Senior Security Manager – P5

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job ? it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does ? in programs, in advocacy and in operations. UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.  Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.  And we never give up.

The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life ? in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions ? her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens ? addressing inequity ? not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

 

For every child, safety.

II. Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does ? in programs, in advocacy and in operations. UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.  Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.  And we never give up.

The recent escalation in the armed conflict in Sudan threatens the lives and well-being of the country’s 24 million children. The intensification of the armed conflict poses severe human costs, causing a growing number of civilian and children casualties, interrupting livelihoods, damaging critical civilian infrastructure, and displacing over 5 million children. Credible reports indicate that 335 children have been killed, and 1,940 children were injured since the beginning of the fighting on April 15, 2023.

Humanitarian needs are rapidly multiplying both inside Sudan and in refugee-hosting countries. 14 million children inside Sudan require urgent humanitarian assistance. The most pressing needs are emergency medical services and supplies, vaccines, nutrition services for 730,000 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), safe drinking water and ensuring protection of children on the move and amid the fighting. 

In response, UNICEF is staying and delivering and has already mobilized organization-wide support. However, the deteriorating situation and complex operating environment requires strengthened capacity and sustained efforts to expand our presence and our work in parts of the country that can be safely accessed. It also calls for strengthened humanitarian leadership, and for continued scaling up of our humanitarian action. UNICEF also coordinates with refugee-hosting countries to prepare and respond to the humanitarian needs emerging from population movements.

In view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the urgency and scale of needs, and considering the complexity of the crisis, UNICEF has: (i) activated a Level 3 (L3) Corporate Emergency Activation Procedure (CEAP) scale-up phase inside Sudan and cross-border operations into Sudan from neighboring countries responding to the crisis; (ii) put in effect L3 Emergency Procedures to cover Sudan-related cross-border humanitarian assistance-related. UNICEF’s L3

Job organizational context: 

The Senior Security Manager works in in a complex, high threat environment, and reports to the Representative.

 

Purpose for the job: 

The Senior Security Manager reports to the Representative and maintains a direct technical reporting line with the Regional Security Adviser (RSA) (Matrix Management). The Senior Security Manager is responsible for advising the Representative and Country Office management on their security duties and responsibilities in accordance with the UN and the UNICEF Security Framework of Accountability. The Senior Security Manager contributes to the UNICEF mandate and security strategy through the effective implementation of a strong security risk management process. The Senior Security Manager manages, on behalf of the Representative, all security activities in support of the country.

The Senior Security Manager provides strategic management and oversight of all security activities in all of Sudan across all field locations where UNICEF has a physical presence in close coordination with all members of the UN Security Management System (UNSMS) including the UN Department of Safety and Security and UN Agencies, Funds, Programmes and Organizations (AFPO) as well as INGO partners in line with the Saving Lives Together policy. As a member of the UN Security Cell, s/he contributes to the development of assessments, procedures and guidelines including Security Risk Management (SRMs), Country Security Risk Management Measures (SRM-M) and the relevant Security Plan(s).

 

How can you make a difference? 

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Managerial and technical leadership
• Security Risk Management and Planning
• Security Services
• Programmatic Security Information and Analysis
• Security Networking and Partnerships
• Security Compliance Monitoring
• Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
• Managerial and technical leadership
  • Establish the annual work plan, determining priorities and performance measurements in a complex and volatile environment.
  • Monitor workplan implementation, to ensure that Security output results are achieved to schedule and performance standards country-wide including in all field locations where UNICEF is present.
  • Report critical issues to the Deputy Representative Operations  and Representative for timely action.
  • Establish the annual workplan outputs, activities and developmental priorities of the Security section staff. Provide timely guidance to enable the Security section staff to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently.
  • Manage all of Sudan security team Security team building and motivation. Signal potential conflicts and take preventive action, in coordination with Human Resources staff.
• Security Risk Management and Planning
  • Advises the Representative in the execution of her/his duties with regards to the security of UNICEF personnel and eligible family members, premises, and in accordance with UN and UNICEF Security Management Systems.
  • Assist CO Representative and Heads of Offices, as appropriate, to review Security Risk Management processes (SRMs) and undertake specific or ad-hoc Security Risk Management processes as required; work closely with UNDSS P/CSAs and other agency security professionals to ensure security documents are gender and disability inclusive.
  • Assists the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) as appropriate and participates as a member of the Security Cell established by UNDSS. Attends as an observer, all SMT/ASMT meetings.
  • Through the Security Cell, provides advice and recommendations on all Security Documentation, including SRMs and Security Plans, and manages the implementation of SRM-Measures, Residential Security Measures (RSM), provisions of the relevant Security Plans and other relevant policies, guidelines, and assessments within UNICEF.
  • Prepares, maintains, and updates UNICEF security documentation including security contingency plans and provides the Representative, the RSA and the Office of the Security Coordination (OSC) with mandatory reports in accordance with UNICEF security reporting guidelines. This includes the monitoring/reporting on security compliance and the submission of all Security Incident Reports (SIRs).
  • Assists the Representative and Chief of Operations on determining the financial and human resources required for ensuring the security of personnel, premises, and programme activities.
• Security Services
  • Monitors the security situation and provides independent and comprehensive analysis with the goal of identifying trends and predicting the specific conditions that would impact on the security of UNICEF personnel and eligible family members, premises, assets and programmes to inform decision making.
  • Supervises, evaluates, and reviews security activities in support of UNICEF operations and participates, coordinates and/or undertakes security risk management processes for all locations where UNICEF personnel and eligible family members are present.
  • Ensures that UNICEF personnel are kept informed of matters affecting their security and the actions to take in the event of an emergency including those identified in the area Security Plans as it relates to UNICEF.
  • Oversees the establishment of an effective and functioning communications system for security management within UNICEF that is fully integrated into the UN Emergency Communications System.
  • Coordinates with UNDSS to ensure all UNICEF personnel undertake all mandatory security training/briefings and participate in all security related contingency exercises.
  • Develop and conduct security training for UNICEF personnel as required.
  • Ensures security surveys of international personnel residences are completed in accordance with the Residential Security Measures (RSM).
  • Provide technical oversight for UNICEF contracted security providers such as guards service.
  • Supervise and mentor UNICEF Security professionals in the country
  • Oversee the recruitment of additional UNICEF Security personnel, as required

4.Programmatic Security Information and Analysis

• Provides analysis to understand security dynamics. Ensure the analysis addresses environmental, socio-economic and political factors that make geographical areas difficult to access and have an impact on the delivery of UNICEF programmes.
• Works closely with the UNICEF personnel in country to ensure security considerations are mainstreamed into programmes, and integrate all relevant analysis and security measures into the planning and implementation of UNICEF activities.
• Support UNICEF management in the development and implementation of access strategies, preparedness plans, and programme contingency plans as required.
• Assess the feasibility of and facilitate the reinstatement of UNICEF presence (with other UN agencies as appropriate) in conflict, hotspot and non-hotspot states in Sudan.
• Coordinate the development of Mission Security Clearance Requests (MSCRs) for UNICEF and interagency missions including UNICEF personnel.

5.Security Networking and Partnership Building

• Establishes contact and maintains networks with UNSMS, I/NGO, diplomatic, and international community security advisors and relevant local authorities as appropriate.
• Collaborate and coordinate with UNDSS and the Security Cell to enable UNICEF activities.
• Ensures that security collaboration with NGOs working as UNICEF implementing partners is undertaken, in coordination with UNDSS, and consistent with the SLT framework.

6.Security Compliance Monitoring

• Monitor that the Country Offices complies with and periodically exercise security procedures/protocols and guidelines including: Security Risk Management Measures (SRM-M) and UNICEF’s Global Security Compliance platform.
• Review proposals for country and area Security Risk Management measures (SRM-M), Residential Security Measures (RSMs), Local cost shared security budget (LCCSB), and other relevant security documents and provide advice when warranted.

7.Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Introduces technological innovations and approaches to security procedures and systems.
• Institutionalizes and shares best practices and knowledge learned.
• Organizes, plans and/or implements capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders on security related preparedness and operations.
• Provide briefings and presentations to UNICEF senior managers with security responsibilities on current and new UN security policies, guidelines and tools;
• Ensure training provided is gender and disability inclusive

For more info, please review the complete Job Description here: GJP Snr Security Manager Level 5 final – Cleared.doc

 

IV. Impact of Results

The advice and effective decision making and planning required in complex security environments, which often involve highly stressful situations, will directly impact on the security of personnel and their eligible family members as well as organizational premises, assets and resources, and will directly impact UNICEF’s ability to continue to deliver results for children in a complex, high threat environment.

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have …

• Education:

An advanced university degree Security Risk Management, International Relations, Conflict Analysis, Intelligence Analysis, Diplomatic Studies, Conflict and Security, Counter Terrorism or another relevant technical field.

• Experience:

A minimum of ten years of professional experience in security risk management and/or security analysis is required. 

Demonstrated international security management experience and understanding of the United Nations Security Management System is required.

Experience operating in a humanitarian setting is required. 

Experience operating in a conflict/post conflict context would be considered an asset. 

• Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are?

i) Core Values 

• Care ·
• Respect ·
• Integrity ·
• Trust ·
• Accountability
• Sustainability

ii) Core Competencies (For Staff with Supervisory Responsibilities) *

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

 

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

 

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