The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

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IRC opened the national program in Mali in 2012. Our programs range from humanitarian assistance to early recovery activities, focusing on child protection, education, economic well-being, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, governance. We work both in the north, the center and the south of Mali. Conflict and drought have caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in Mali and neighboring countries. The security situation in the north remains fragile. Nonetheless, the needs of internally displaced persons and conflict-affected host communities are still pressing, and the issue of humanitarian access is an ongoing process.

Job Overview:

The Senior Safety & Security Coordinator is a member of the Senior Management Team plus (SMT+), reporting to the Country Director (CD). The Senior Safety & Security Coordinator will develop and oversee the implementation of humanitarian access and security management systems and protocols in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, the duty of care principles, and IRC’s strategy.

The position holder will identify changes and trends in the humanitarian access and security environment in Mali, develop and oversee the implementation of responsive plans, standard operating procedures, and contingency plans, and facilitate training and capacity building of both management and field staff.

The position holder will ensure that expert humanitarian access and security risk management advice are provided to all levels of IRC staff in the country office on building relationships with stakeholders, negotiating and mediating humanitarian access, contextual understanding, managing critical incidents, and providing timely advisories.

The Senior Safety and Security Coordinator will work closely with the Country Director (CD) and the Field Coordinators to ensure that organizational security policies and procedures are responsive to the context, adequate and known to staff, and in line with global safety and security standards.

Working closely with the Deputy Director of Operations, the Deputy Director of Programs, and Program Coordinators, she or he will help maximize the effectiveness of IRC’s activities in Mali by contributing to the design and ongoing adaptation of programming to ensure it is contextually appropriate. Where applicable, she or he will also provide guidance, and support to partner organizations, and ensure the capacity building of IRC staff, incentive workers, and partners with active hands-on collaboration.

Major responsibilities:

Humanitarian Access Management

• Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites throughout Mali

• Ensure humanitarian access approaches are responsive to local context and include overarching community engagement components

• Ensure that the IRC field humanitarian access teams conduct principled and sustainable negotiations with relevant actors in Mali in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, the duty of care principles, and the IRC’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP)

• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission, and work in the areas of operations are known and accepted

• Work to encourage stakeholders to work with the IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and allowed to continue humanitarian activities in Mali

• Provide technical input and advice in assessments to consider new IRC programs in new geographic areas, and regular assessment reviews for existing locations

• Assist in the continued development of humanitarian access and security teams and activities across Mali

• Contribute to developing and implementing guidelines for humanitarian access and engagement with non-state actors articulating standard IRC policy and guidance

• Oversee and advise on the implementation and review of tailored acceptance strategies

• Maintain a high level of preparedness vis-a-vis predicted contextual fluctuations operationally and programmatically

• Enhance IRC image and acceptance within the community and amongst stakeholders by providing guidance on inclusive visibility strategies

• Work with appropriate IRC units, including HR, to ensure timely and appropriate follow-up to violations of IRC’s Code of Conduct, in addition to operational breaches of humanitarian principles

Safety and Security Risk Management

• Provide technical support on all policies, procedures, guidelines, and planning for staff safety, operational security, and program continuity in Mali

• Evaluate, review and update the security management plans on a regular basis in compliance with global safety and security standards and requirements

• Work with Field Coordinators to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans,

• Develop and maintain a network of IRC Security Focal Points at each field office and program site enhancing gender balance.

• Evaluate, review and update the hibernation and evacuation plans for all IRC offices and residences in Mali and ensure that the practical preparations are in place and known to all staff involved

• Conduct risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices and residences. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards

• Undertake continual assessments of equipment, and the protocols by which that equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met

• Provide and implement the best practical solutions for use of equipment to facilitate communication between staff.

• Ensure safety and security protocol, reporting mechanism, and capacity-building initiative account for gender-specific risks, staff profiles, and background, and are sensitive to local contexts

Networking and Liaison:

• Maintaining a network of IRC security focal points in the country program as well as external professional contacts and counterparts.

• Provide timely feedback on questions and technical assistance requests from country program team members.

• Monitor and provide support and reporting on NGO field security initiatives as required.

• Identify, create and maintain a network with NGO/UN and other humanitarian access and security specialists suitable for Mali.

• Maintaining a network with other IRC security Coordinators within the Region.

Context Understanding and Reporting

• Compile and submit regular reports that track incidents and trends in humanitarian access and local security contexts within the IRC’s area of operation.

• Submit daily contextual updates as needed to the SMT and relevant field and program management staff.

• Work closely with IRC field management teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately. Ensure that final incident reports are provided when IRC is closing the case.

• Monitor the operating environment in the country, identify new threats, assess IRC vulnerabilities, and recommend possible responses.

• Coordinate regularly with the Regional Safety & Security Advisor on safety and security, and fulfill reporting requirements to the region.

• Contribute to local-level conflict sensitivity analysis and macro-level analysis of trends within the Mali conflict.

• Provide credible information and contextual understanding of localized and country-wide security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to IRC field and program management staff

Training and Capacity Building

• Identify safety, security, and access learning and development needs for country program staff.

• Provide regular training for IRC staff on humanitarian principles and safety and security preparedness. Training(s) may include Standard Operational Procedures, Humanitarian Negotiations, Contextual Understanding, Safety & Security Risk Management, Incident Management &Reporting, etc.

• Liaise with partners to assess capacity-building needs and provide advice and support where feasible and necessary.

• Work with relevant internal focal points to develop and review the IRC Mali information and onboarding package for new hires and visitors.

Program Development:

• Participate in program design in close cooperation with the Deputy Director of Programs and Deputy Director of Operations (DDO).

• Ensure that safety and security needs are included in the country program’s budgets.

• Support program coordinator and field management staff in developing conflict-sensitive and contextually appropriate approaches in Mali.

• Participate in program review meetings and contribute to implementation plans to ensure the timely, safe, and secure delivery of IRC service to beneficiaries.

• Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks pertaining to humanitarian access, safety, and security, and contribute to the development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans.

Emergency Preparedness and Response:

• Contribute to the development of country emergency preparedness plans

• Support and advise the SMT during humanitarian or security/safety emergencies

• Assist with the humanitarian access and security component (situation analysis and background information, security assessments) of the Emergency Response Team deployments in Mali

• Contribute to the development of operational and programmatic contingency plans that respond to different emergency scenarios

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies

• Develop and implement remote management capacity-building approaches to build the strengths of the team in Mali

• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a dedicated team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions

• Approve and manage all time, attendance, and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews

• Hold meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly

• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing guidance on career paths.

• Identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions

• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff

• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of the succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop the capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition roles and responsibilities, by the end of the assignment

• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations

Job Requirements:

Education: University degree in Management, Political Sciences, or related field, preferred. Technical degree or certification in a related field with significant applicable experience.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of non-profit or NGO work experience within international humanitarian assistance programs with demonstrated capabilities in planning, organizing, and executing humanitarian security operations in the field

• Understanding the humanitarian principles, code of conduct, and specific intricacies of delivering essential services to people in need inside Mali sub-sector work linked to NGO field and operations contexts

• Understanding of regional and local context, dynamics, and access limitations related to gender, disability, religion, tradition, and local norms.

• Knowledge in communications technology, including, satellite communications, cell phone, etc. is a plus

• Strong experience as a trainer; ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences

• Experience in gaining a precise and impartial understanding of local, regional, and international policies.

• Provide clear dynamic briefings and analysis of given and unfolding security and political situations when they occur

• Sahel experience strongly preferred

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Proven experience as a professional and reliable manager (including management of people and projects)

• Highly skilled in organizing large-scale, fast-paced, responsive field programs

• Situational awareness and opportunity awareness

• Solid ability to provide team building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation

• Solid organizational and coordination skills

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with external stakeholders

• Strong negotiation and mediation skills with experience in conflict resolution are essential

• Good oral and written communication skills, with the ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders

• Experience in working successfully with local stakeholders such as local and international NGOs, government, etc. with sensitivity and diplomacy.

• Proven ability to design and lead training engagements with staff and partners to enhance skills and adapt to changing program demands

Languages Required/Preferred:

• Fluency in spoken and written French and English is required. Arabic is a plus

Computer/Other Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Geographic Information System knowledge is a plus.

Working Environment: The Senior Safety and Security Coordinator will be based in Bamako with regular travel up to 40% to field offices. While security in Bamako is generally calm, conflict is ongoing elsewhere in Mali. Strict adherence to security guidelines is requested of all IRC staff.

This position is accompanied limited.