Security and Access Coordinator

Position Title: Security & Access Coordinator 
Department: Operations 
Location: Erbil, Iraq, with travel to project areas across Federal Iraq and KRI 
Reports to: CARE Iraq Country Director (Line Manager), CARE Deutschland Head of Security (Technical Manager) 
Contract Type: National Position 
Start Date: As soon as possible 

Background 
CARE International is active in Iraq since the onset of the humanitarian crisis in 1991. Programming was re-established in 2014 following the military offensive in Ninewa that led to large-scale population displacement into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Since then, CARE, in partnership with national organisations, is delivering humanitarian and early recovery assistance to vulnerable populations.   

CARE is registered with both the Iraqi Federal Government, and the Kurdistan Regional Government.  

Operations are currently implemented by national partner organisations in Basra, Ninewa, Duhok, Salahaddin, and Anbar governorates, in close cooperation and support by CARE Iraq. 

CARE’s work is guided by its global theory of change, focusing on strengthening individual agency, reshaping relationships, and addressing structural drivers of vulnerability to support durable and inclusive outcomes. 

Role Purpose 

The Security & Access Coordinator (SAC) is responsible for ensuring that CARE Iraq operates in a safe, secure, and principled manner across all areas of operation. The position provides technical leadership and operational support on safety, security, and humanitarian access to senior management, field teams, partners, and national/regional authorities. 

The SAC leads context and risk analysis, incident and crisis management preparedness, access coordination, and the development and maintenance of security policies, plans, and procedures. The role includes sustained engagement with authorities, community leaders, and inter-agency security coordination mechanisms to facilitate safe access while assuring CARE’s humanitarian principles and duty of care obligations. 

Key Responsibilities 

         Security Risk Management

• Lead the development, implementation, and regular review of the Safety and Security Risk Assessments (SSRAs) and the corresponding Safety and Security Management Plan (SSMP).

• Maintain continuous analysis of the operating context, including conflict dynamics, access constraints, and emerging risks affecting staff and programmes.

• Ensure security considerations are integrated into programme design, proposals, budgets, and operational planning.

• Oversee incident reporting processes, analyse trends, and disseminate relevant information to management and field teams.
  
  Staff Safety & Operational Access

• Support the implementation of safe movement protocols, communications systems, and field security standards. Update those as required.

• Conduct location-specific safety & security risk assessments and access mapping in coordination with field teams and partners.

• Ensure that CARE’s staff and visitors receive timely security briefings, inductions, and refresher sessions.

• Lead or support incident response and crisis management planning (e.g. medical support, treatment and evacuation.
  Stakeholder Engagement & Humanitarian Access

• Establish and maintain relationships with national, regional and local authorities, community leaders, and international organisations security networks, particularly INSO.

• Support safe and sustained access for CARE and partner staff through dialogue, acceptance-based approaches, and context-appropriate engagement.
• Provide technical guidance to partners to strengthen their safety and access practices, ensuring alignment with CARE standards.
  Government Liaison and Civil-Military Engagement

• Serve as CARE Iraq’s focal point for security-related liaison with government authorities, local administrations, security actors, and law enforcement bodies.

• Support coordination related to access letters, travel authorisations, registrations, and other regulatory requirements affecting field operations.

• Represent CARE Iraq in local and national-level access coordination platforms and ensure information flow between authorities and operational teams.

• Maintain a robust network across Federal Iraq and the KRI to anticipate regulatory or procedural changes impacting programme operations.

• Work closely with the Operations team and Country Director on high-level engagement around registration, MoUs, government reporting, and field missions.
• Ensure that CARE’s humanitarian principles and neutrality are clearly communicated and respected during all liaison activities.
  Capacity Strengthening

• Conduct security risk awareness training, critical incident management simulations, and refresher courses for staff and partners.

• Provide coaching to staff and field-based focal points on personal safety, conflict sensitivity, and duty of care.

• Coordinate with Human Resources to ensure appropriate security clearance, induction, and training for new staff.
  Incident/ Crisis Preparedness and Response

• Support the establishment and functioning of the Country Office Crisis Management Team (CMT). Lead or support the Country Office’s Crisis Management Team (CMT) setup, training, and rehearsals.

• Ensure contingency plans for hibernation, relocation, evacuation, medical emergency response, and business continuity are updated and understood by all staff.

• Act as a first responder or coordinator during critical incidents affecting staff, assets, or operations.
  Coordination & Compliance

• Represent CARE Iraq in security coordination forums, including INSO, UNDSS, and sector-specific access groups.

• Ensure compliance with CARE Deutschland safety and security standards and practices.
• Support investigations and follow-up for security-related incidents or disciplinary breaches involving safety and security protocols.

Accountability within CARE 
A commitment to CARE values and CARE’s integrity framework is critical to working with CARE. Any candidate offered a job with CARE is expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability 

Safeguarding and Accountability 

The Security & Access Coordinator will ensure that all safety, security, access, and duty of care measures are inclusive and uphold CARE’s Safeguarding Policy and the Core Humanitarian Standard. S/he will ensure that vulnerable populations and partners are protected and consulted throughout the implementation of security protocols. 

A) Safety and Security
CARE believes that personal safety and safety risk management is crucial for staff; however, this cannot be achieved unless each staff memberfulfils her/his responsibilities such as Maintain Situational Awareness, staying informed, comply with protocols, preparedness, maintaining reliable communication, respect local norms, comply with policies and instructions, and report incidents promptly.  

Failure to do so can not only endanger their own safety but also compromise the entire team and organization. 

 B) Representation of CARE Mission and Values

• Actively communicate and promote CARE’s mission, values, and goals to all stakeholders, partners, and the public.

• Utilise CARE’s logo and branding materials appropriately in all professional activities, ensuring donor acknowledgment and visibility.

• Wear the official CARE identification material such as vest, badge and/or pin at all business settings including meetings and events to clearly represent the organisation.

• Employees are expected to engage in business related video/photo shoots, interviews, or audio recordings to promote CARE and its projects, enhancing organizational visibility.

• Employees are encouraged to re-share CARE’s social media posts and follow official CARE channels on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to help amplify the organization’s message.

• Ensure the organization’s logo and online presence are used professionally, with misuse potentially leading to disciplinary action.

 C) Promoting Equality, Justice, and Climate Responsibility

Employees at CARE Iraq are expected to embody the organization’s core values of equality, justice, and climate responsibility. This includes fostering equity between men and women, promoting climate justice, and embedding these principles into the organizational activities and work culture overall. A key focus internally and externally is on empowering women through leadership opportunities, professional growth, and meaningful participation in decision-making, while addressing workforce imbalances and amplifying women’s voices to drive transformative change. 

Equally, all employees of CARE Iraq are expected to prioritize climate responsibility by encouraging sustainable practices, reducing ecological footprint, drive positive environmental impact, and supporting climate-affected communities. Integrating resilience and sustainability into all operations and actions will ensure a just and equitable future.  

These principles are central to CARE Iraq’s vision for justice, fairness, and environmental stewardship. 

 D) Safeguarding and Ethics
At CARE, werecognize our responsibility to promote human dignity and social justice within our organization. At the heart of CARE’s efforts to impact poverty and social justice is our engagement with marginalized communities. We place human dignity at the centre of our work. We are aware of the importance of organizational culture and accountability in enabling a safe and supportive environment for programme participants, the communities where we work, our staff, related personnel, and our partners.  

At CARE, we believe all people have a right to safety and to live their lives free from harm. The Safeguarding Policy is a response to CARE’s commitment and recognition of our responsibilities to protect and safeguard people we work with, and who work for CARE, from any form of abuse, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and child abuse. To find further details about our Safeguarding Policy commitments, please click on this link CARE International Safeguarding Policy – October 2023_EN.pdf 

Education: 

• A university degree in Security Studies, International Relations, Risk Management, or a related field is desirable.

  Equivalent professional experience in humanitarian security, access management, or duty of care functions in complex and high-risk environments will be considered in lieu of formal academic qualifications.

Experience: 

• At least 4 years’ experience in security and access management at a senior position, preferably in a humanitarian or INGO context.

• Experience working in Iraq.

• Proven ability to develop security assessments, protocols, lead trainings, and coordinate field security and access.

Technical Skills: 

• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles and access negotiation.
• Competency in mapping, analysis, and reporting tools (e.g., GPS, ArcGIS, Excel).
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and risk assessment and access skills.
• Fluency in English and Arabic required; Kurdish is an asset.

• CARE Core Competencies 

  • Commitment to CARE values and integrity framework
  • Strong judgment, reliability, and calm under pressure
  • Culturally sensitive with tact, diplomacy, and negotiation skills
  • Strong interpersonal and coordination capabilities
  • Capacity to work independently and proactively in dynamic environments

If you’re interested in this role, kindly apply via https://care-international-iraq.jobs.personio.com/job/2518871#apply  by 19th Feb 2026 at the latest. Regrettably, applications received after this date will not be considered.

Notes:

-A Strong Call for #Women Candidates: We highly encourage women candidates to apply for this role. At CARE Iraq, we are committed to equity and justice and strive to create a safe, inclusive space where everyone can thrive. Our goal is to build a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and contributes to meaningful change in the lives of women and girls.

-Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

-Due to the urgent nature of this role, CARE may review applications and initiate recruitment prior to the application deadline.

-For any inquiries regarding this position, please contact CARE Iraq HR Manager through nmirza@care.de