Security and Access Manager

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Position Title: security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security and Access Manager
Location: Damascus
Country: Syria
Deadline Date: Rolling basis

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization established to partner with communities affected by conflict, climate change, and disaster. The organization aims to save lives, build resilience, and promote long-term health and wellbeing. With a workforce of over 7,000 staff and local volunteers, RI operates in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing essential services in Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education, and Livelihoods. RI is an alliance of four organizations—Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK, and Relief International-Europe—working under a unified leadership team to implement evidence-based, conflict-sensitive, and climate-smart programming that reaches those in need.

Job Overview:
The Security and Access Manager is a pivotal leadership role within Relief International, tasked with ensuring the safety and security of the organization's staff, assets, and operations in Syria. This position is critical in developing and implementing effective security and access strategies, conducting thorough risk assessments, and enhancing the organization's capacity to operate safely in a volatile and high-risk environment. The role involves leading access negotiations, creating contingency plans, and providing strategic guidance to the country team. Initially based in Amman, the position requires regular travel to operational areas in Syria. Given the urgency of this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, emphasizing the need for immediate engagement in security management.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Security and Access Manager will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including but not limited to: leading the identification of risks in the working environment and project locations; fostering a culture of security awareness and collaboration within the team; leading access negotiations and providing advice to senior management; ensuring that security risk management is integrated into all areas of implementation and planning; regularly reviewing security risk management tools and ensuring staff are trained on their use; continuously monitoring changes in the security environment and updating risk mitigation strategies accordingly; managing the security budget and tracking expenditures; providing technical support to area security focal points; updating security risk assessments and contingency plans; guiding staff on humanitarian access analysis and training needs; acting as the security lead for critical incident management; collaborating with the Regional Security and Access Director; developing and delivering training for staff; reporting safety and security incidents; maintaining effective communication with external stakeholders; and creating a positive work environment that promotes diversity and equal opportunities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience, with a minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in security and access management in high-risk settings, particularly in conflict and post-conflict environments. Strong analytical skills and experience in conducting high-quality risk assessments are essential. Proven experience in providing security risk management training, leading teams in high-risk locations, and managing critical incidents is required. Candidates should demonstrate excellent communication skills, the ability to work independently, and strong leadership and management capabilities. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and mapping software, as well as tracking and satellite communication systems, is necessary. Fluency in English is mandatory, while knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree is required, although relevant work experience may substitute for formal education. Candidates with certifications in security risk management or related fields will be viewed favorably. Additional qualifications such as FREC 3, MIRA, or equivalent certifications, as well as qualifications to deliver emergency HEAT and first aid/trauma care, are advantageous.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in security and access management, particularly in high-risk environments. Candidates should have a proven track record of leading teams in challenging contexts and managing critical incidents effectively. Experience in the Middle East, particularly in Syria or similar regional contexts, is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Arabic is considered a valuable asset, enhancing communication and operational effectiveness in the region.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as requiring standard pre-employment checks and enhanced due diligence. The role involves travel within Syria and potentially to neighboring countries. The position is categorized as professional level P7, indicating a seniority level that requires significant expertise and leadership capabilities. The organization emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy work environment, managing workloads effectively, and preventing excessive stress and burnout among staff.