Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Field Security Officer reports to the manager, who may be, according to context, the Representative/Chief of Mission or Head of Office within a country operation, the Senior Field Security Officer; the Bureau Director in a Regional Directorate; the Head of Security Operations Unit at Headquarters, or the regional Senior Security Coordinator.

The incumbent acts as an adviser to the manager on field security, providing sound, well- reasoned advice followed by support in implementation of agreed measures or steps.

The incumbent may directly supervise security personnel. The incumbent may, depending on the context, be expected to monitor, coach, guide and support security personnel.

The Field Security Officer may be expected to travel on mission to multiple duty stations to provide advice and support to the local manager as agreed in mission terms of reference.

All UNHCR personnel are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, personnel are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Advise and support the manager on all aspects of security risk management, crisis readiness and preparedness with regard to maintaining the safety and security of UNHCR personnel, operations, and facilities.
• Participate in the development or update of the Security Risk Management (SRM) process for designated areas and undertake security risk assessments/ad hoc SRM analysing security factors and levels of risk related to UNHCR activities and programmes.
• Monitor compliance with standards established through the SRM process.
• Ensure person-centered approaches are included in the SRM processes and that Security Risk Management Measures (SRMMs) are appropriate. Develop and update all relevant tools and processes to respond to gender-based security incidents.
• Develop specific UNHCR plans as well as contribute to the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) plans and planning for relocation/evacuation, medical evacuation and other contingencies, test plans in exercises or drills to ensure that personnel are familiar with contingency plans and can implement them effectively in an emergency.
• Ensure that security measures are fully integrated into operational planning, including budgetary provisions, at the earliest stages of development.
• Coordinate and assist in management of critical incidents and post-incident processes reporting to the manager, Senior Field Security Coordinator and FSS.
• As a member of a multi-functional team, contribute to efforts to ensure the physical protection and security of refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons by providing security assessments, analysis and advice in developing and implementing effective strategies which underpin the responsibilities of the host state.
• Develop and maintain relationships with security-related actors, including Host Government law enforcement authorities, the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), and other UNSMS security personnel ensuring UNHCR mandate and program activities are understood.
• Support UNHCR personnel serving as members of the country's Security Management Team (SMT), or Area Security Management Team (ASMT), Area Security Coordinators (ASC), and Wardens actively participating in relevant security cell representing UNHCR.
• Provide country-relevant, security advice and training which is person-centered and gender inclusive to UNHCR personnel, and where feasible to staff of NGOs and Partners in areas In line with UNSMS and UNHCR standards. Coordinate training with security management training unit of the Global Learning Development Centre.
• Prepare periodic analytical reports on security issues in accordance with UN and UNHCR standard operating procedures, sharing with managers in the country of assignment and as relevant the Senior Field Security Coordinator in the region and Field Security Section (FSS).
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision-making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Security; Security Management; Business Administration; Political Science; Social Science; International Relations; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Security Management Learning Program, Security Risk Management, Safety and security, (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Security risk management experience in an international capacity.

Desirable

Proven experience in security analysis, security management or security training. Experience in high-risk/hardship environments. Experience working in or with humanitarian NGOs. Experience in implementing person-centered and gender-inclusive Security Risk Management processes. Relevant training (first aid, Women’s Security Awareness Training (WSAT), Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments (SSAFE), presentation skills, facilitation of training skills). Examples of having established networks with Host Government or other security actors from previous employment. Experience in effectively handling gender-based security incidents. Experience in delivering presentations and training.

Functional Skills

• FS-Security risk management
• FS-Field Security Operations
• FS-Security Planning
• FS-UN/UNHCR Rules, Regulations and Guidelines on Security Management
• FS-Crisis negotiation and Management
• FS-Security Analysis

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Communication
• Organizational Awareness
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Client & Result

• Advise and support the manager on all aspects of security risk management, crisis readiness and preparedness with regard to maintaining the safety and security of UNHCR personnel, operations, and facilities.
• Participate in the development or update of the Security Risk Management (SRM) process for designated areas and undertake security risk assessments/ad hoc SRM analysing security factors and levels of risk related to UNHCR activities and programmes.
• Monitor compliance with standards established through the SRM process.
• Ensure person-centered approaches are included in the SRM processes and that Security Risk Management Measures (SRMMs) are appropriate. Develop and update all relevant tools and processes to respond to gender-based security incidents.
• Develop specific UNHCR plans as well as contribute to the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) plans and planning for relocation/evacuation, medical evacuation and other contingencies, test plans in exercises or drills to ensure that personnel are familiar with contingency plans and can implement them effectively in an emergency.
• Ensure that security measures are fully integrated into operational planning, including budgetary provisions, at the earliest stages of development.
• Coordinate and assist in management of critical incidents and post-incident processes reporting to the manager, Senior Field Security Coordinator and FSS.
• As a member of a multi-functional team, contribute to efforts to ensure the physical protection and security of refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons by providing security assessments, analysis and advice in developing and implementing effective strategies which underpin the responsibilities of the host state.
• Develop and maintain relationships with security-related actors, including Host Government law enforcement authorities, the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), and other UNSMS security personnel ensuring UNHCR mandate and program activities are understood.
• Support UNHCR personnel serving as members of the country's Security Management Team (SMT), or Area Security Management Team (ASMT), Area Security Coordinators (ASC), and Wardens actively participating in relevant security cell representing UNHCR.
• Provide country-relevant, security advice and training which is person-centered and gender inclusive to UNHCR personnel, and where feasible to staff of NGOs and Partners in areas In line with UNSMS and UNHCR standards. Coordinate training with security management training unit of the Global Learning Development Centre.
• Prepare periodic analytical reports on security issues in accordance with UN and UNHCR standard operating procedures, sharing with managers in the country of assignment and as relevant the Senior Field Security Coordinator in the region and Field Security Section (FSS).
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision-making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
• Perform other related duties as required.

• FS-Security risk management
• FS-Field Security Operations
• FS-Security Planning
• FS-UN/UNHCR Rules, Regulations and Guidelines on Security Management
• FS-Crisis negotiation and Management
• FS-Security Analysis

• Security risk management experience in an international capacity.
• Proven experience in security analysis, security management or security training.
• Experience in high-risk/hardship environments.
• Experience working in or with humanitarian NGOs.
• Experience in implementing person-centered and gender-inclusive Security Risk Management processes.
• Relevant training (first aid, Women’s Security Awareness Training (WSAT), Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments (SSAFE), presentation skills, facilitation of training skills).
• Examples of having established networks with Host Government or other security actors from previous employment.
• Experience in effectively handling gender-based security incidents.
• Experience in delivering presentations and training.