Security Specialist

Position description

The UN Women Afghanistan Country Office Security Specialist is responsible, by delegated authority of the Special Representative, for ensuring the Safety and Security of all UN Women personnel, assets and operations within Afghanistan whilst at the same time enabling efficient and effective programme delivery where and when it is required. The Security Specialist provides leadership and direction to the UN Women Afghanistan Security team in the implementation of UNSMS and UN Women security policies, procedures and plans to ensure these goals are achieved.

The Security Specialist is also responsible for the formulation and review of local UN Women security policy, technical content, best practices, security mainstreaming, security risk management, business continuity, crisis management, budget, training, UNSMS programme and compliance, and effective administrative support to all security operations.

The Security Specialist should maintain formal coordination with UNDSS Management Team regarding UN Women activities along with developing effective working relationships with security teams of other Agencies, Funds and programmes operating in Afghanistan.

The Security Specialist will serve under the guidance of the Global Security Advisor, and the daily supervision of the Special Representative.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide guidance and advice to the Country Office and field offices:

• Provide security advice, recommendations to the Country Office and field offices, including senior management.
• Approve organizational missions on behalf of Special Representative;
• Contribute to develop and implement UN Women security policy, interpret existing security policies;
• Manage security evaluations and provide advice on security measures for the residences (Residential Security Measures – RSM) of UN Women personnel, as well as on latest trends and threats to personnel safety and security;
• Track developing threats and related risks, reviewing the impact of security factors and risk on UN Women personnel, premises, assets, planning, programme design and delivery;
• Provides timely and proactive recommendations to the UN Women Global Security Adviser, Senior Management, regarding effective risk prevention and mitigation measures, including possible UN Women support needs and improvements;
• Provide security surge support outside of the designated ‘Duty Station’ as required;
• Provide remote security support to identified UN Women personnel, offices, programmes and projects as required;
• Advise and support UN Women Security Focal points with regard UN Women online security assessments systems.

Manage security assessments and take necessary action:

• Manage substantive assessment of the security situation at the duty station and ensure adequate collation and verification of security information;
• Finalize organizational security assessments to enable UN Women programme delivery;
• Participates in UNSMS mandated security risk management assessments, and communicates change process where applicable.

Liaise with and participate in the local security community:

• Liaise and coordinate with the host government, local security actors, security organizations and/or personnel, including national and local provincial authorities, military, and police officers, as well as non-governmental organizations, UN entities, and other non-State actors;
• Participate as a member of security groups, particularly IASMN Working Groups as designated by the UN Women Global Security Adviser;
• Provide an advisory presence at UN security management meetings such as the country SMT, UNCT, SC and OMT
• Maintain a security network of international and national security personnel;
• Represent UN Women on behalf of the Global Security Adviser at security meetings, and attends security; workshops/training sessions, working groups and conferences as directed;
• Participate in inter-agency security working groups to advise other UN agencies on the mainstreaming of gender into security and risk management and advocate the UN Women mandate.

Communicate security information to Country Office and field offices:

• Provides update, initial input, design and information to HQ in relation to the security intranet portal, documentation, reports;
• Disseminate security information and measures to personnel; using security’s intranet page to share policy and programme updates;
• Disseminate analytical products and outputs of the Section to stakeholders; Conduct regular communications with UN Women Security Focal Points;
• Establish a UN Women Warden System/Communication Tree where applicable.

Develop, manage and implement the UN Women Security Plan, including updating personnel lists:

• Manage the development and communication of the UN Women Security Plan in accordance with the UN Security Plan; evaluate and maintain the plan;
• Manage the preparation and review of the UN Security Plan and provide technical support in its implementation;
• Provide advice and recommendations in the selection and purchasing of security equipment and services;
• Procure security services and equipment as required;
• Prepare and submit security clearance/movement of personnel requests;
• Develop, manage, coordinate and implement the UN Women Warden System.

Monitor, manage, implement and communicate UN Women compliance of the Security Risk Management Measures (SRMM) established for the duty station/s:

• Compile data required for the SRMM Self-Assessment of the UN Women and UN Security and Safety Compliance Survey (SSCS) Programme, as required;
• Provide technical support to and strategic advice the UN Women Security Focal Point in the Completion and updating of the SSCS;
• Provide technical support to and strategic advice the UN Women Security Focal Point in the evaluation and implementation of the UN Women Security and Safety Compliance Action Plan (SSCAP);
• Provide technical advisory support to the Security Focal Point for the UN Women Security and Safety Compliance Enhancement Funding (SSCEF);
• Manage the implementation of SRMM for UN Women personnel, premises and assets, and systems and protocols, in accordance with organizational risk acceptance, ensuring the mainstreaming of security;
• Provide UN Women managers with prescriptive content such as policy, risk management methodology, SRMM and RSM;
• Provide technical support to security compliance input of all UN Women offices within AOR;
• Provide technical support to the Programme team in completing and submitting the UN Women online Programme Assessment format.

Reports on security matters affecting UN Women personnel, programmes, offices and assets:

• Manage the preparation of security reports, such as the Security & Safety Incident Reporting System (SSIRS), Security Risk Management (SRM) Assessments and other ad-hoc incident reports;
• Manage security evaluations and surveys of Country Office and Field Offices;
• Finalize accurate and timely written country briefings; add substantive inputs to position papers from a field perspective;
• Provide periodic reports on UN Women implementation of internal and external security protocols and systems;
• Provide information to the country UN Security Management System (UNSMS) as required.

Develop and conduct all training contained in the UN Women Security Education Programme:

• Participate in the development and delivery of UNSMS training;
• Develop and deliver UN Women specific security training sessions;
• Provide security orientation to newly assigned personnel members and security briefings, as required;
• Conduct security training across the organization;
• Provide security mainstreaming sessions and BCP training sessions as required;
• Coordinate with Human Resources to provide UN Women Representatives and Heads of Offices security briefings.

Manage budget, finances and people:

• Manage the security annual work plan and related budget; initiate budget revisions for approval;
• Prepare security budgets as well as completion of UN Women SSCEF funding requests;
• Provide substantive security inputs to UN Women AWP/SN, programme appraisal bodies, and related budgets;
• Monitor and support allotted UN Women Security Compliance funds to budget and utilize them in a timely manner within Quantum system;
• Monitor and communicate the costs and expenditures remain within budget and approved limits through the monitoring of monthly Quantum system budget reports;
• Keep the Global Security Adviser updated on expenditures in the operational budget and follow closely remaining expenditure;
• Manage budget closures and reports as per HQ processes;
• Ensure that all projects and programmes contribute resources to implementation of security measures.
• Manage the performance of personnel under their supervision by provide managerial direction, guidance and leadership as well as performance feedback and coaching;
• Ensure performance assessment are completed on time and identify learning and development opportunities to support personnel’s engagement;
• Ensure all personnel under their supervision are fully aware of UN Women’s workplace relations policies.

Perform other security-related tasks including but not limited to:

• Provide Air Travel Focal Point services to UN Women as per Commercial Air Travel Safety Unit (CATSU) requirements;
• Initiate and develop liaison with commercial companies used for UN Women security at offices and residences, in order to ensure the effective and efficient use of the guard force.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent leads a team of 23 personnel consisting of 1 P2 International Security Analyst, 2 X Local Security Assistants, 4 x Radio Operators, 10 X drivers, 1 X receptionist and 5 X Field Security Assistants (All National Staff direct reports).

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity;
• Integrity;
• Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of business, operations, and programming cycle;
• Excellent knowledge of security and risk management;
• Excellent knowledge of local country’s security situation/ laws;
• Strong knowledge of UN System policies and procedures;
• Ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Ability to be strategic and provide advice.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in management, security, security management, business administration, law enforcement, international relations, programme management or a related field;
• A first-level university degree in these or similar fields, in combination with a multi-year education in security management, such as UN, military or police senior Command and Staff College qualification with command experience at senior level, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in security of which at least 3 of those years is in management;
• Budget management experience as it relates to field support is required;
• Experience of conducting security risk assessments as integral part of operational planning and the enabling of operations is required;
• Experience of policy development and implementation is required.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English;
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Application instructions

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