Chief Security Adviser at United Nations

​​​​​​​Responsibilities

• Within delegated authority, the Chief Security Adviser may be responsible for the following duties:  
• Serves as principal Adviser to the Designated Official and/or Head of Mission and to the United Nations Security Management System organizations on all security risk management matters, security policies and procedures.  
• Serves as a member of the Security Management Team.
• Chairs the Security Cell, building consensus to ensure alignment and support for security operations and initiatives to best enable UN activities.
• Ensures forecasting of the evolving security environment and, the UN’s security and operational responses.
• Using analytical techniques and collaborative team research, supports planning and ensure awareness of the current trends to enhance or adjust security programmes. 
• Leads the development of inclusive risk management strategies and drives planning using situational awareness, critical thinking, and logic to detect and interpret early signals, emerging trends and analysis of multi-dimensional threats that may impact security. Identifies the strengths and weaknesses of different solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.  
• Leads the preparation, review and implementation of security planning, security risk management documents and security solutions through innovation and creativity.  Ensures written analysis of security trends and timely reporting of incidents.
• Participates in meetings, committees, and task forces, prepares papers on security issues, delivers briefings provides responses, as needed.
• Advises on, the inclusion of security in all stages of United Nations activities and programmes.
• Provides operational and strategic advice and support to line managers responsible for security. Enables the delivery of mandates and programmes through direct operational assistance.  
• Oversees complex security-related projects, prioritizing work to meet deadlines and following defined processes, policies, procedures and guidance, fostering alignment with colleagues and across organizations.
• Monitors and contributes to activities that relate to the implementation and evaluation of preparedness and compliance; drives results that help support operational efficiency and effectiveness. Guides the definition of policies, methodology and processes for the implementation of the substantive activities of the relevant teams, (Security team, Division, Unit or Section). • Ensures effective communication and trust through active collaboration, consultation and exchanges with UN system organizations and other stakeholders, for information sharing, coordination of responses, provision of security briefings, taking into account operational activities and risks.  
• Collaborates closely with peers and colleagues, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, and Host Government representatives.
• Strengthens awareness and capacity of personnel by supporting the development, updates and delivery of contextually relevant security training and advice.
• Ensures the conduct of security surveys and assessments, creatively leveraging tools and processes, identifying and recommending simple, reasonable, inclusive, effective and efficient security measures, including when there is incomplete, contradictory and/or fluid information.
• Ensures implementation and maintenance of a functioning Security Communication System.
• Ensures conduct of budget, finance and logistical planning for the security office and participation in relevant United Nations administration, finance, and logistics forums. Supports resource mobilization.
• Leads and manages the security team, develops strategic goals, objectives, plans for the delivery of the substantive activities of the unit or section and implements corresponding outputs; anticipates human resources needs through workforce planning; assesses performance and supports the development of security personnel under his/her supervision.
• Ensure implementation of departmental approaches to mainstreaming gender, diversity and inclusion into all aspects of the work as well as ensuring the implementation of people-centred security risk management approaches considering specific threats or vulnerabilities of personnel and adapting practices and measures in support of diversity and inclusion.
• Performs other functions as directed.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Demonstrates respect and sensitivity towards diversity in all its forms, in all cultural, gender and religious settings.
• Contributes to an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; places confidence in and builds trust with colleagues and stakeholders.  
• Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, including self-awareness and contextual intelligence.
• Shows openness to learning and commitment to self-development. Identifies issues, researches, collects data, demonstrates situational awareness, conceptual analytical and evaluative skills and participates in the resolution of issues/problems demonstrating critical thinking, perceptiveness, judgement and decision-making.
• Demonstrates an ability to implement policies. Ability to make quick decisions in emergencies or when rapid response is needed.
• Communicates complex concepts effectively both verbally and in writing. Shows pride in work and in achievements.
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Shows ability to prioritize, manage, and implement multiple high-level projects in a timely manner, even in fast-changing contexts.  
• Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns.  
• Takes ownership of accountability and supports strategies to ensure compliance with all security risk management decisions and regulations.
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.  

Communication:  

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.  

Client Orientation:  

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.  

Leadership:

• Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Takes responsibility for incorporating different perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.  

Managing Performance:

• Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, political/social science, psychology, criminal justice, law, international relations, security management or a related field is required.
• A relevant first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A first-level university degree may be substituted with a diploma from a police or military education institution, college or academy obtained over a minimum of a three-year period.