Local Security Associate

1. General Background

Background Information – UNOPS

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

Background Information – PSC (Peace and Security Cluster)

For over 20 years, UNOPS Peace and Security Cluster (PSC) has provided portfolio and project management services in the area of mine action and explosive hazards, that are reinforced by comprehensive management and oversight controls.

Under this umbrella, the Cluster is responsible for the implementation of projects that, through the engagement of inputs such as personnel, third parties, assets and other resources, deliver activities that produce substantive mine action outputs.

Project management is conducted in line with UNOPS Project Management Manual (PMM), which incorporates best practices in the field, as well with a view to quality and cross-cutting initiatives such as workforce and talent management; knowledge and information management; health, safety, social and environmental management; gender parity and mainstreaming; and diversity and inclusion. This comprehensive delivery platform is implemented in accordance with partner requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations through the leadership of the Cluster Director, who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of PSC on behalf of its clients.

Background Information – Country/Programme Specific

Recent assessments indicate widespread explosive ordnance contamination in Northern Ethiopia including Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions, especially in areas that have seen intense fighting. While the full extent and impact of the contamination is yet to be established, the fighting is believed to have contaminated vast swathes of land with explosive remnants of war (ERW). Moreover, explosive remnants of war (ERW) continue affecting the life of civilians, in recent months. ERW is spread across residential areas and internally displaced persons sites, in communal locations and amongst rubble, posing an immediate risk to life, the delivery of humanitarian aid, inhibiting safe movement, and preventing access to basic services.

The project aims to reduce the immediate and long-term impact of explosive ordnance on civilians and humanitarian operations in northern Ethiopia through coordination and explosive ordnance risk education. As lead of the mine action area of responsibility, ensuring MA contributes to improving the safety of at-risk communities by establishing a humanitarian mine action sector, capable of effectively delivering on the objectives of the Humanitarian Response Plan. The Mine Action Response Programme defines and implements specific activities in accordance with emerging humanitarian needs and through needs-based prioritization, involving an analysis of the explosive ordnance threat, IDPs movement, survey data, and the wider humanitarian response.

2. Functional Responsibilities

Reporting to the Operations Senior Officer – Quality Assurance, the Local Security Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNOPS rules and regulations and UN Security Management System policies. They are responsible for resolving security related issues and information exchange in a timely fashion. The Local Security Associate will perform the following duties:

• Conducts routine security assessments and prepare summaries and recommendation
• Gather, research, verify, and update security information and data required for
  • Proper analysis of the security situation, including preparedness and risks;
  • The development of the Security Plan and the Self-Assessment Programme for the mandatory mitigation measures.
• Maintains staff lists, and information related to UNOPS offices, residences, project sites, focal points, and the warden system for implementation of the Office/Operations Security Plan;
• Disseminate, relay, exchange and communicate information regarding the security situation in the country or areas of responsibility;
• Support in reporting online security incidents affecting UN staff, offices and assets;
• Provide support in conducting security evaluations and provide advice on security measures for the residences of UN staff (RSM), as well as on latest trends and threats to staff safety and security;
• Support in reporting security incidents affecting UNOPS staff, premises and assets, and assist in the preparation of security reports, such as the Security Incident Report (SSIR), survey reports and Security assessments;
• Support in the monitoring compliance with the Security Risk Management measures and Standard Operating Procedures established for the duty station;
• Contribute to the compilation of data required for the programme’s self-assessments;
• Provides oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.
• Provide general administrative assistance to the FSA;
• Maintain a statistical database of all security incidents in the country and analytical charts;
• Maintain a database on contact details in relation to host country security authorities;
• Help assess the security situation at the duty station and ensure adequate gathering and verification of security information that may be required for a proper analysis of the situation by the FSA;
• Maintain regular contacts with UNDSS and Security Focal Points Of UN agencies;
• Provide support in organizing and conducting training courses on security awareness and preparedness, and provide security orientation to newly assigned staff members;
• Undertakes routine follow up action on security issues on behalf of the supervisor and informs supervisor of status.
• Administratively supports the organization of training courses on security awareness and preparedness, and may participate as a resource.
• Conducts basic elements of security briefings to newly arrived staff, as required.
• Provides guidance and advice to personnel on routine security procedures, communication channels, and focal points.
• Administers security-clearance processes including requests for compound access.
• Conduct security briefings, as required;
• Maintain routine and confidential correspondence files/documents.
• Works closely with UNDSS and assist UNDSS in performing their overall coordination role providing information and support on issues related to UNOPS
• Organizes, facilitates and/or delivers training and learning initiatives for personnel on procurement
• Provides sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in procurement.
• Collects feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilizes productively.

3. Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master or equivalent);

OR

• First-level university degree (undergraduate, bachelor or equivalent) with two years of relevant experience;

OR

• Secondary school diploma (or high school equivalent) with six years of relevant experience.

Relevant certification in security-related studies is desired.

Work Experience:

• A minimum 6 years of relevant working experience in the areas of security or operations services in national or international, public or corporate organizations, including in the following areas: incident reporting, security administration support, security communication, telecommunication and warden system is required with a secondary school diploma. A Bachelor or Master degree may substitute for some of the required years of experience.
• Prior experience with the UN system or international NGOs is desired.
• Knowledge of Telecommunication (including HF and VHF) is desired.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license is required.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Amharic (speaking, reading, and writing) is required