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.

Context

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is operating in a period of significant strategic and financial transition marked by complex safety and security risks, reduced humanitarian access capacity globally, and evolving threats to staff and program delivery. As country programs and regional teams face increased constraints due to funding reductions, deteriorating security environments, and limited field-facing safety & security (S&S) staffing, the IRC is investing in deployable global surge capacity to ensure secure program delivery, strengthened humanitarian access, and timely support to frontline leadership.

The Global Safety & Security Advisor (GSSA) is a newly created role designed to place high-caliber, flexible technical support directly at the disposal of regions and country programs, ensuring that decision-makers closest to clients have rapid access to senior-level expertise. The role will reinforce the IRC’s global safety & security architecture, strengthen regional and country-level systems, and support IRC’s ability to maintain safe access to crisis-affected populations.

The GSSA is primarily a deployable global role supporting regions and countries remotely nominally 80% of the time and traveling up to 40-50% for field deployments, crisis support, and leadership coverage.

Position Summary

The GSSA provides high-level, flexible, and deployable safety, security, and humanitarian access support across IRC’s global footprint. The GSSA operates as a technical “surge” resource capable of stepping into the roles of Regional Safety & Security Director (RSSD), Regional Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator (RHASC), or Country Security Lead, depending on deployment context and regional needs.

Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Safety & Security (SDSS), the GSSA provides both proactive and reactive support to regions and country programs including remote deployments, short-notice crisis surge, technical coaching/mentoring, and leadership coverage. When deployed, the GSSA reports exclusively to the relevant Regional Safety & Security Director, Regional Vice President, or Country Director, while maintaining administrative support from the SDSS.

The GSSA will strengthen global systems, reinforce Security Minimum Standards (SMS), enhance humanitarian access strategies, and build the capacity of IRC staff. When not deployed, the GSSA contributes to global priorities including strategy, policy development, incident analysis, learning initiatives, and organizational projects led by the SDSS and the Chief Safety & Security Officer (CSSO).

Responsibilities:

Deployable Security Leadership

• Deploy (remotely or in-person) to regions and country programs to provide short- or long-term gap coverage in roles such as Regional Safety & Security Director (RSSD), Regional Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator (RHASC), or Country Security Lead, as requested.
• When deployed, operate under the Management in Partnership (MiP) model, reporting to the relevant Regional Safety & Security Director, Regional Vice President, and/or Country Director.
• Provide short-notice surge support for crises, scale-ups, and deteriorating security environments.
• Lead or support the set-up, adaptation, or stabilization of safety, security, and access systems during periods of change, transition, or leadership turnover.
• Deliver structured handover notes and recommendations at the end of each deployment to support continuity and follow-up by regional and country leadership.

Technical Leadership & Support

• Provide expert guidance on security risk management, humanitarian access, and duty of care to country and regional leadership, both remotely and during field deployments.
• Support or lead the development and improvement of SRAs, Security Management Plans, contingency plans, and SOPs in line with IRC global standards.
• Strengthen principled access strategies through context analysis, acceptance-building, and engagement with state and non-state actors.
• Monitor adherence to Security Minimum Standards (SMS), identify gaps, and drive corrective actions with relevant teams.
• Provide real-time support during incidents and crises, including escalation guidance, scenario planning, and After-Action Reviews.
• Analyze security incidents and trends to inform decision-making at country, regional, and global levels.
• Lead or support training and capacity-building initiatives (e.g., READI, incident management), including coaching and mentoring S&S staff and partner organizations.
• Collaborate with regional and global teams (GEDI, Partnerships, P&C, CRRU) to ensure integrated and inclusive approaches to risk management and staff care.

Global Strategy, Systems & Projects

• Contribute to the development and refinement of global safety & security policies, standards, and guidance, ensuring they are practical and usable at field level.
• Support global initiatives led by the SDSS, including work on duty of care, humanitarian access frameworks, incident management systems, and security risk analysis tools.
• Participate in or lead time-bound global projects when not deployed to a region or country.
• Provide a field-informed perspective into organizational strategy discussions ensuring safety, security, and access considerations are integrated into programmatic and operational planning.

Key Working Relationships

Reports to:
Senior Director, Safety & Security (SDSS)

When deployed:

• Regional Safety & Security Director (RSSD)
• Regional Vice President (RVP)
• Country Director (under MiP model)

Key Internal Relationships:
Regional S&S Directors, Country S&S Leads, and global S&S learning team.

External:
Partner organizations, peer agencies, security networks, thematic working groups, and security providers.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of multi-country and multi-regional experience in safety & security risk management, humanitarian access, or crisis management in insecure environments.
• Demonstrated ability to assume senior S&S leadership roles (RSSD, Coordinator, and Country Lead) during deployments.
• Fluency in English and French required. Other IRC languages preferred.
• Experience in providing both remote and in-person technical support to teams operating in high-risk environments.
• Proven ability to design and lead capacity building, practical training, and mentorship initiatives.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, codes of conduct, and operational realities of NGOs.
• Demonstrated experience integrating gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches to risk management.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to rapidly interpret complex security dynamics.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills, including working across cultures and without direct authority.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 40-50% of the time, often to insecure environments.

Work Environment:

• The position may be based in in one IRC’s regional or international hubs as identified in the job posting. The security situation in stable and living conditions allow family setting.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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