Country Security Director at Chemonics International

Location: Abuja, Nigeria with frequent travel to other states.
Duration of Assignment: Long-Term Full-Time (5 days per week) for the life of the Country program.

Background

• The Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project in Nigeria is a USAID funded program implemented by Chemonics International. The purpose of GHSC-PSM is to ensure uninterrupted supplies of health commodities in support of U.S. government-funded public health initiatives around the world.
• The project provides direct procurement and supply chain management support to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and USAID’s family planning and reproductive health program.
• To support U.S. government-funded global health activities, GHSC-PSM manages a wide array of health commodity procurement services and provides related systems-strengthening technical assistance encompassing all elements of a comprehensive supply chain. The GHSC-PSM program operates in all 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
• The Global Fund Warehousing and Distribution services project in Nigeria is a contract with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis (GF). Under this contract, 6 dedicated personnel and 122 GHSC-PSM staff provide routine warehousing and distribution services for Global Fund-procured HIV and malaria health commodities alongside PEPFAR and PMI, via the GHSC-PSM operational platform.
• Additionally, the contract provides the following services: NISRN state monitoring, sample collection and result return, malaria data management, distribution for mass LLIN campaigns, waste collection and destruction, monitoring and reporting on supply chain services, and cross-functional donor and governmental coordination. The Global Fund contract covers all 36 states in Nigeria and the FCT for HIV, and 13 high burden states for malaria.
• The GHSC-PSM team in Nigeria is continuing to develop an understanding of the complex environment and threats associated with working across Nigeria. In an effort to facilitate this process and proactively address the complex and fluid security environment in Nigeria, Chemonics is hiring a Country Security Director (CSD) to lead the management and further development of the security platform for the GHSC-PSM and the GF projects in Nigeria.

Position Objective

• The CSD will be responsible for managing and continuing to develop the existing security platform which supports all GHSC-PSM and GF project operations in Nigeria.
• S/he will develop a strong understanding of Chemonics corporate security policies and procedures and apply these in a consistent and thoughtful manner to the specific requirements of the GHSC-PSM and GF programs in Nigeria.
• The CSD will also supervise and build the capacity of two regional security managers and a security associate to ensure regular coordination and consistency of security procedures across Nigeria.
• S/he will be responsible for building and enhancing strategic relationships with key government ministries (e.g. Nigeria Ministry of Defense) and the Nigerian security sector, including local security professionals, NGO/IP security managers, security forces, the U.S. Embassy RSO, and the USAID Security Liaison.
• S/he must also be able work with and coordinate with various stakeholders in country and the Chemonics Home Office, while demonstrating sound judgment and a high level of discretion.
• The CSD will also act as the primary technical manager for all security subcontracts under the GHSC-PSM and GF projects in Nigeria and be responsible for supporting the operations team in the administration of security subcontracts.
• The CSD will report directly to the PSM/GF Nigeria Country Director and indirectly report to the Washington DC based Security Management Unit (SMU) Director.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the management and continuous improvement of the security platform. Develop and improve upon existing comprehensive and realistic security protocols for program operations in all 36 states and the FCT of Nigeria that are compliant with Chemonics safety and security policies and procedures. Work closely with the project technical and operations teams to create tailored processes to protect project staff, assets, and commodities.
• Provide leadership to the existing GHSC-PSM security team. Supervise two local security advisors and a security associate on a daily basis, expand their technical skillsets, and improve the overall performance of the security team.
• Build and enhance security relationships. Establish relationships with local law enforcement, civil authorities and development organizations. In coordination with the projects’ senior leadership, continue rigorous liaising and network­ing with appropriate international security sources, other donors, and their projects. The objectives are to be well-informed of risks and best practices, build strategic and tactical alliances that support project goals, cultivate the flow of timely and actionable information, and continue to establish Chemonics’ leadership in the security community.
• Provide strategic guidance, and management for special secu­rity re­quirements. These include but are not limited to general and facility security assessments; event security; security for staff traveling in and around Nigeria; support for regional assessments and/or project movements in risk areas; and any situation that might threaten the safety of staff and operations. Make recommendations for security enhancements and ensure that approved recommendations are implemented.
• Manage Security Provider Performance. Manage security subcontractors and optimize the subcontractor’s performance with actions that include inspections and audits, ensuring compliance with requirements defined in the subcontract SOW, guidance and instructions for remedial actions, and oversight to ensure effective and efficient use of resources. Particularly, work closely with the home office Global Health and Supply Chain Office (GHSCO) Security Director to educate the security providers to Chemonics’ programmatic approach and methodology.
• Conduct incident and situation reporting. Reach out to staff and contacts for local and regional updates on security. Compile and disperse timely and accurate security updates, recommendations for changes in posture, and other relevant information to the senior management team (SMT) and/or staff in-person or via e-mail, phone, or SMS. Oversee the writing and transmission of security alerts for emerging situations and report all security-related incidents involving Chemonics staff to the appropriate parties. Provide reports as requested to the SMT that captures major events and any impact on staff or program delivery. Provide guidance with threat information and recommendations on travel prior to any field trips outside of Abuja, including area specific emergency contact information (local hospitals, police stations, etc.).
• On an activity-by-activity basis, implement the capability to operate safely. In coordination with the SMT, manage the implementation and quality control of security policies and the standard operating procedures. This includes ensuring sound security plans that enable the mission while meeting Chemonics standards; problem solving specific security issues; determining resource requirements; and vetting and selection of security resources for a constantly improving platform.
• Manage the Chemonics security management platform. Lead Chemonics crisis and incident management preparations and response in Nigeria, in coordination with other projects’ senior leadership. In this regard: update, as appropriate, the project emergency action plans and corresponding business continuity plans to ensure a fail-safe emergency communications system; clear emergency duties and responsibilities; and systems that foster fast, deliberate, and coordinated team responses.
• Conduct scenario training and test exercises and ensure emergency continuity. Act as local incident coordinator. Facilitate training as required, and periodic drills at each project office and residential location; including hotel lodging for short term staff. Ensure all staff are briefed on all safety and security considerations for project personnel arriving in country from overseas-to include information on security risks and relevant incidents in the field.
• Strengthen project staff security skills and habits. Recommend staff training program and monitor completion and compliance. This includes regular briefings, security guidelines, communication procedures, travel precautions, emergency procedures and movement restrictions (as needed).
• Oversee the drafting and implementation of GHSC-PSM safety and security SOPs. In coordination with senior project management, the home office SMU, and program technical leads for warehousing and transportation develop robust policies and procedures to safeguard staff and commodities through the entirety of the supply chain in Nigeria.

Qualifications

• Nigerian citizen/resident required;
• Strong contextual knowledge of the security environment in Nigeria;
• 10 or more years of experience in security management and oversight of security platforms;
• Demonstrated ability to generate and leverage network connections in Nigeria to promote an accurate and timely understanding of the security context in Nigeria;
• Prior professional experience working in law enforcement or military coupled with private sector work experience preferred;
• Proven ability to successfully manage a diverse team and build their capacity to implement more effective security activities and policies
• Knowledge of U.S. government, USAID, and GF processes and regulations preferred;
• Well-connected with local Nigerian authorities and international NGOs operating in Nigeria, as well as possessing a high ability to build strategic relationships and expand network;
• Proven expertise in Nigerian security issues, including current threat environment, security policy, key actors, risk assessment, and best practices;
• Experience providing security oversight to an international donor program desirable;
• Ability to report to and coordinate with multiple stakeholders, both internal and external;
• Demonstrated project management experience
• Demonstrated ability to design and write sophisticated security management documents
• Experience in training civilians on safety and security measures;
• Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills;
• Fluency in English is required.

Reporting:

• The Country Security Director will report directly to the Nigeria PSM/GF Country Director with an in-direct reporting line to the GHSCO SMU Director.
• The CSD will conduct check-ins with the Chemonics home office SMU on a weekly basis.
• The Chemonics SMU will provide overall strategic support to the Nigeria PSM security platform and will serve as the key focal point for decisions that impact the entire security platform and in cases of emergency.
• The CSD and Chemonics SMU will also maintain open communication with the Chemonics home office Project Management Unit (PMU) regarding any impact that security related matters will have on project implementation.
• The CSD shall include the Chemonics SMU and PSM Nigeria and GF PMU on any communications with security subcontractors that have implications regarding the cost and/or performance of the subcontract.