Position Title: Safety & Security Officer (Liberian Only)
Reports to: Director of Operations
Department: Operations
Work Location: Harper (Maryland)
Employment Type: Full Time
Position Overview:
The primary function of the Safety & Security Officer is to advise the Director of Operations on all issues of safety and security as they relate to staff and assets at a program site. The Safety & Security Officer oversees daily security management of a country program site location and as well as trains and mentors Safety and Security focal persons per site or unit. The Safety & Security Officer will monitor and assess security conditions and make recommendations to the Director of Operations and leadership team as appropriate.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Security and Safety Management
· Develop and update the security guidelines and SOPs with support from the DOO and other relevant key staff in Liberia and Boston.
· Make thorough analyses of the current security system and make appropriate recommendations and costing.
· Ensure policies and SOPs relating to or supporting safety and security around vehicles, motorbike, Sites (Offices, Guesthouses, and other PIH facilities) are continuously monitored for compliance and analyzed with recommendations for improvement.
· Monitor the security preparedness of country staff and work with PIH to enforce staff compliance with internal security policies and SOPs
· Coordinate and monitor security activities to ensure that safety and security policies and procedures are implemented.
· Ensure that all staff and visitors are fully cognizant of prevailing security threats and fully advise on means to reduce staff vulnerability to those threats; support staff/visitors/guest briefing and induction.
· Ensure a fire system is set up in collaboration with the fire brigade. Design and drill warden system and execute fire drill and mock exercises. Support fire prevention/mitigation awareness; and ensure that fire equipment are in place, up-to-date and ready for use (fire extinguishers at designated/labelled areas, fire blankets in kitchens, and installation of fire and smoke detectors).
· Ensure internal incident tracking system is in place and utilized properly; and, perform incident mapping and analysis to enhance learning for prevention and mitigation.
· Collect security related information from local and regional sources as it applies to sites and communicate with Director of Operations, Safety team, and Boston team as appropriate.
· Carry out investigations and capture lessons learned to be incorporated into future staff trainings
· Act as a key member of the Field Incident Management Team when required during a crisis so that safety policies and procedures are implemented.
· Recommend changes in country security plans to Director of Operations, leadership team, and Boston when necessary
· In support of preparedness and mitigate against crisis (civil, security, natural disaster) for both internal and external; and, in collaboration with the DOO, establish and continue to update emergency plans
· Ensure monitoring, evaluation and coordination with the external security company to support its roles to the implementation of security at all PIH sites and encourage their independence and or free from undue influence in the performance of its role and seek and give recommendations for improvement in a collaborative spirit.
· Support policies and procedures regarding entry and exist into and out of PIH premises and ensure that the gate pass (Waybill) system for the movement of supplies and assets are in place and supported.
Compliance and Reporting:
· Ensure weekly / monthly security reports are completed and sent to DOO or other key staff members providing timely updates of all situational and security developments including investigation of security incidents.
· Keep excellent record and logs to ensure continuity of this position
Human Resources and Awareness/Training/Capacity Building:
· Identify and empower Safety and Security Focal Persons (including fire wardens) in country per site
· Make frequent site visits to facilities to carry out security assessments and ensure appropriate care and training are being conducted
· Maintain open lines of communications with all field staff
· Train national staff to increase their responsibilities in order to build capacity and ensure sustainability
· Work with Director of Operations to conduct any staff security training that is warranted.
· Continued sensitization of staff on safety & security issues
Working Relationships
· Work closely with DOO and Safety and Security Program Officer in Boston to ensure country safety and security program is compatible with the global program
· Maintain excellent working relationships as a member of the country team senior management
· Build strong professional relationships with UN agencies, local authorities, other NGO’s (local and international), and all relevant stakeholders
· Work closely with the HR Director and other key staff on collecting relevant information in case of a security situation
Qualifications:
· 4-5 years’ work experience in Security Management, preferably in Africa or a resource poor setting.
· Must have experience in unstable and resource deprived environments.
· Strong understanding of cultural, political and religious environment in the region, and be able to live and work successfully in those environments.
· Experience in conducting operations safely and efficiently in areas of natural and man-made disasters.
· Practical experience and knowledge of Risk, Threat and Vulnerability assessments, conflict mitigation and advanced first aid.
· Strong negotiation, interpersonal an organizational skill.
Organizational Profile:
Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health Care system strengthening.
PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.
Partners In Health (PIH) is committed to the fundamental principle of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every prospective and current employee. It is the policy of PIH not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. PIH works in and with a number of governments in and outside the U.S., and to the extent applicable, this statement is intended to incorporate the prohibition of any unlawful discrimination covered by applicable laws in such countries, states and municipalities.
Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:
At Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members –as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partner In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partners In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
Social Justice
We are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.
How to apply
Method of Application
All interested candidates are encouraged to send their functional resume and cover letter to: GrpHumanResourceTeam@pih.org on or before July 31st , 2023 not later than 4:30 pm. All open positions with PIH are also posted on our employment website: https://www.pih.org/pages/employment .