Senior Safety & Security Officer - Shortlisting on a Rolling basis (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.

The Program / Department / Team

Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth. Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. Our programs focus on four outcome areas across the humanitarian-development nexus: economic opportunities, access to food, water security and peace and good governance. The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 50 staff working throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, North Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

In this dynamic operational context, ensuring the safety and security of our staff and partners is critical to effective programming. The Senior Safety & Security Officer (SSO) is a key member of the team and plays a central role in enabling safe access to field sites while fostering a strong culture of security awareness and risk mitigation across the country.

The Position

The SSO is responsible for the overall safety and security of Mercy Corps team members and assets in Lebanon. Reporting to the Multi-Country Safety and Security Coordinator (MCSSC) and working closely with the Regional Security Advisor (RSA), the SSO will ensure the development, implementation, and adaptation of safety systems, tools, and protocols that reflect the evolving context in Lebanon. This includes conducting regular risk assessments, delivering training, supporting incident response, and ensuring that staff across the country are empowered with the knowledge and tools to operate safely and effectively.

Essential Responsibilities

Security Monitoring and Context Analysis

• Maintain up-to-date analysis of the national and regional context with an emphasis on security, political developments, and access constraints.
• Monitor developments through formal and informal networks, including security platforms, government sources, INGO security forums, and local contacts.
• Provide regular reports and briefings to senior leadership on key trends and risks.

Security Planning and Systems

• Ensure Mercy Corps Lebanon has updated Security Management Plans (SMPs), site-specific SOPs, and risk matrices for all operational locations.
• Coordinate with HR to ensure onboarding briefings for all new hires and short-term visitors within the first 24 hours of arrival.
• Maintain and test emergency communications systems, including the constant companion and communications tree.
• Conduct facility and movement risk assessments and ensure travel and activity planning includes security risk mitigation.

Training and Capacity Building

• Lead safety and security inductions and refresher sessions tailored to different roles and responsibilities.
• Facilitate periodic simulations (e.g., fire drills, evacuation exercises, hibernation drills) to ensure preparedness.
• Support the professional development of field-based Security Focal Points (SFPs) and build team-wide risk awareness.

Incident Response and Reporting

• Serve as the primary responder to security incidents, coordinating directly with leadership, staff, and the RSSA.
• Ensure systematic tracking and reporting of all incidents, including lessons learned and mitigation measures.
• Coordinate with International SOS or similar providers for international staff support and medical evacuation planning.
• Ensure adequate actions are taken including reporting and coordination with the country and regional teams as needed based on the established country SoPs and MC global and regional security protocols.

Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS)

• Ensure MOSS compliance for all Mercy Corps facilities and vehicles.
• Conduct regular safety audits and follow-up with operations for corrective action.
• Verify that all locations have functional fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and emergency supplies.

Coordination and Representation

• Maintain relationships with local security contacts, government authorities, UN agencies, and other NGOs for joint security initiatives and risk management.
• Coordinate movement plans with the Ministry of Defense and Lebanese Armed Forces as needed.
• With support from the MCSSA contribute to the notification system deployed in Lebanon to ensure deconfliction of movements and location as needed.

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Multi-Country Safety and Security Coordinator.

Works Directly With: Regional Safety & Security Advisor, Lebanon Country Manager, Multi-Country Director of Programs, Program teams and support departments.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• High school diploma and significant experience in safety/security roles OR bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Strong understanding of Lebanese security dynamics and humanitarian access constraints.
• At least 4 years’ experience in security management, preferably with INGOs or UN agencies.
• Experience conducting security risk assessments and developing incident response plans.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills; ability to train and influence across departments.
• Fluency in Arabic and professional proficiency in English.
• Internal or former Mercy Corps staff are highly encouraged to apply.

Success Factors

The ideal candidate is proactive, decisive, and solution-oriented. They thrive in dynamic environments and can assess risks while enabling access for humanitarian activities. A strong collaborator, they foster trust across teams and act quickly and calmly in emergencies. They are committed to inclusion, learning, and modeling Mercy Corps’ values in their work.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Beirut, with frequent travel to field sites in Lebanon. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency during and outside work hours and are expected to uphold the organization’s values at all times.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).