Security Officer (Regional) – P3

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation. 

The Corporate Services Department (CSD), led by the Associate Vice-President, CSD, provides IFAD with the human resources, administrative services, safety and security and information technology resources required to allow IFAD to meet its objectives of enabling rural people to overcome poverty. The work of the CSD is undertaken by three divisions (i) Human Resources Division (HRD) (ii) Administrative Services Division (ADM) and (iii) Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT) and three units: (a) Front Office CSD (b) Field Support Unit and (c) Medical Services Unit. 

The Administrative Services Division (ADM) provides a series of high-quality critical customer-oriented, sustainable, timely and efficient operational support and administrative services to clients worldwide to satisfy current and future corporate needs in support of IFAD’s mandate and mission and in close collaboration with our internal and external partners. The division supports the Organization’s core activities at HQ and IFAD Country Offices (ICOs) and facilitates day-to-day business operations in line with internationally accepted best practices. This includes the provision of sustainable, customer-oriented, cost-effective and efficient administrative services. ADM’s services encompass Security and Business Continuity, Facilities Management, Travel and Visa, Privileges and Immunities, Procurement, Insurance, Shipping, Asset and Inventory Management, Records Management and Archives, Mail Distribution, as well as greening activities.

The incumbent works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance of Director, Administrative Services Division,under the direct supervision of the Senior Security Officer, and as applicable, as an advisor on security to the respective Regional Director of the assigned region (West and Central Africa) and/or other regions/countries as may be required.

 

Job Role

The Security Officer (Regional) is a seasoned professional in their field of work with extensive, in-depth experience in IFAD or similar UN and/or IFIs. As an experienced professional,the Security Officer (Regional) has a complete understanding of the subject-matter area in the context of the Fund’s programmes, the Security Officer (Regional) has the capacity to adapt policies, approaches, models and methodologies to meet emerging needs and to establish the continuing relevance of the team’s capacity to provide technically competent operational/administrative services support to client departments across the Fund.

The Security Officer (Regional) works independently in the performance of the full range of complex security activities which involves planning, developing and implementing activities.

The Security Officer (Regional):

• Supports the coordination of IFAD security operations in the assigned region (West and Central Africa) and/or other regions/countries as may be required;
• The incumbent will support the development and adaptation of existing security policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures;
• Represents IFAD on security issues as necessary, participating in joint regional activities with other UN and/or IFIs agencies as required.
  

Key Functions and Results

1.SECURITY ADVICE: The Security Officer (Regional) advises the Senior Security Officer, the Director, ADM and the relevant Regional Director on all aspects related to the safety and security of IFAD personnel, their eligible family members as well as premises, assets, operations and supports the Senior Security Officer in regional security operations. Within delegated authority advise and assist the Regional Division Directors, IFAD Country Respresentatives, Country Directors and Heads of Multi-Country Offices and IFAD business units on all safety and security matters, including, but not limited to response to critical security incidents and emergencies as required.

2. SECURITY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, ADVISORIES AND ALERTS:  The Security Officer (Regional) ensures that the Senior Security Officer, Director, ADM and IFAD personnel are kept regularly updated in a timely manner on security developments, providing briefings and reports when required; the incumbent ensures that all IFAD personnel have access to and receive timely security training and updates, alerts and warnings when the security situation warrants it.

3. SECURITY RISK MANAGEMENT/REPORTING: The Security Officer (Regional):

1. supports the monitoring and implementation of IFAD and the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) policies and procedures on safety and security; oversees adherence of IFAD personnel to all applicable security training requirements, policies and procedures, including but not limited to Security Risk Management and emergency security plans, promoting understanding and support for security requirements;
2. within delegated authority conducts and/or oversees regular missions to ICOs and IFAD project areas to assess prevailing local security conditions, conducts Security Risk Assessments and makes recommendations aimed at improving the safety and security of staff and assets; assists programme managers to, inter alia, ensures compliance with security standards and requirements, reviews and revises IFAD operational plans vis-à-vis security;
3. introduces analytical reports on changes in the security environment and threat level, drafts situation reports, maintains statistics of security incidents to staff and property and ensures proper follow-up to security incidents to staff and property;
4. supports IFAD country representatives  with  their participation in the Security Management Team and UNCT, as applicable;
5. monitors Local Cost Shared Security Budgets (LCSSBs) regionally, to ensure IFAD’s contribution is in accordance with IFAD personnel figures and expenses;
6. serves as a member or alternate member, as applicable, of the relevant Security Management networks;
7. collaborates with all internal stakeholders including Regional Front offices, Corporate Services Managers  and other IFAD personnel as necessary.

4. BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT PLAN COORDINATION: The Security Officer (Regional) supports coordination of Business Continuity activities in support of Business Continuity Management  in order to ensure the preparedness of all elements of the emergency procedures in IFAD and raising staff awareness in accordance with the IFAD Business Continuity Management System. This includes testing, exercising and ehancing BC Plans. The Security Officer supports the maintenance of IFAD security compliance standards, emergency communications system and provision of advice to Country Representatives  for the selection of appropriate equipment for security (vehicles, telecommunications equipment, PPE, etc.). 

5. SECURITY ADVOCATE: The Security Officer (Regional):

1. provides operational analyses related to safety and security threats/risks posed to IFAD personnel, operations, premises and field assets, providing security management and personnel with the necessary guidance and mitigation measures;
2. liaises and coordinates security and safety operations with UNSMS and IFIs Security personnel and host country agencies regionally. Develops, negotiates and implements safe and secure access strategies to enable IFAD teams to perform their mission(s); acts as Alternate Security Focal Point and attends meetings of UNSMS working groups security cell, SAG for duty station country, as and when required;
3. conducts and/or oversees safety/security assessments of IFAD operations in high-risk environments to ensure compliance with relevant policies and procedures;
4. makes appropriate recommendations to strengthen IFAD Safety and Security procedures and address non-compliance issues;
5. supports incidents involving IFAD personnel and/or the Fund’s assets and provide the necessary recommendations.

6.SECURITY TRAINING:  The Security Officer (Regional) facilitates the provision of security training, such as security induction programme (SIP), SSAFE, WSAT, etc. and briefings to all personnel of the Fund.

7. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Security Officer (Regional) is accountable  for  integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources, where applicable. This may include:

1. People Management through recruitment, performance and career management of staff as well as learning management establishing learning plans and ensuring staff supervised meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD;
2. Resource Management by providing data inputs into the unit budget preparation exercises;
3. Knowledge and Content  Management  by  ensuring  (1)  knowledge  content  within  functional  area  is  continuously  updated  and available to colleagues and clients (2) best practices are continuously identified, documented and distributed and (3) appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available to the Fund’s managers, supervisors and staff; and
4. Information Technology Management through leveraging ERP functionality for improved business results, simplification of transaction and reporting processes and improved client services.

 

Key Performance Indicators

Recognized in the field of work internal and external to the Fund, the impact of work performed by the Security Officer (Regional) is innovative and the incumbent of the post is the originator of new ideas and new approaches that impact directly on the field of work within the Fund as well as indirectly on the profession within the greater scope of external partnerships.

Security Officers perform work that can be characterized as authoritative and requiring expertise in their field of work; they typically function as a Team Leader or Unit Head and supervise a team of specialists and analysts in the provision of corporate level services considered as intricate in terms of the policies, rules and regulations applied. They lead one occupational specialization at the corporate level with accountability for policy, procedures and administration or for managing a range of occupations within the field of work in “one-stop” service to assigned client base.

Staff engagement and client satisfaction with services provided by the section is documented by relevant surveys.

 

Working Relationships

Representational functions of the Security Officer (Regional) primarily concern the provision of authoritative advice to IFAD’s Management in the development of new or modified policies and practices within their area of specialization. Recommendations for solutions to problems involve discussion with management, staff and other specialists.  The advice and recommendations provided are normally considered technically accurate and are provided to senior managers inside and outside the Division or Unit.  External contacts include: counterparts in Host Country Security apparatus, other United Nations organizations in order to exchange information on approaches to security services problems, etc. and inter-agency groups such as UNDSS to provide information on the Fund’s security policies and practices and negotiate the adoption of common system practices.Work relationships are established and maintained with security counterparts including senior government, UN and IFI security officials. Outside interaction is significant but typically limited to the area of expertise; within delegated authority, maintains continuous liaison with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), other Agencies Funds Programmes and Organizations security actors to promote UN Security Management System policies and procedures in all IFAD operations. 

 

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

• Building relationships and partnerships – Builds and maintains effective working relationships
• Communicating and negotiating – Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others
• Demonstrating leadership – Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Focusing on clients – Focuses on clients
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating – Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
• Managing performance and developing staff
• Managing time, resources and information – Manages own time, information and resources effectively
• Problem-solving and decision-making – Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Strategic thinking and organizational development – Personal influence
• Team working – Contributes effectively to the team

Education:

• Advanced* university degree from an accredited institution. Areas – security management, military science, law enforcement, disaster or emergency management, public administration, social/political science or related area. A Bachelors degree or similar level qualification from a Police/MiIitary Academy in combination with an additional 4 years relevant experience will also be considered in lieu of an advanced university degree. Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php

(*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

The following certifications are highly desirable: 

• Security Certification Programme (SCP)
• Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environment (SSAFE) Trainer
• Women Security Awareness Training (WSAT) Trainer
• Hostage incident Management (HIM)
• Security Analysis Process and Practice (SAPP)

The following certifications are an asset: 

• Security Sector Internationally recognized certifications in the subjects of:
  • Business Continuity Management e.g. CBCI/DBCI
  • Physical Security e.g. ASIS Physical Security Professional (PSP)
  • Enterprise Risk Management

Experience:

• At least five (5) – years of progressively responsible experience in corporate security management, preferably in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing security services management and support on an International scale;
• Professional Security Management experience and training certification in the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) as well as field experience in developing countries are assets. Ability to research and apply best practices/lessons learned and develop regulations, rules and standard operating procedures to meet evolving Fund security requirements.

Languages:

• Required: English (4 – Excellent) and French (3 – Good)
• Asset: Arabic and/or Spanish (3 – Good)

Skills:

• Security: Know-how in security management and measures;
• Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.);
• Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions;
• Adaptability: Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes;
• Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks & conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented
• Initiative and good judgment: High sense of proactive initiative-taking and good judgement (including on security matters);
• Problem solving: Strong systemic and structured thinking, ability to identify and dissect problems into components and formulate a comprehensive set of creative viable and sustainable solutions and strategies.

 

Other Information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD’s Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

In accordance with IFAD’s provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD’s remuneration package, please visit IFAD’s compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.  See here. 

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org

 

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