Safety, Security & Access Manager- Haiti

Location: Port-au-Prince
Position Status: Full-time, Exempt, Temporary (6 months assignment)
Language Requirement: French fluency required.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long-term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps helps communities develop their own ideas to solve Haiti’s most daunting problems by using innovative approaches to bring Haitians new social and economic opportunities and to make their country more secure, productive and just. Established in January 2010, Mercy Corps Haiti has offices in Port-au-Prince, Jeremie and Miragoane and more than 70 staff implementing programs in economic development, agriculture, financial inclusion, natural resource management and humanitarian response. Mercy Corps’ economic development work is guided by the principles of pro-poor development and demand driven strategies. Mercy Corps takes a progressive approach to development that leads communities and entrepreneurs from relief to sustainable livelihoods to resilience.

General Position Summary

The Safety, Security and Access Manager will work closely with the Country Director (CD) to create and foster a secure environment for program implementation. She/he leads security initiatives, capacitates, and trains team members, and ensures effective communication with internal and external security stakeholders. The Safety, Security and Access Manager is the key contact for safety and security in the country and is responsible for maintaining, implementing, and guiding the country’s security systems. The position is based in Port-au-Prince, with travel to field sites if the security situation permits.

Essential Job Responsibilities

SECURITY MANAGEMENT

• Ensures that Safety and Security systems in Haiti complies with Mercy Corps’ Security Minimum Standards.
• Conduct regular country and field Security Risk Assessments.
• Review, update, and implement the Security Management Plan.
• Lead mandatory Security Incident reporting.
• Coordinate and when possible, facilities security training, orientations, and on-boarding.
• Identify and co-chair the Risk Management Team.
• Together with the Regional Security Advisor, he/she oversees and manages the Country security strategy, security work plans/projects and budgets.
• Serve as a point of contact for the Regional Security Advisor (The Americas).

SECURITY SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

• Familiarity with key security resources.
• Set up incident tracking and security files.
• Promote a culture of security awareness.
• Develop and supervise the implementation of security plans (Country, office-field level), Standard operating procedures (SOPs), contingency plans, incident management plans and risk assessments.
• Ensure and document weekly Risk Management Team meetings.

SECURITY AND CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION ANALYSIS

• Monitor local and national news.
• Conduct routine site visits to field offices.
• Ensure appropriate measures are taken for safe operation.
• Produce regular written reports on the security situation.
• Maintain updated incident mapping.
• Coordinate with Mercy Corps staff tracking.

TEAM MEMBERS LEARNING AND TRAINING

• Ensure security orientation for new employees and international visitors.
• Provide briefings/training on security measures.
• Respond to staff inquiries about security issues.
• Maintain an updated database of essential contacts.

HUMANITARIAN ACCESS MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGY

• Perform stakeholder mapping.
• Represent MC in coordination mechanisms.
• Contributes for the security elements in implementing humanitarian access strategies.
• Build relationships with local authorities and key humanitarian and security stakeholders.

NETWORKING AND LIAISON

• Support and assist Mercy Corps security focal points in the field offices.
• Provide timely feedback and support to all team members.
• Monitor and support NGO field security initiatives.
• Create and maintain a network with relevant entities, local and national security groups.

ACCOUNTABILITY

• Ensure compliance with minimum security standards and the security policy at Mercy Corps.
• Contribute to creating a secure environment for all facilities (offices, houses.) of Mercy Corps in Haiti.
• Conduct oneself professionally and ethically.
• Serve as Haiti Security Focal Point.

INCIDENT REPORTING AND RESPONSE

• Manage an Operations Centre.
• Ensure timely security advice and incident response.
• Document and analyze all incidents and ensure technical security advice to the Country Director and the rest of the Incident Management team.
• Ensures incidents are duly reported at country, region and Global level.
• Be a core member of the crisis management team.

Supervisory Responsibility

Oversee the security services in Mercy Corps Haiti offices.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director.
Works Directly With: All team members, both national and expatriate in Haiti; HQ/Regional security management team.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. He/she will support efforts towards accountability to partners and international standards and assist CARM in designing or refreshing the MCH security planning.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• BA/S or equivalent in related field field.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience.
• Proven professional experience in humanitarian aid in the field and in coordination (country offices).
• Proficiency in French and knowledge in English; Haitian Creole is a plus.
• Proficiency with MS Office software.
• Knowledge of International Humanitarian Law.
• Understanding of program management and operations within Humanitarian Organization and Agencies.
• Experience in humanitarian relief and/or transitional programs in areas affected by insecurity and natural disasters.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Previous experience working in Haiti or similar contexts strongly preferred.
• Solid knowledge of and experience with security protocols is essential.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have to fulfill the following criteria:

• Ensures security and safety for program implementation.
• Adaptable to diverse cultures and perspectives.
• Handles pressure well.
• Demonstrates crisis management and conflict resolution skills.
• An interest and ability to travel and work in remote environments, and awareness of and sensitivity to multicultural international development work and ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles is required.
• An even temperament and a good sense of humor are appreciated.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

Haiti is a country of 10 million people and is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The country has been wracked by a series of major natural disasters since 2010 including earthquakes, hurricanes, and drought. A new government is in place for the next five years which is anticipated to reduce instability, however occasional violent demonstrations and flare-ups in crime can occur. Haiti suffers from chronic high unemployment, severe environmental degradation, food insecurity, and health issues like cholera exacerbated by low levels of access to water and poor infrastructure. Nonetheless, Haiti also has great beauty including beaches and mountainous national parks. Its international airport provides daily flights to multiple destinations in the US, as well as access to DR, Canada, Paris, Cuba, Panama, Curacao, and other locations in the Caribbean.

The position is based in Port au Prince, which is estimated at around 2.5 million people. Although infrastructure is also poor in the capital, comfortable housing with water and electricity are readily available. There are many places to eat in all price ranges, as well as shops, and supermarkets which are comparable to a US supermarket. Self-drive is permitted, however driving can be challenging, and traffic is often very heavy. Housing is provided for this position.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.