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

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.

Safeguarding Responsibilities:

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work including with external stakeholders and direct reports if applicable
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps as detailed in the Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies including respecting the dignity and well-being of community participants and fellow staff members
• Holds themselves accountable for making appropriate decisions that impact community members and team members
• Takes responsibility for their personal and professional behaviour 
• Encourages openness, transparency and communication in their team; encourages team members to make any reports if they have any concerns using internal reporting mechanisms (i.e. Integrity Hotline, HR etc.)
• Demonstrates a high level of integrity and treats others with respect.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Safety & Security in Lebanon (35%)

• Serve as the primary focal point for safety and security in the partnership office in Beirut.
• Ensure Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) are up to date, known by all staff and systematically applied.
• Within the office ensure daily cooperation with all support departments including HR & Ops, to facilitate the application of safety and security standards. 
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive Security Management Plan (SMP) in coordination with the MC Lebanon Office (MCLB).
• Ensure all contingency planning are up to date, tested and implementable, in coordination with Programme Director (PD) and MCLB. 
• Serve as primary interlocutor to the Country Security Manager (CSM) for any routine communication and escalation, both within office time and outside business hours. 
• Regularly conduct training, drills and simulation exercise for all office staff, including on fire safety, communication tree, cyber-security, etc.
• Monitor regulatory, reputational and operational landscape for INGOs in Lebanon and advise the PD and CSM accordingly. 
• Maintain bilateral and multilateral communication with other I/NGO Security focal points and stay abreast of all socio-political developments.
• Update staff on security and operational constraints inside Lebanon, and provide associated safety and security guidance.

Hub/Program Security (55%)

Program Support

• Ensure all partnership program-specific risk analysis and risk management documentation is up to date, including Security Risk Assessment (SRA) tools at country, local, and programmatic levels.
• Support on all programme-related needs for security and risk management documentation, including during proposal phases, regular reporting and all business-development item.
• Provide insights to identify new areas of programming and associated threats/constraints.

Operation Security

• In line with programme managers, monitor the security environment and inform partner of any emerging risk or incident within areas of operation.
• Review partner security documentation and provide technical guidance to meet Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS).
• In line with the above, develop and implement a coherent capacity building strategy for partners. 
• Engage with PAQ and monitors to ensure appropriate operational security support is provided including assessing risk for movement and ensuring adequate tracking.
• Ensure all security SOPs are up to date, known by all staff and systematically applied, including on communication, firewalling and alias. 
• Ensure any relevant incident is systematically reported, in a timely manner, to the relevant stakeholders, in line with Incident Reporting protocols (IR).  

Context Monitoring

• Follow all socio-political and security developments in-country and neighboring countries, inform CSM and PD accordingly.
• Provide in-depth briefing to new joiners, and ad-hoc requesters (including regional and HQ staff), onto the risk environment and security set up, along with relevant mapping and presentation tools. 
• Contribute staff contextual understanding, though regular updates, both verbal and in writing, including weekly forums. 

Ad-hoc Support (10%)

• Contribute to capacity building and security needs on demand.
• Liaise with the coordination forum to ensure operational readiness and security requirements.
• Engage with the crisis analysis team to mutualise analysis, context monitoring and resources.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability

Line Managed by: Partnership Director 

Technical Reporting Line to: Country Security Director

Works Directly With: Partners, Mercy Corps’ partnership team, Director of Program, program team, grants team

Collaborates With:  Crisis Analysis 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

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.