Security Officer – Surge Roster/Interim

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Position Title: security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security Officer – Surge Roster/Interim
Location: Turkey
Country: Turkey
Deadline Date: Please apply immediately as we will be reviewing applicants on a rolling basis.

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International (RI) is a prominent non-profit organization established to alleviate poverty, promote well-being, and uphold dignity across 16 countries worldwide. The organization specializes in fragile settings, responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and chronic poverty. RI integrates humanitarian and development approaches to provide immediate services while laying the groundwork for long-term impact and resilience. The organization focuses on health/nutrition, education, economic opportunity, and water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) programming, while also addressing protection, environmental issues, climate change, and conflict mitigation in collaboration with the communities it serves. RI operates through three corporate members: RI-US, RI-UK, and MRCA/RI-France, functioning under a shared management structure. With a workforce of approximately 5,000 staff members, 97% of whom are local nationals, RI also employs around 90 international staff. In 2021, the organization had a program budget of about $125 million, funded by a diverse range of institutional donors including the US, UK, Europe, and the UN, to deliver life-saving and resilience-building programs in partnership with local and international stakeholders. RI is committed to supporting solutions that enhance existing in-country systems and establishing a foundation for sustainable change in areas where such systems are lacking or underperforming.

Job Overview:
The Security Officer position is crucial for reducing risks to program personnel and assets of all national and international RI staff and their dependents in the designated area. The role involves providing specialized, coordinated, and focused security management support. The Security Officer will assess the security of the operational environment and maintain an effective security management system in line with RI policies and standards. Responsibilities include ongoing threat assessment, advising on risk management, maintaining appropriate guidelines, and ensuring that field working practices are robust. The officer will also work closely with field teams to build capacity and motivation, ensuring that security analysis and management responsibilities are effectively handled at the field level. Collaboration with other humanitarian NGOs, embassies, and community leaders is essential to facilitate and secure RI's field missions and operations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Security Officer will be responsible for the following key duties:

• Support the design and implementation of the RI Security Management System in the Surge Area.
• Advise on the implementation of safety and security measures.
• Conduct Security Risk Analysis (SRA) as needed and enforce measures to minimize operational risks.
• Perform safety and security assessments in the Surge Area of operation.
• Provide feedback and advice post-assessment on risks, strategies, and best practices for safety and security management.
• Support the implementation of the RI Security Management System in accordance with RI security instructions, including security plans, SOPs, and contingency plans.
• Monitor, evaluate, and suggest improvements to the RI Security Management System based on staff observations and inputs.
• Facilitate staff safety and security training sessions.
• Communicate and cooperate with relevant external actors in the areas of responsibility as determined by the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Country Director. 1
• Participate in the country security, incident, and crisis management team. 1
• Uphold and promote RI’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable communities. 1
• Contribute to ensuring that all interactions with Relief International staff and the communities served are safe and trustworthy. 1
• Support the development of systems that prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, promoting the implementation of the Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies. 1
• Collaborate with the Global Safeguarding Manager to advocate for the inclusion of safeguarding activities and resources within programs. 1
• Demonstrate knowledge of donor requirements regarding safeguarding standards and protection from exploitation and abuse.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a relevant university degree or higher education, preferably in international relations, development, political science, or social studies. Additionally, relevant experience in security work, particularly in the UN or NGO environment, is required. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to work under challenging conditions and high-pressure situations, along with proven experience in administration, security management, and training. Experience in liaising with civilian and military government authorities, as well as regional, national, and international institutions, is preferable. A significant understanding of complex emergencies and crisis contexts, along with political and cultural awareness, is essential. Candidates should also possess strong communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.

Educational Background:
The position requires a relevant university degree or higher education, ideally in fields such as international relations, development, political science, or social studies. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of security management in humanitarian contexts and for effectively engaging with various stakeholders.

Experience:
Candidates should have relevant experience in security work, preferably within the UN or NGO sectors. They must demonstrate the ability to operate effectively under difficult conditions and high-pressure environments. Proven experience in administration, security management, and training is essential, along with experience in liaising with government authorities and institutions at various levels. A significant understanding of complex emergencies and crisis contexts is also required, as well as awareness of gender and cultural issues.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken Turkish is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in the Arabic language is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in diverse contexts and with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as requiring standard pre-employment checks, and due to the nature of this emergency role, only candidates already based in Turkey will be considered. The role is part of Relief International’s Surge Roster for short-term assignments, which may vary from weeks to months, aimed at managing periods of emergency and transition. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful harassment, sexual exploitation, and abuse, and all staff are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct. Recruitment for all roles includes a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre-employment checks, which may encompass police and qualifications verification.