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 40 countries and 29 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.

The IRC’s Global Surge Team (GST) is a roster of esteemed and highly qualified humanitarian professionals who deploy on short notice to non-emergency and emergency contexts to support the IRC’s mission. Members of the GST provide specialist support where talent is most needed for short-term deployments of up to three months. The GST is a flexible employment opportunity for staff, requiring members to be available for deployments only 50% of the year (with opportunities for additional deployments if the incumbent is interested).

Members of the GST that focus on emergency responses must be prepared to be deployed within 72 hours, as needs arise.

Job Overview

The IRC is seeking Emergency Safety & Security Coordinators to join its surge team, to meet the ad-hoc Emergency Safety & Security needs of IRC country programs globally. This may include primarily supporting emergency response teams in responding to emerging humanitarian crises, as well as coverage of gaps in security leadership during recruitment processes, or specialist tasks such as the delivery of training, or security risk assessments. The Coordinator will work with country leadership to ensure that organizational security policies and procedures are implemented, responsive to the context, and known to staff. They will advise on humanitarian access approaches in close coordination with program teams and provide contextual analysis and understanding to decision-makers. They will prioritize the humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care, and the IRC’s strategy action plans in their work.

Major Responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities will vary in line with the Terms of Reference, however, the following is indicative of the expected deliverables of an Emergency Safety & Security Coordinator.

Safety & Security Management

• Provide technical support to country management on all policies, procedures, guidelines, and planning for staff safety, operational security, and program continuity.

• Evaluate, review and update security management plans regularly. Reference and ensure compliance with the IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP and all annexes.

• Work with key stakeholders to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans.

• Evaluate, review and update the hibernation and evacuation plans for IRC sites and ensure that practical preparations are in place and known to all relevant staff.

• 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 possible solutions for use of communications equipment, including proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment.

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

• Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards

• Ensure safety and security protocols, reporting mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives account for gender-specific risks, staff profiles, and background, and are sensitive to local contexts.

• 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 areas of intervention, identify new threats, assess IRC vulnerabilities and recommend possible responses

Humanitarian Access Management

• Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites, and include overarching community engagement components.

• In line with the humanitarian principles, develop ongoing relationships with appropriate local authorities and other key stakeholders, encouraging collaboration with IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and with permission to continue humanitarian activities

• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission, and work in all areas of operation are known and accepted.

• Provide technical input and advice on assessments to consider IRC programming in new geographic locations.

• Liaise and coordinate with relevant security actors e.g., NGO security staff, security forces, local community stakeholders, and local authorities.

Training and Capacity Building

• Provide training to IRC staff on relevant Safety & Security and Access skills, including but not limited to:

o Standard Operational Procedures

o Emergency and Contingency Plans

o Safety and Security Risk Management

o Incident Management & Reporting

• Liaise with partners to assess development needs and provide advice and support as well as undertaking active information sharing where feasible and necessary.

• Work with relevant internal focal points to develop, review, and deliver onboarding packages and briefings for new hires and visitors.

Program Development

• Participate in program design in close cooperation with program staff, supporting the development of conflict-sensitive and contextually appropriate approaches

• 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 Safety & Security and Humanitarian Access, and contribute to the development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

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

• 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 strong 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

• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the IRC Staff Employment Policies

• 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 all staff

Requirements

• Undergraduate university degree or higher is preferred, though candidates with a technical degree, certification in a related field, or significant applicable lived experience will also be considered.

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

• Experience in delivering training; ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.

• Proven management experience, including people and projects.

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

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

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

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

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

• Fluency in English. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Working knowledge of French, Arabic, and/or Spanish is strongly preferred.

• Digital literacy: MS Word, Excel & email applications required; MS Access, Project & GIS preferred

**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.