JOB DESCRIPTION

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential Location

Nairobi (CO), Kenya

GS7

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-08-01

July 27, 2025

Senior Field Security Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Field Security Associate provides support to all security related aspects of field operations including Staff, premises and asset security. The incumbent is supervised by a Senior Officer (FSA or Head of Office) who defines general work objectives; the incumbent completes this work independently. The incumbent maintains regular contact on a working level with UNHCR staff, UN agencies, NGOs, implementing partners and Host Government Security authorities (HGS) in the area to facilitate the operation.
The duty of the incumbent is to assist the management on security issues in the operation.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
– Provide assistance to the supervisor in evaluating the level of risk and assessing the existing security measures for the UNHCR staff, operations, premises, partners and persons of concern.
– Conduct regular security assessment missions to the field in coordination with UNDSS/other agencies; assist the supervisor during field missions to gather information and analyse the security situation.
– Be aware of security protocols and procedures in place, in accordance with the UNSMS policies, UNHCR Policies and the, Security Risk Management process ;
– Conduct regular check for compliance and advise management on any deficiencies.
– Monitor the physical security of UNHCR premises and reports on deficiencies
– Monitor and supervise the guard force In accordance with relevant UNSMS policies
– Conduct assessments for UNHCR personnel and Provide advice to staff on their residences;
– Contribute to the SRM process for designated areas and identify security risk management measures ensuring necessary arrangements are made for their implementation with respective units under the purview of the manager.
– Develop security plans for UNHCR operations
– Contribute to efforts to ensure the physical protection and security of refugees and other persons of concern with Protection colleagues.
– Prepare reports on security situations and incidents.
– Implement or oversee implementation of security-related projects.
– Assist in the monitoring, updating and recording of security-related events.
– Undertake or assist in the processing of administrative security issues.
– Maintain relations and cooperation with UN security management system actors, local law enforcement agencies, civil authorities and other relevant agencies.
– Provide security briefings and training to UNHCR personnel and as appropriate partner staff, on relevant country information and on other issues pertaining to the UN security management system including, inter alia, the warden system, communication notification and reporting procedures, travel planning procedures road, air and fire safety.
– Respond to staff queries on security issues and provide immediate assistance as required.
– Provide security-related advice to the manager and other staff.
– Maintain liaison and build relationships with host nation and interagency counterparts.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 – 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
Security and Safety
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Job experience in field of security risk management.
Good communication skills (written and oral).

Desirable
Examples of having established networks with Host Government or other security actors from previous employment. Evidence of previous employment requiring a good level of computer literacy.
Ability to establish working network with law enforcement and other security actors.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
FS-Security Analysis
FS-Field Security Operations
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Compte tenu du contexte humanitaire complexe dans le Grand Kasaï et des responsabilités liées au poste de Field Security Associate, GS7, le/la candidat(e) idéal(e) devra répondre aux critères suivants :
•Expérience professionnelle solide dans des environnements opérationnels complexes, de préférence dans des zones post-conflit ou à forte insécurité, incluant des activités de terrain au profit des réfugiés, des retournés et des personnes déplacées internes (PDI).
•Connaissance approfondie du contexte local, notamment des dynamiques communautaires, des risques sécuritaires liés aux litiges fonciers, au pouvoir coutumier et aux tensions intercommunautaires dans les provinces du Grand Kasaï.
•Expérience avérée dans la gestion des risques de sécurité, y compris la capacité à mener des évaluations sécuritaires, à produire des analyses contextuelles et à formuler des recommandations concrètes en matière de prévention et de réponse sécuritaire.
•Formations certifiées du système de gestion de la sécurité des Nations Unies (UNSMS), notamment en matière de Gestion des Risques de Sécurité (SRM), de Sûreté des installations, de gestion des incidents critiques, de sécurité des voyages terrestres et aériens, et de planification sécuritaire.
•Maîtrise des outils informatiques nécessaires au suivi et au reporting sécuritaires (notamment MS Office, systèmes de suivi sécuritaire, cartographie, etc.) et capacité à utiliser les technologies de communication et de surveillance.
•Compétences en communication interculturelle, en animation de briefings sécuritaires, en sensibilisation du personnel (y compris les partenaires) sur les mesures préventives, les comportements à adopter en situation de risque, et les procédures d’urgence.
•Capacité à collaborer étroitement avec les parties prenantes, y compris les forces de défense et de sécurité nationales (PNC, FARDC), les autorités civiles, l’UNDSS, les ONG locales et internationales, ainsi que les agences sœurs du système des Nations Unies.
•Expérience dans le cadre d’une approche Nexus Humanitaire-Développement-Paix, avec aptitude à contribuer à la stabilisation à travers des dispositifs de sécurité communautaire et la consolidation des liens avec les communautés hôtes.
•Sens élevé des responsabilités, proactivité et discrétion professionnelle, en particulier dans le traitement des informations sensibles et la réponse aux incidents impliquant le personnel ou les bénéficiaires.
•Flexibilité, autonomie et capacité d’adaptation pour remplir d’autres tâches connexes selon les besoins du bureau, dans un environnement changeant et sous pression.
•Maîtrise du français (écrit et oral) exigée ; la connaissance des langues locales (telles que le Tshiluba) et/ou de l’anglais constitue un atout supplémentaire.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Grand Kasaï region, the area of operation of the UNHCR sub-delegation in Kananga, faces complex humanitarian challenges. Some 20,000 repatriated refugees and 750,000 people expelled from Angola currently reside there. Added to this are the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Kamuina Nsapu crisis, 135,791 of whom remain displaced, while 36,009 have returned to their localities of origin over the past six months.

These population movements are putting further pressure on already limited access to basic social services – including health, education, water, sanitation and security – exacerbating community tensions and the challenges of peaceful coexistence. In addition, 711 residual Rwandan refugees continue to live in the provinces of Kasai Oriental and Lomami.

Host communities continue to face latent conflicts, particularly in connection with rivalries over customary power, territorial boundaries and other inter-community tensions. The prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) also remains a cause for concern.
In terms of security, the situation in Greater Kasai is generally calm. However, isolated cases of criminality targeting economic operators or people with financial resources have been reported. Inter-community clashes, mainly linked to land disputes and claims to customary power, also continue to be recorded in certain localities.

To contribute to stabilization efforts, an integrated approach based on the Humanitarian Development-Peace Nexus has been implemented since April 2021. Within this framework, the Kananga sub-delegation’s main interventions focus on the return and reintegration of refugees repatriated from Angola, with particular emphasis on five convergence zones identified as villagization sites: Tshilumba and Nkonko in Kasaï Oriental, Kansanpuila in Kasaï, as well as Shamusanda and Kapinga Nkundi also in Kasaï province.

Living and Working Conditions:

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the biggest operation of the Regional Bureau for Southern, and one of the oldest on the whole continent. DRC continues to host over 538,009 refugees countrywide since the beginning of the year (including 216,451 Rwandan refugees, 172,809 CAR refugees, 45,336 Burundian refugees and 102,044 South Sudanese refugees). DRC also continues to host over 4 million IDPs mainly located in the Kasai provinces, and Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika provinces due to inter-tribal conflict, militants illegal activities amongst others.

In line with the 2020-2025 UNHCR DRC Protection Strategy, UNHCR ‘s operations focus on facilitating durable solutions, including local integration and empowerment; providing multi-sectoral assistance to refugees both in camps and for those living with the host community (including on sites, in accordance with an approach of ¿alternatives to camps ¿); building self-reliance by supporting livelihood opportunities for refugees and host communities; protection monitoring, prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and search for durable solutions for Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees; capacity-building vis-à-vis the DRC authorities; providing emergency response.

On the security front, the situation in Greater Kasai is generally calm. However, isolated cases of criminality targeting economic operators or people with financial resources have been reported. Inter-community clashes, mainly linked to land disputes and claims to customary power, also continue to be recorded in certain localities.

To contribute to stabilization efforts, an integrated approach based on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus has been implemented since April 2021. Within this framework, the Kananga sub-delegation’s main interventions focus on the return and reintegration of repatriated refugees

Additional Qualifications

Skills

FS-Field Security Operations, FS-Security Analysis, IT-Computer Literacy

Certifications

Safety and Security – Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance