The Position:
The Office of the Security Coordinator (OSC) at UNFPA Headquarters, New York, coordinates and leads the organization’s global response to safety and security, enabling the Executive Director”s strategic direction regarding the safety and security of UNFPA personnel, property, and assets. OSC provides technical advice, guidance, and support in implementing security policies and procedures to the Executive Director, senior managers, and personnel to fulfill their security-related accountabilities. OSC also leads the organization”s Business Continuity Management (BCM) preparation, validation, and testing of Business Continuity Plans (BCPs).
The key functions of the Office of the Security Coordinator are:
a. Enable the delivery of activities guided by the 1994 Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) targets and objectives, the UNFPA Strategic Plan, in compliance with United Nations and UNFPA safety and security policies and procedures;
b. Coordinate strategic corporate safety and security management policies and procedures internally within the organization and with external partners.
c. Mainstream safety and security in organizational programs and activities;
d. Lead crisis management, preparedness, and business continuity management for UNFPA offices globally in support of managers in their respective geographic areas of responsibility.
e. Lead the corporate Business Continuity Management (BCM), oversee the preparation, validation, and testing of Business Continuity Plans (BCPs).
f. Represent UNFPA at the UN Security Management Policy Forums to ensure the organization”s specific interests and needs are incorporated in security policies and procedures.
Regional Security Advisers (RSAs), located in each Regional Office, are members of the OSC team and undertake these activities within their respective areas of responsibility.
The RSA reports directly to the Chief, OSC on security policy, technical, and administrative matters, and works closely with the Regional Director as the substantive safety and security expert. As a senior member of the regional management team, the RSA provides strategic and technical advice to regional and country leadership, programme managers, DSS, UN agencies, funds and programmes, and external partners to support informed risk decisions and effective security risk management in line with the UN Framework of Accountability and UNFPA Security Accountability Policy.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person”s potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results
Job Purpose:
- Effective implementation of Security Risk Management (SRM), Business Continuity Management in UNFPA activities and operations conducted in compliance with applicable policies and procedures;
- Strengthened crisis preparedness and management at regional and country offices;
- Continued and enhanced program efficiency and delivery through situational analysis, updated contingency response plans, and security risk management compliance levels for all offices;
- Safety and security considerations, including implementation costs for security mitigation measures, are mainstreamed into programmatic activities.
- Effective and efficient gender mainstreaming in security and crisis/emergency management;
- Enhanced collaboration with internal and external partners in support of common goals and objectives;
You would be responsible for:
Within delegated authority and the given operational set-up, the incumbent may be accountable for all or assigned parts of the following typical duties to provide a coordinated and cohesive approach to the development and/or improvement of processes related to Security Risk Management and Business Continuity Management throughout the designated region:
A. Security Coordination – Enable Delivery of UNFPA Mandate:
- Provide advice and assistance to the Regional Director, the Regional Humanitarian Advisor, and the CO Representatives to enable them to carry out their safety and security functions throughout the region;
- Advise the Regional Director, the Regional Humanitarian Adviser, and senior management on steps needed with regard to multi-country or regional security challenges;
- Provide feedback to CO Representatives on the geo-security environment and key political dynamics that have the potential to impact program delivery, on security aspects of sitreps and other relevant program documents, and on issues with potential impacts on the security of UNFPA personnel and program delivery;
- Update the UNFPA Chief, OSC on security and political developments in the region;
- Participate in the selection of Security personnel (security specialists, assistants, guard services, and related security services) and provide guidance on the related training to each category.
- Assist CO Representatives, Heads of Offices, and International/Operations Managers who have direct oversight of security personnel and guard services at the Country Office level and support them on matters related to recruitment and performance evaluation of security personnel or security service providers;
- Assist the Regional Director and CO Representatives in determining financial and human resources required for ensuring the security of personnel, premises, and program delivery;
- Lead and coordinate business continuity management (BCM) plans validation for the region, provide guidance and support to offices in the periodical reviews, test, and implementation of business continuity plans.
- Monitor developments in the Region related to security of UNFPA personnel and programme delivery and update the Regional Director and Chief, OSC accordingly;
- Establish a favorable working environment with UNDSS CSAs/SAs, Field Security Country Officers (FSCOs), UNFPA CO Representatives, Security Focal Points and Operations Managers as well as Security Advisors from other Agency Funds and Programmes (AFPs) and Host Country Authorities as required.
- Conduct security assistance missions in support of offices in the region to assess levels of preparedness, identify gaps and guide Representatives in the implementation of cost effective and pragmatic security mitigation measures.
- Liaise, collaborate, exchange and implement effective risk communication and security information with security professionals in the region, internal and external partners to ensure effective flow of information and improve operational planning, security awareness, compliance and business continuity management/arrangements.
- Collaborate with OSC to ensure the regional context in UNFPA and UNSMS security policies, guidelines and procedures.
B. Security Risk Management and Analysis:
- Assist CO Representatives and Heads of Offices to prepare and review Security Risk Management processes (SRMs) and undertake specific Security Risk Management processes as required; work closely with UNDSS CSAs and other agency security professionals to ensure security documents are gender and disability inclusive.
- Proactively monitor situations and events in the region, and gather and analyze information with the aim of identifying emerging trends and providing early warning of any potential threats that may affect the security of UNFPA staff, premises, assets and impact programme delivery;
- Provide regular analytical updates to the Regional Director and Senior Managers on the geo-security environment and key political dynamics that have the potential to impact programme delivery in the near and medium terms.
- Consolidate security reporting from Country Offices and provide an analysis in the regional context, highlighting the potential impact this may have on programme delivery and particularly, in humanitarian scale up emergencies as needed;
- Work closely with key Regional Office Advisors and staff, other UNSMS Security professionals and analysts, and think tank networks within the region and globally with the objective of sustaining and strengthening the internal security risk management and analysis processes.
C. Security Planning/Preparedness:
- Monitor Global developments, situations and events and specifically in the Region and gather and analyze information with the aim of identifying emerging trends and providing early warning of any potential situation that may affect the security of UNFPA staff, premises and assets throughout the Region and that may also impact programme delivery to ensure relevant developments, scenarios and situations are appropriately reflected in security and other contingency plans;
- Proactively support the mainstreaming of security considerations into program and emergency preparedness plans as required
- Support UNFPA management in the development and implementation of access strategies, preparedness plans, and program contingency plans as required.
- Where appropriate, participate in drafting CAPs and CAP reviews to be presented to donors, and provide input to donor reports.
D. Crisis Management and Preparedness:
- As a subject matter expert, serve as the resource person in security-induced crises in support of the Regional Director, Regional Humanitarian Adviser, and senior RO staff of any significant incident pertaining to security;
- Under the guidance of the Chief, OSC, and the Regional Director, establish a regional crisis response team (CRT) to enable rapid activation and response to crises.
- Assist the Regional Director, Regional Humanitarian Adviser, and CO Representatives with Security Planning, Emergency/Crisis Preparedness – including support to the Business Continuity Management (BCM), Crisis Response, and Emergency Communications processes, in accordance with the country-specific situation and security requirements;
- Ensure appropriate communication with Country Offices that are involved in the crisis and coordinating the security support requirements;
- Ensure that CO Representatives in a sub-region affected by the crisis are kept informed of key security issues, as well as other relevant stakeholders under the UNSMS and/or authorities, depending on the situation and in coordination with the Country Offices;
- Ensure follow-up and coordination in cases involving UNFPA personnel arrest and detention of relevant individuals at the RO and OSC.
E. Implement and monitor compliance of Security Risk Mitigation Measures:
- Monitor that Country Offices comply with and periodically exercise security procedures/protocols and guidelines, including: Security Risk Management Measures (SRM-M) and UNFPA’s Global Security Compliance platform.
- Review proposals for country- and area-level Security Risk Management measures (SRM-M), Residential Security Measures (RSMs), Local cost-shared security budget (LCCSB), and other relevant security documents, and provide advice when warranted.
F. Training and capacity building:
- Provide briefings and presentations to UNFPA senior managers with security responsibilities on current and new UN security policies and guidelines and tools.
- Identify training needs and provide training for UNFPA staff, including Security Focal Points, staff dependents, and implementing partners, as required in the region.
- Coordinate with the OSC nomination of security personnel in the region to UNDSS/TDS and other AFPs training courses.
- Ensure training provided is gender and disability inclusive.
- Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
- Organize, plan, and/or implement capacity-building initiatives to enhance clients” and stakeholders” competencies in security-related preparedness and operations.
- The RSA will supervise Security Specialists and will also provide guidance, mentoring and coaching in his/her area of responsibilities. He/she will provide technical advice and guidance to all UNFPA security practitioners in the region.
The RSA will, at the request of the Chief, OSC perform other tasks and activities (as required).
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
- An Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social or Political Science, law, or public administration, or a discipline related to Risk Management, International Relations, Conflict Analysis and Resolution, or equivalent formal training in security and risk management, such as military and/or police senior command staff college.
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) with additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Advanced university degree with a minimum of 10 years of relevant professional work experience (with at least five years’ field experience in a position within the UNSMS, proven crisis management) or First-level degree with 12 years of relevant professional experience (with at least six years’ field experience in a position within the UNSMS, proven crisis management).
- Security Certification Program (SCP) certification required.
- Experience in working in crisis /humanitarian response locations, enabling program delivery, is an asset.
- Analysis/information capabilities from police/military, or humanitarian contexts would be considered an important asset.
- Knowledge of the UN Security Management System, policies, practices, and procedures is required
- A strong background in political and security analysis, ideally in a regional context, is desirable.
Languages:
- Fluency in English required; Knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Achieving results,
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
Functional Competencies:
- Organizational leadership and direction
- Ensuring operational effectiveness and accountability for results
- Strengthening the programming capacity of Country Offices
- Results-based programme development and management
- Managing data, documents, correspondence, and reports
- Managing information and workflow
- Planning, organizing, and multitasking
- Ensuring the safety and security of UNFPA personnel and operations
- Coping with Pressure and Setbacks
- Relating and networking
- Formulating Strategies and Concepts
- Impact and influence
- Organizational Awareness
- Innovation and marketing of new approaches
- Client Orientation
- Building strategic alliances and partnerships
Managerial Competencies:
- Providing strategic focus,
- Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
- Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance.
- Making decisions and exercising judgments
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA”s workforce – click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants” bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.