Security & Liaison Manager

PRESENTATION OF THE ORGANIZATION

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian NGO which, for more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their vital needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly involved in the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the first cause of death in the world, SI's interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in around twenty countries, SI's teams - 2000 people in total made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at headquarters, and a few volunteers - work with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultures.

Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of SEAH.

Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.

Solidarites International (SI) is supporting vulnerable populations in Lebanon since 2013. The base in Zahle opened in 2016, the sub-base in Ras Baalbek in 2024. SI programs are articulated around its two historical pillars: WASH and FSL, and are expending to Shelter and Disaster Risk Reduction as well.

From Zahle and Ras-Baalbek, SI is delivering emergency, recovery and development programs across Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, Mount Lebanon and the north of Nabatiyeh governorates. SI aims to consolidate its presence in the northern part of the Bekaa Valley.

SI team in Zahle and Ras-Baalbek is composed of more or less 30 dedicated employees, depending of the ongoing projects. The Ras-Baalbek sub-base currently hosts 6 employees.

DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION

General objective:

Under the direct supervision of the  Field Coordinator Bekaa Valley, the role of the Security and Liaison Manager is to liaise and engage, internally and externally, with relevant stakeholders in order to maintain and expand SI's access to vulnerable populations while ensuring that the security analyses and protocols remain adapted and implemented.

The main challenges:

• Expansion to new areas of intervention with new stakeholders
• Various types of administrative autorisations and meetings required, at local and national level, to implement SI's activities
• This position requires a high level of diplomacy,  interpersonal skills and self-control

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

• Design of the access strategy and production of the actors mapping
• Conduct a comprehensive security assessment in the new areas of intervention, identification of the threats and of the mitigation measures
• Engagement with the relevant actors in existing and new areas of intervention

Responsibilities and main activities:

List of main activities:

• Establish and maintain relationships with municipal authorities and key stakeholders.
• Facilitate coordination between SI and local/national authorities.
• Ensure smooth access to intervention areas through liaison efforts.
• Conduct security and risk assessments in operational areas.
• Monitor and report on security threats and incidents.
• Implement and enforce SI security policies and protocols.
• Coordinate with UN agencies, NGOs, and security networks for security updates.
• Support incident response, evacuation procedures, and staff safety measures.
• Accompany SI leadership and donors to field visits and official meetings.
• Report on field-level challenges affecting SI programming.
• Manage and disseminate security communications and updates.
• Troubleshoot access and operational issues related to SI activities.
• Provide strategic analysis of local political and security dynamics.
• Ensure follow-ups on meetings with municipal authorities.

Responsibilities (Specific Tasks):

General responsibilities

Coordination with municipalities and stakeholders:

• Assists in the establishment of close working relations with officials in Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Social Affairs.
• Acts on behalf of the Field Coo, Deputy or Head of Mission when needed to explain SI’s positions to Municipalities
• Establish and maintain functional relationships with municipal authorities in T5 and Akkar where SI has programming activities.
• Ensure that SI programmatic needs are communicated to municipal authorities according to the directives of SI management.
• Communicate the needs and issues facing the municipal offices where SI works.

Security:

• Assist in Implementing SI’s safety and Security policies at office level
• Conduct regular security and risk assessments to identify safety and security needs
• Immediately report all breaches of safety and security procedures and all threats to SI staff, beneficiaries, activities or assets.
• Participate in staff evacuation in emergency situations
• Liaise with UN agencies, NGOs and other external actors to gain security information
• Ensure vehicle and staff movements are monitored according to procedures and that necessary safety and security equipment are available and in good condition
• Prepare security updates to the field coo and reports as required.
• Coordinate closely with the Security and Liaison Manager(s) in other bases and subbases.

Action-related Responsibilities

• Accompany Field Coordinators, Head of Mission, Donors and headquarters visitors to Sites visits and Governments/Municipalities  
• Report on issues arising in the field related to SI programming.
• Provide written accounts of interactions with municipal officers.
• To be aware of SI programming in order to provide briefs to members of the community when necessary.
• Ensure follow-up with regard to action items from meetings with municipalities.
• Troubleshooting and/or investigation of issues arising from SI programming activities.
• Support in the implementation and ensure compliance to SI security framework
• Represent SI in relevant UN/INGO/NGO/security forums.
• Support in providing updated strategic analysis of local political, social and/or military context, analyse and assess possible development and impact on current and new SI operations and environment.
• By close monitoring of the security environment, troubleshoot, explore and adapt new and/or additional risk mitigation strategies (acceptance, deterrence, protection) in order to improve access.
• Liaison and security focal point also acts as a point of contact for staff to present their security and safety concerns to management in formal (and if necessary confidential) way.
• Assist in preparing and ensuring incident reports are submitted in a timely fashion.
• As part of regular update base meetings, give ideally weekly liaison and security briefings updates on latest developments.
• Support the management of the Security communication “WhatsApp group” and ensure that security messages is disseminated to all SI staff.

The above list is a non-exhaustive one, nor limitative.

The Security and Liaison Manager may be asked to drive SOL cars and respecting the driving policies set by the logistic department and attached to this document.

The Security and Liaison Manager could be asked other responsibilities and tasks within the framework of his/her job on demand of the line Manager.

Other responsibilities and tasks within the framework of this position may be assigned in the course of the project by the Line manager.

Reporting/Communication:

• The SLM should be able to clearly develop its analysis or to develop SOPs and policies in clear, structured and documented deliverables.
• The SLM will be responsible to draft the access strategy based on its knowledge and analyses, to orient SI's modality of interventions based on the access and risk analyses and therefore significantly impact the overall strategy of the base.

ORG CHART POSITION (reporting and functional relationships)

Line manager: Field Coordinator

Line Report(s) NA

Functional Manager: Field Coordinator

Functional Report(s): NA

Functional Coordination: Security & Liaison Manager(s) in the other bases

PROFILE NEEDED

Studies : Experience and interpersonal skills will prevail over academic titles.

Bachelor Degree in social sciences/communication/law/political sciences/international relationships, or a similar field is desirable.

Experience : 2 to 4 years

Language : Arabic, English

IT : Office 365

Qualification : Risk Analysis, Operational Security, Incident Management, Good understanding of the Lebanese Political Dynamic, Diplomacy…

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post :  1,925 USD as basic salary

Vacation : 1.75 paid leave per month

Social and medical cover

We actively encourage women to seize opportunities, break barriers, and excel in their careers. Join our team, where your skills, ideas, and contributions will be valued and nurtured, fostering a culture of inclusivity and empowerment.