Safety Access & Liaison Director

The Opportunity – Safety Access & Liaison Director

 

Post location:  Initially oPt – Gaza; Alternately West Bank/ Gaza thereafter

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: 18 months with possible extension. 

 

***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.***

 

***This role will be contingent upon securing available funds, and we might use this vacancy to fill more than one post.***

 

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Safety and Security Director has the responsibility of maintaining a secure environment for all staff members and programs including providing guidance to partners and stakeholders. S/he will achieve this by developing, establishing and enforcing safety and security policies as well as access procedures referencing global safety and security trends and issues and ensure compliance to the SCI global policies and procedures. 

 

Additionally, the Director will support risk management efforts, assessing threats, advising on security risk management; ensuring complete documentation of policies, procedures, lessons learned and actions taken and ensuring that field working practices are robust and that all staff are aware of, trained in, and adhere to these policies and procedures including but not limited to fire safety, emergency management and asset protection. 

 

The post holder is also primary responsible for negotiating and securing the movement and access of staff, goods, and in certain circumstances partners and beneficiaries, to all areas of operations in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. The post holder serves also as the primary interface with relevant UN and government authorities – Israeli and Palestinian, including de-facto authorities. These include police, militaries, civil defense or civilian/military infrastructure to secure the space for the organization to deliver humanitarian and development programmes to children in need.

 

The Safety and Security Director plays a key role in crisis management team and has to ensure the safety and security (S&S) related incidents are reported and managed through the SCI Datix system. They act as direct liaison with the Regional Security Director MEEE.

 

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly. 

 

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Country Director

Dotted Line: Regional Security Director MEEE and Gaza Humanitarian Director

Staff directly reporting to this post: Safety and Security Managers in the field offices and will work closely with Security Focal Points (SFP) in the Gaza and West Bank Field Offices. 

Country Dimensions: oPt CO is a high complexity country, multi-member interest, with an annual budget of around $35+m, and approximately 120+ staff. Currently the program is experiencing a growth in funding and complexity due to the war in Gaza. 

 

 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

As a member of the Senior Management Team, your key areas of accountability include the following: 

• Lead the Staff Safety and Security as well as Access Coordination
• Ensure that the Country Office complies with all Save the Children Staff Safety and Security Management Operating Standards and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ensure that all required safety support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies, while working closely with the Regional Office 

 

In your role as Access Liaison Officer with local and national authorities, you will: 

• Play a key role in facilitating principled engagement and strengthen partnerships with the government. 
• Support engagement and collaborative relationship-building between SCI and the relevant authorities, government ministries and administrations.
• Be responsible for maintaining, further developing, and growing SCI’s existing network and communication channels. 

 

Regarding Staff Safety & Access Policies and Procedures, your responsibilities include: 

• Ensure timely review and updates of all Staff Safety, Security and Risk Management compliance documentation, including but not limited to; SSMP, IMP/ CMP, SOPs, G