Security Officer

 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 security issues within the programme 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 personal and visitors. An important aspect of the role is mitigation and risk reduction through briefings, training and enforcing security protocols. Project Overview: Medair’s Syria Response programme is based in Lebanon and Jordan, supporting refugees. To assist, Medair in Lebanon is distributing shelter kits and other essential items, carrying out site improvements with flood and fire mitigation training in informal settlements, mapping refugee movements and supporting social development and primary health care centres in the Bekaa valley. Major Duties and Responsibilities •Provide technical support, as required, to field management during context and situational assessments to help develop an understanding of the issues that can affect security (e.g. culture, ethnicity, politics, religion, economics, crime, social issues, etc.) •Conduct or support teams in conducting, risk, threat and vulnerability assessments •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 •Consolidate existing and/or develop 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 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 •Liaise regularly with the HQ Security Advisor Training •Brief new staff and visitors on relevant security issues, providing refresher training as required •Source and recommend relevant 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 Person specification •University degree or relevant qualification in security management in an insecure environment •Post-qualification security management experience, preferably in an NGO setting •Experience in liaising with government and military authorities •Experience in training / coaching staff •Good understanding of humanitarian context  within Bekaa valley •Working knowledge of HF and VHF radio communication, satellite phones and other standard office equipment •Good communication skills, particularly in handling sensitive information •Team-player with good inter-personal skills • Able to build trust and enforce procedures • Able to assimilate and analyse large amounts of information • Able to work under pressure and prioritise clearly • Creative, open-minded, flexible, self-learner