Job Title: Security Officer

Location: Based in Mogadishu with some travel to rural districts

Job Holder Reports To: Senior Project Manager / Head of Office, Mogadishu

Role Overview

The purpose of this role is to support the day-to-day security management of Medair staff and locations in Mogadishu and to provide security advice to the Somalia programme management team.

Key responsibilities are:

•       Act as focal point and liaison for security for Medair in Mogadishu.

•       Follow and record staff movement (project and base) to enable Senior Management to respond in real time to a security incident/situation.

•       Supervise the provision of contracted security services and liaise with the provider.

•       Ensure emergency preparedness for a security incident in the vicinity of Medair’s Mogadishu base.

NB. Medair mainstreams security management, therefore the Security Officer is not the ultimate decision-maker for security, as responsibility still lies with the CD, (or delegated to the DCD). However, the Security Officer plays a key role in providing independent and context-specific advice and analysis to enable them to make wise and timely decisions.

Project Overview

Medair’s programme in Somalia works alongside local partners to provide health and nutrition services through primary healthcare facilities and mobile outreaches. This is complemented by a strong integrated community health network consisting of Care Groups and integrated community case management workers in hard-to-reach areas. Medair also provides safe water supply to communities in the health facility catchment areas, as well as responding to new emergencies like disease outbreaks or new waves of displacement.

Key Activity Area

Security Management

-          Track the movement of Medair staff and log their check-ins, reporting any missed check-ins to senior management immediately.

-          Security Focal Point for all Medair staff working in Mogadishu, Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle.

-          Provide technical support, as required, to field management during context and situational assessments to help develop an understanding of the issues that can affect security (e.g. culture, ethnicity, politics, religion, economics, crime, social issues, etc.)

-          Conduct or support teams in conducting, risk, threat, and vulnerability assessments, as well as site assessments and RSAs.

-          Provide risk analysis (in line with Medair’s approach to acceptable risk) that informs and supports relevant field managers in their decision-making.

-          Recommend mitigating measures that reduce the likelihood or impact of identified risks.

-          Support teams in the drafting, reviewing, and updating of location-specific security plans, recommending any necessary changes in light of the evolving security context.

-          Consolidate existing and/or develop new security-related standard operating procedures, ensuring and enforcing their usability by the relevant Medair team members.

-          Support team members with the reporting of security-related incidents, including full analysis and appropriate follow-up.

Crisis Management

-          Work with field managers to build a network of useful contacts to help prevent or resolve security incidents.

-          Ensure the crisis management plan is in place, under the authority of the CD, be involved in setting up of a Field Crisis Management Team and conducting drills to test crisis preparedness.

-          Be a member of the Field Crisis Management Team as and when required.

-          Regularly review documents and equipment to support crisis management, ensuring items are in line with standard procedures, up-to-date and in good working order. This includes, but is not limited to, contact information, personnel files, communication equipment, emergency supplies, safe rooms, etc.

Base Security:

-          Supervise the contracted guard service, ensuring that the duty rota is being adhered to, that guards are alert and fit for duty, that appropriate records are being kept, and that any concerns or incidents are notified to Medair in a timely manner.

-          Act as the liaison with Medair’s external security contractor and their main communication focal point.

-          Ensure that the base security facilities are maintained in good repair, that appropriate equipment is available and functional, and that emergency kits and hibernation stocks are checked and maintained on a regular basis.

-          Support colleagues responsible for running the Medair base(s) (e.g. office premises, staff housing, field bases, etc.) to ensure the security of the compounds.

-          Conduct regular physical security inspection of the Medair base and advise on areas requiring improvements or security reinforcements.

-          Ensure that fire prevention devices and fire equipment are available, working and maintained as required. Arrange for fire techniques trainings.

-          Ensure the base has adequate assembly points and evacuation spaces.

-      Ensure security lighting is regularly checked and functional, sufficient stock for spare lighting supplies e.g bulbs.

-          Supervise the issuance of identity cards, background checks and entry for visitors.

-          Provide technical specifications of security equipment and follow up on it in procurement and functionality.

-          Report any issues or concerns to the line manager and Medair senior management (CD/ DCD) immediately and accurately.

 Induction, Briefing and Training

-          Brief all new staff joining Medair in Mogadishu, Middle Shabelle or Lower Shabelle on the security situation and Medair’s security plans and SOPs.

-          Brief visitors on relevant security issues, providing security and safety related refresher training such as first aid, fire incidents management in coordination with security advisor as required.

-          Give a security briefing to any staff visiting field locations prior to their departure.

-          Provide regular security briefings for Medair’s Mogadishu team, updating them on security developments.

-          Source and recommend relevant security training for staff in close coordination with the CD/DCD in areas such as personal security, use of communication equipment, landmine awareness, first aid, fire etc.

-          Participate in review of the security plans of Medair’s local partners and provide appropriate recommendations where needed to support risk management.

Communication

-          Attend locally and nationally convened security coordination meetings as appropriate, such as INSO, representing Medair as the security focal point for the programme.

-          Regularly discuss the security situation with Medair’s partner organisations, sharing and requesting updates and brainstorming with them regarding appropriate responses to any changes in the context.

-          Collate relevant security information from available sources and share with Medair staff as appropriate.

-          Provide regular security briefings, as appropriate, to the field management, other team members and visitors.

-          Ensure relevant security information is made available to staff in a language they understand or is explained verbally to those with limited reading ability.

-          Liaise regularly with the GSO Security Advisor on best practice and for technical support.

Quality Management

-          Promote and use Medair standard formats and guidelines for security management.

-          Review compliance of the country programme security set-up with Medair’s policies and procedures

Team Life

•       Reflects the Medair values to partners and partners’ staff.

•       Be a team player and take leadership in team life and during field visits.

•       Be able to visit remote project areas and support field and partner staff.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.