Program Risk & Safety Coordinator (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the URL link provided)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Department Summary

The conflict in the Middle East continues unabated, millions of people across the region have been displaced from their homes and the number relying on humanitarian assistance continues to grow. With a large and complex portfolio of work across the region, Mercy Corps has established itself as an analytical, strategic and flexible responder, adapting continually to shifting front lines and operational realities to respond effectively and efficiently through multiple modalities with teams across the response region.  Mercy Corps has a large and diverse portfolio of work and a substantial team that works in multiple languages across multiple locations.

Position Summary

The incumbent will support risk and security management and will contribute to quality programming by ensuring situational awareness for  the partnership team members. S/he will closely track the context and developments in the Middle East and will work closely within the Safety and Security Team to develop analyses, draft procedures and plans, and assist in the handling of incidents affecting partners.

S/he will be the primary focal point for the Mercy Corps’ partnership program for  security management including incident reporting and provision of real time security support where assessed needed to implementing sub-partners. He/she will also support Mercy Corps’ partners as they develop their own security management systems and plans, including risk mapping, as well as capacity build on their understanding of training needs and methods to do so. He/she also needs to be able to understand and contextualize the capacity building and programming needs of the partners to the current security situation on the ground in the areas they operate.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Operational Security Management

• Liaise with the Area Director and Director of Country Risk, Security and Safety Management in order to transmit specific threats warnings to the partnership team. Be an active and key member of the partnership team risk management staff.
• Support the Area Director and Director of Country Risk, Security and Safety Management in assessing risks entailed in current and future programming through security/risk assessments on proposed areas of implementation and partners selected.
• Monitor and update triggers for emergency response in selected areas.
• Conduct briefs and check-ins with the Mercy Corps’ team on a regular basis to ensure compliance with existing Mercy Corps’ policies.
• Advise implementing partners when there are shifts in their operational security environment.
• Assess operational threats to Mercy Corps’ partnership operations and partner and participant safety.
• Act as the security & Risk focal point for reporting security related incidents to the Area Director and the Director of Country Risk, Security and Safety Management
• When directed and if required be part of the Regional incident management team for incidents pertaining to partnership security related incidents.
• Be part of the COVID 19 task force for Lebanon and act as a focal point for the hub in the regional coordination when needed.

Context/situation Monitoring and Reporting

• Stay informed about the security and security situation in partners’ areas of implementation.
• Produce Weekly report/analytical notes on recent developments in implementing areas and if relevant to partners’ operations. 
• Contribute to maintaining up-to-date risk mapping including on areas of conflict.

Scenario Mapping and Program Support

• Conduct short, medium, and long-term scenario mapping to aid the partnership team identify future areas of implementation.
• Provide support and Safety & Risk recommendations during the development of partner projects.
• Identify trends in areas of implementation to inform program design and implementation, contribute to the analysis of access and needs, where possible.
• Contribute to donor reporting and proposal developments as requested.

Information Risk Management

• Line manages the Information Risk Management Officer (IRMO) to implement organizational and project-specific digital security procedures for the partnership program.
• Work with the IRMO to facilitate safe communication channels for PSP team members.

Capacity Development

• Develop and maintain assessment tools to identify partners’ gaps in safety and security management, including risk mapping, capacity.
• Develop partner security management capacity together with the partnership Capacity Development team. Identify capacity gaps of local partners and identify training needs to ensure that minimum safety and security standards are applied across partner operations.
• Develop tools and templates, including training sessions/modalities, to support partner capacity development related to safety and security together with the partnership Capacity Development team.
• Support partners to develop safety and security management plans.
• Provide security briefs for Mercy Corps’ partnership staff on a regular basis.
• Supervise implementation of risk mitigation and security management measures and policies for partners.
• Work with the programs team to assist in development of security risk assessments for all new partner projects, providing operational needs oversight.
• Regularly communicate with partners to assist in their implementation of security/risk mitigation measures and other documentation.

Organizational Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Participants

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: Information Risk Management Officer, Humanitarian Context Researcher.

Accountability

Line Managed by:      Area Director

Technical Reporting Line to: DCRSSM (Director of Country Risk, Security and Safety Management)

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH:     Partners, Mercy Corps’ partnership team, Director of Program, Program team, Grants team

COLLABORATES WITH:     Humanitarian Access Team and Regional Security Department

Knowledge and Experience

• Excellent understanding of local dynamics and authorities in the Middle East.
• Relevant educational background. Consummate experience can be taken in lieu of an advanced third level degree.
• At least 4 years of relevant experience in the humanitarian or security/risk management sectors.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills
• At least one year of experience working in NGO and humanitarian agencies.
• Experience of managing security , safety & risk capacity development trainings.
• Strong interpersonal skills, particularly regarding liaison and training competencies.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles.
• Computer literate; strong MS-Excel and MS Word skills.
• Excellent spoken and written English and Arabic languages.
• Conscientious with an excellent sense of judgment.
• Strong organizational skills, and ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks.
• Knowledge of cyber and data security best practices.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will have the ability to identify and communicate security trends to departmental management in a way that effectively increases our safety, security and informs programming in a practical manner. Maintaining strong, cooperative relationships across departments is crucial. S/he will be able to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment. S/he will be a self-starter, take initiative and offer to assist in decision making processes that could benefit from a safety/security perspective.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

N/A

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.