Security Officer

Chemonics seeks a Security Officer for the USAID Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and USAID Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement and Supply (GHSC-PSM) projects in Ethiopia. A robust and effective security management platform is a key priority for Urban WASH and GHSC-PSM. Effective security management is required to sustain project activities in light of evolving security dynamics. This position is responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the project’s security platform, assessing the specific security measures called for by context, threats, project vulnerabilities, and identified risks and to manage and coordinate all aspects of the security platform. The security officer should possess superior networking and diplomacy skills, risk assessment capabilities, an expansive understanding of the country context, and experience operating in high-risk environments with low-profile security techniques. This position will report to the Urban WASH Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) and PSM Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) and be based in Addis Ababa.

Responsibilities:

Relationship Management and Information Gathering

• Actively assess implementation risks complying with national and local government measures.
• Establish relationships, as appropriate, with local law enforcement, civil authorities, USAID/PLSO, and other organizations to obtain current information affecting the security of the activity and develop security risk assessments, journey-management protocols, and emergency-action procedures.
• Ensure compliance with Chemonics’ safety and security policies and create tailored processes and procedures to protect staff and assets.
• Exercise contacts to ‘ground-truth’ and triangulate reporting, update best practices and procedures, build project acceptance, and obtain threat and risk data where the project operates and travels.

Threat, Risk Assessment, and Conflict Analysis

• Conduct threat and risk assessments of current and proposed program activities and geographic areas. This will include written security assessments with verbal debriefs that analyze the country context, evaluate risk, and provide specific recommendations.
• Conduct threat and risk assessments of current and proposed program activities and geographic areas. This will include written security assessments with verbal debriefs that analyze the country context, evaluate risk, and provide specific recommendations.
• Monitor and assessing regional security trends through open-source reporting and field security engagement and sharing this knowledge project staff. Monitor, assess, and analyze social, political, and/or economic events that are likely to have an impact on the trajectory or intensity of conflict.

Implementation and Updating the Safety and Security Plan

• Work with leadership to tailor our implementation approach to local nuances, activity needs, and operational resources.
• Develop a security handbook and update the emergency action plan and staff contact lists/phone trees.
• Provide a monthly update to the project security documents and maintain the emergency contact sheet. This input shall include advice on incident response, evacuations, physical security, and information security protocols/procedures.
• Contribute to the risk mitigation plan and the risk portion of reports to USAID.
• Prepare periodic and ad hoc reports, as required by the program
• Lead Chemonics crisis and incident management response as needed in coordination with the home office response team.
• Maintain a secure communications system that allows staff to discretely and safely implement development work in all areas of project operations, organize and brief the project team, ensure staff understand the duties and responsibilities for each position, and ensure continuity.
• Ensure timely and relevant communications with staff during and after an emergency situation.
• Conduct security assessments for office premises and provide advice on security preparedness with recommended improvements and solutions.
• Advise on proper security measures for Chemonics premises and international staff residences.
• Maintain updated country knowledge to advise staff traveling outside of Addis Ababa. This will include assessing route, venue and location risk and security levels and supporting journey management.
• Ensure that the Journey Management Plan (JMP) is implemented consistently for all travels to High and Extreme risk designated areas. In consultation with the SMU, maintain and update the JPM when required, a in consultation with the SMU.

Training

• Provide all staff with safety and security training focusing on first aid, security awareness, and hostile-environment awareness training and training on staff responsibilities under the security platform. Develop training materials for individuals to reference.

Safety and Security Information Dissemination

• Provide security assessment inputs during the projects’ activity design cycle.
• Provide timely and accurate security information and recommendations to the Urban WASH Chief of Party (COP), PSM Country Director, DFO/DFA, Team Leader, Chemonics Home Office Project Management Unit (PMU) and the Security Management Unit (SMU). Inform staff, as necessary, of emerging security situations and the recommended response.
• Brief staff on all safety and security considerations for Chemonics personnel arriving in country from overseas and when traveling to regional locations, including information on security risks, security guidelines, communication procedures, travel precautions, emergency procedures, and movement restrictions (as needed).
• Coordinate with Operations and IT team to maintain and strengthen information security.
• Any other security-related tasks assigned by the Chief of Party and/or home office SMU.
• Coordinate with the Operations unit to conduct security assessment of suitable accommodation options for staff in Addis Ababa and in the regions where the projects implement activities
• Work closely with the fleet management specialist to advise on the travel in as far as security is concerned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 6 years of experience in security, risk management, and project management, with demonstrated ability to implement security platforms for civilian operations in high-risk areas.
• 4 or more years’ experience working on security issues in Ethiopia. Experience throughout the country is preferred.
• Fluency in English and Amharic or other local language required.
• Demonstrated ability to generate and leverage connections to promote an accurate understanding of risk, strengthen knowledge of country context, and to bolster project planning abilities.
• Three or more years’ experience in management and oversight of security platforms that were implemented in high-threat countries and utilized low-profile techniques.
• Proven effectiveness implementing security protocols to maintain safety and successful crisis management experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written formats.
• Experience in training civilians on safety and security measures
• Advanced IT capabilities with experience in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, required; experience with mapping programs, alternative communication platforms, or information security requirements is beneficial.
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in a related field of study. Additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree. Preference will be given to candidates with a high level of demonstrated professional knowledge and extensive work experience.