to those with limited reading ability

·  Be a focal point for security check-ins for staff movement.

·  Liaise regularly with the Senior Security Security Officer.

Training

·  Brief new staff and visitors on relevant Sumy-specific security issues, providing refresher training as required.

·  Source and recommend relevant safety and security training for staff in areas such as personal security, use of communication equipment, landmine awareness, first aid, etc.

·  Support colleagues responsible for running the Medair base(s) (e.g. office premises, staff housing, field bases, etc.) to ensure the security of the compounds, providing training and coaching as required

Quality Management

·  Promote and use the Medair e-library and other operating procedures, ensuring that all standardised formats are used and guidelines are followed

·  Review compliance of the country programme security set-up with Medair’s policies and procedures.

Delegated Responsibilities

·  Collaborate with Senior Security Officer in the development of Sumy-specific security plans and security and safety SOPs

·  Review and monitor compliance with location security plans and SOPs

·  Represent Medair in Sumy-specific meetings with external bodies such as government offices, other NGOs and the UN

Person Specification

Qualification / Experience
Essential: Security and safety management training at a high level
Desirable: University degree or relevant qualification in security management in an insecure environment

Work experience
Essential: Post-qualification security management experience, preferably in an NGO setting
Desirable: Security management experience in an insecure environment

Languages
Essential: Good English (spoken and written) and fluent Ukrainian (spoken and written)

IT
Essential: Computer literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook

Competencies

Motivation
Essential: Compassionate, self-motivated, energetic, autonomous; Strong Christian commitment
Desirable: Good understanding of humanitarian issues

Team-building
Essential: Team-player with good inter-personal skills; Able to take a lead role in a large and diverse team
Desirable: Encouraging, supportive; Experience in training / coaching staff

Adaptability
Essential: Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels; Creative, open-minded, flexible, self-learner; Able to cope with basic living conditions in the field and during field trips
Desirable: Willingness to be stretched professionally, personally, and spiritually

Technical expertise
Essential: Problem solving ability; Calm in a crisis; Good organisational skills; Good communication skills, particularly in handling sensitive information; Familiar with security management procedures
Desirable: Working knowledge of HF and VHF radio communication, satellite phones and other standard office equipment

Management and leadership
Essential: Coordinating and networking skills; Able to build trust and enforce procedures; Able to prioritise clearly; Able to assimilate and analyse large amounts of information; Supportive of senior programme management
Desirable: Experience in liaising with government and military authorities

Areas of experience
Essential: Office Administration; Security

 Work Conditions: This is a field-based position and working and living conditions may be very different to that previously experienced.

MEDAIR UKRAINE BRANCH strives to create diverse and inclusive workplaces and is an equal employment opportunity employer. For more detailed information, please contact us.