The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an independent, non-profit organization (NGO), founded on the basis of humanitarian principles, and human rights based approach, to secure the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and to promote long term solutions to the problems of forced displacement.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) invites applications for the position of Regional Safety Coordinator who plays a critical role in the regional operation.
Background
DRC has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. Using a human rights framework, the DRC East Africa and Yemen (EAY) operation focuses mainly on populations affected by displacement in Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen and regional mixed migration flows. DRC aims to create a synergy between the different humanitarian aid and development projects in EAY – both in terms of geographical coverage and types of activities implemented in support of refugees and populations displaced or otherwise affected by conflict, consequences of climate change and natural hazards in the region.
DDG Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a part of Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and has operated in East Africa since 1999 and in Yemen since 2011. Recognizing the widespread proliferation of uncontrolled Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the region, DDG expanded its approach from traditional Mine Action to also addressing the threats from SALW, Security Governance and Provision, as well as Conflict Prevention and Management.
DRC’s Safety Risk Management system in the EAY region has been developed to a robust level with procedures, protocols and policies in place and largely implemented throughout the region. Training modules have been standardized and delivered on a regular basis, and safety management receives support and attention from managers. In the EAY region, DRC’s safety management structure currently includes a Regional Safety Coordinator, with Country level safety coordinators and teams in place in Somalia, Yemen, Kenya, and under recruitment for Ethiopia/Djibouti.
Overall Objective
The Regional Safety Coordinator (RSC) will advise and assist the Regional Director (RD), the Regional Senior Management Team (SMT) and Country Directors to develop and implement DRC’s Safety Risk Management (SRM) system for both DRC and DDG programmes in the East Africa and Yemen region.
Reporting Arrangements
The RSC reports to the DRC Regional Director, with a technical line to the Global Safety Advisor at HQ. While the RSC does not directly line manage safety staff, the RSC provides technical oversight and support to safety staff within the region.
Specific Objectives
The RSC, in consultation with the safety team, local safety staff and CDs, is expected to pursue the following objectives in his/her daily work:
• Oversee the Safety Risk Management (SRM) process within the EAY region
• Develop and maintain regional safety management policies, protocols and procedures, and support the contextualization of country and area level plans and procedures.
• Facilitate Safety Risk Assessments (SRAs) and support the implementation of mitigation measures
• Analyze, manage and report relevant information at country and regional levels
• Quality assurance monitoring and reporting
• Support and deliver safety-related training
• Mentor and provide technical supervision to international and national safety staff
• Develop the capacity of, and coordinate, the Regional Crisis Management Team and Country Incident Management Teams
• Provide surge support to country programmes
• Facilitate travel planning for VIPs and other higher profile visits to areas in the region
Responsibilities and Tasks
To achieve the position objectives, the RSC will perform the following tasks and undertake the following responsibilities:
Oversee the development and implementation of the SRM process. Specific tasks include:
• Assist and monitor the development of SRAs; supervise and endorse the assessment of Safety Levels
• Advise the SMT, CDs and Area Managers on available safety management strategies, including the transfer, avoidance, acceptance and/or control of risks.
• Assist in the development of country and area-specific safety plans, including Local Safety Rules (LSR); Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); Contingency Plans (CPs); mitigation action plans; and Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS).
• Support the implementation of safety improvement plans and other related functions; and assist in the implementation of staff capacity training plans, including the delivery and prioritization of training modules
• Develop and maintain Regional Safety Operating Procedures (RSOPs) and support the contextualization of the RSOPs at country and area level, as necessary.
Provide technical support to Country Directors and Country Safety Coordinators/safety staff
• Provide technical supervision and support to all senior safety staff
• Develop the skills and knowledge of safety staff through constructive feedback, training events and supporting personal development goals.
• Assist Country Offices with the selection, recruitment and professional development of safety staff.
Provision of dependable advice in relation to programme access and continuity, including:
• Provision of regular analysis, statistics and reporting on key developments within the region
• Tailored analysis and assessments, including SRAs, on specific areas, themes, issues or scenarios
• Maintain a register of negotiations and developments related to access and humanitarian space
• Establish and maintain a list of contacts throughout the region
• Provide safety advice as part of programme development and during programme implementation, including programme assessments
• Identify potential scenarios, indicators of change and key decision points
Represent the country programmes within inter-agency fora as related to safety issues, including:
• Focal point for safety co-ordination between relevant actors within the area of operations
• Attend NSP, UN and other relevant external fora
• Establish a network of contacts and represent DRC/DDG at security meetings
Capacity building of all staff, including:
• Provide operational safety briefings and orientation to new staff and visitors
• Brief new international and non-local staff on specific cultural norms and behaviours
• Train national and international safety in the delivery of establish safety training modules
• Organize and coordinate the delivery of Personal Awareness and Safety Training (PAST) , Incident Management Training, Hostage Survival Training, as a minimum on a regular basis
Incident and crisis management and response, including:
• Support the establishment and maintenance of the CMT and Country IMTs
• Coordinate the CMT in the event of a critical incident or crisis
• Ensure effective country level Critical Incident Management Plans are in place
• Brief CMT members on their responsibilities and ensure alternate members are available and briefed
• Assist in the management of safety incidents and provide timely and accurate incident reports
Quality assurance of safety-related policies, protocols, procedures and regulations, including:
• MOSS audits of all programme areas
• Systematic reviews of SRM Systems at the country and area levels
• Assess the level of implementation of mitigation measures within the safety improvement plans
Act as the focal point for technical advice on procurement and installation of safety-related equipment, facilities and other resources, including:
• Assist logisticians and administrators with the procurement, delivery and control of safety equipment
• Act as the focal point for radios and satellite phones
About you
To be successful in this role, we expect you to be a positive, mature leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing safety related initiatives. You thrive in managing a wide range of responsibilities, and can effectively communicate and coordination regional safety processes.
You are an effective people manager and enjoy working with teams of committed staff to build collaboration and capacity within the regional team and in support of country operations.
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate each of DRC’s five core competencies:
• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results by demonstrating a high level of expertise and ensuring the same from colleagues in the country programmes
• Collaborating: You lead regional safety processes by involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership of the safety risk management system within the region and aim for consistently high safety standards in the region by engaging directly with relevant staff
• Communicating: You listen to other stakeholders and staff; and you communicate concisely and persuasively
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values
Personal Specifications
• At least five years’ experience as a safety and security manager with an INGO at a country/programme level on an international contract
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized protocols and systems
• A high level of personal integrity
• Ability to be flexible and demonstrate an innovative approach to safety risk management
• Demonstrated experience with information gathering, analysis and report writing
• Demonstrated ability to conduct and produce high quality safety risk assessments (SRAs)
• Demonstrated experience with critical incident management
• Demonstrated experience with delivering safety-related training
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Proven ability to work effectively with minimal supervision
• Stable, dedicated team-player with a good sense of humor
• Excellent communication skills
• Willingness to travel at least 50% of the time
• Fluent in written and spoken English
Preferable:
• Experience with the East Africa or Yemen contexts
• Knowledge of Arabic, French, and/or Somali
• Sub-regional or regional security management experience
• Programme experience is considered highly desirable
Conditions:
Contract: 12 month renewable contract
Other employment conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates recruited by the East Africa and Yemen Regional Office or the DRC national staff salary scale, as relevant. This position is rated an A4 on the DRC Expatriate salary scale available at www.drc.dk.
Availability: 1 May 2017
Duty Station: Nairobi or other family duty locations in the region; this is a family duty station with benefits as per DRC Global and regional policy for international staff.
General
Commitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework