Safety and Security Officers-Nigeria at Search For Common Ground’s International

Niger Delta

Position Summary

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 Search Nigeria is seeking a Safety and Security Officer who will be responsible for implementing all policies and procedures regarding security & safety and promoting its day to day management for Search in the Niger Delta. They will continuously assess the safety / security environment and devise risk reduction measures as needed in coordination with Safety and Security Manager (SSM). This full time position is for 5 months initially, and subject to performance and funding availability, may be extended for up to a year.

The Safety and Security Officer will be based in our Delta or Bayelsa office with frequent travel to field. S/he will report to the Safety and Security Manager and work closely with the Head of Offices (HOOs) of each region and the Admin/Procurement Manager. 

Roles and Responsibility

• Work closely with SSM to ensure security strategies for Search Nigeria and that response are appropriate and aligned with regional and global priorities.
• Deliver oversight of security prevention, preparation, and response and recovery activities, particularly in their respective offices and to counter threats emerging from changing political, social and economic situations.
• Support in developing, reviewing and ensuring effective implementation of the Search Nigeria Security Management Plans, SOPs/Contingency Plans, including a security plan in assigned offices, together with key staff
• Ensure that all safety and security management systems are in line with existing Search security policy, protocol and approach
• Implement and ensure effective monitoring of a personnel and vehicle tracking system in each office.
• Support the SSM in planning and implementing risk mitigation strategies (acceptance, deterrence, p
• Ensure that appropriate safety and security systems are in place to provide timely and accurate security information to all staff members and visitors.
• Provide crisis management support (evacuation and hibernation) as required.
• Be readily available at all times to the HOOs and field staff to advice on security developments.
• Maintain an updated Search staff contact list and security notification tree and test the tree on a regular basis.
• Conduct regular site visits to field sites to assess safety/security arrangements.
• SSO will work closely with Search program staff to facilitate easy access to program location, conduct regular security risk assessment of  Search program location and facilities
• The SSO will further assist the SSM in building up the capacity, awareness and preparedness of staff to deal with security-related risks, threats and incidents through the delivery of high quality, regular trainings or briefings to staff   and Search visitors within the area of responsibility
• Supervise and liaise on a daily basis with the contracted guards to ensure the guard force is trained and aware of Search SOPs and are effectively enforcing the required regulations.

Analysis:

• Report, analyze and communicate current socio-political context and the security situation and the wider context (country, region, global trends as applicable).
• Ensure compliance with the incident reporting system, prepare weekly reports for the Field offices and update data on available incident data tools.
• and ensuring that the incident register is updated regularly.
• Conduct ongoing threat assessments and compile daily/weekly situation reports/monthly security analysis and ensures that the information is shared on a timely manner.

Networking:

• She/He will develop a wide web of relevant contacts of stakeholders to engage with positively to address access challenges, collate and disseminate relevant security information
• Attend security & emergency related briefings and meetings and share security related information with third party security and risk management service providers.
• As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.

Qualifications 

 Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science or a related discipline 

Required Experience

• 2-3 years of relevant experience at the national or international NGOs in safety and security functions
• Experience in liaising with communities, civilians, police and/or military government authorities as well as with regional institutions preferred.

Other Requirements

• Resident in Delta or Bayelsa state is an added advantage
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
• Good context analysis skills.
• Competent and literate in local language of North East/ Niger Delta Nigeria, verbal and written, with a sound knowledge of technical expressions 
• Willingness to travel at short notice, and often in difficult circumstances.
• Highly organized and systematic with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication and working skills, enjoys a multicultural work environment;
• Ability in Training and facilitation skill using different training media
• Ability to conduct regular mock drills in all offices (e.g. fire drill, evacuation, etc.)

Note: This position is only open to Nigerian national.