Safety and Access Coordinator

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profitmaking, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Overall purpose of the role: 

Under the direct line management of the Country Director, the Safety and Access Coordinator is overall responsible for all aspects of the DRC Safety Risk Management (SRM) system and humanitarian access related matters, including implementation, update and contextualization, for all DRC programmes within geographical area of responsibility.

This role has a country focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. As such, the role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks.

The role provides support and/or technical guidance (including safety and access assessment) to country operations while overseeing country activities to enable staff to conduct their work in a confident, safe, sustainable, principle-based and effective manner. The coordinator enables, ensures, contextualizes and report compliance to DRC MOSS security management system, while achieving effective access and continuity of operations through close cooperation with programmes. Thus, the coordinator provides regular support and technical advice on humanitarian access taking into account global guidelines and tools and regularly updating country access strategy and red lines.

Hence, the coordinator is co-leading the Humanitarian Access Working Group along with OCHA and he/she is part of the Safety and Security Forum where, along with DRC S&A officer, ensure regular coordination support.

Main responsibilities of the role:

Safety:

• Act as the national focal point for safety
• Oversee, update and ensure applicability of the Safety Risk Management (SRM) process
• Develop and support implementation of area and country safety management policies, protocols and procedures
• Facilitate Safety Risk Assessments (SRAs) and support the implementation of mitigation measures
• Analyze, manage and report relevant information within geographical area of responsibility
• Maintain relevant safety documentation, data and records for the areas of concern
• Develop the capacity of, and coordinate, relevant Crisis Management Teams (CMTs)
• Co-leading of Safety and Security national forum
• Technically advise on the procurement of safety-related equipment, facilities and other resources.
• Ensure active participation and contribution to the Senior Management Team (SMT)
• Regularly update Regional Safety Coordinator on relevant safety matters
• Ensure adequate support to DRC local partners in terms of safety and security

Access:

• Act as the national focal point for access
• Oversee, update and ensure applicability of the Access Strategy and Red Lines
• Provide technical support and analysis to support the development of specific access strategies at local level
• Co-leading of HAWG along with OCHA
• Develop and oversee access related risk analysis
• Regularly update Global Access Unit on relevant access matters
• Ensure adequate support to DRC local partners in terms of humanitarian access

Training, supervision and support

• Support and deliver safety and access-related training on a regular base and update training tracker at regional level
• Mentor and provide technical supervision to local safety staff and to DRC local partners
• Facilitate surge support to C/IMTs as required.

As Coordinator the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Responsible for coordinating strategy and operations within a specific discipline in the country
• Usually has technical line responsibilities within a given discipline, for both strategy and operations
• Ensure transversality of safety and access among the different areas of the organization (support services, programme and operations)
• Provides expert advice and support to set strategy and assure operational quality and compliance
• Realize qualitative report including contextual analysis
• Keep track of safety and access incidents ensuring prompt responses and providing ad hoc recommendations
• Support drafting of reports both internally and for external stakeholders (donors, partners, NGOs community etc)

Roles reporting to this position

• No direct reports (technical position) but supervises safety and access teams and work closely with Safety&Access Officer, area managers, base managers, director of operations and DRC programme teams.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Minimum 5 years of working experience as a safety and access manager/adviser with an NGO
• A master degree in international relations, political science or similar
• Proven ability of coordination abilities in complex, volatile and insecure environments
• Experience working in multicultural work settings
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized protocols and systems
• Experience with information gathering, analysis and report writing
• Ability to conduct and produce high quality safety risk assessments (SRAs)
• Experience in managing access in volatile and complex areas
• Experience with critical incident management
• Experience with delivering safety&access-related training
• Experience working in hostile or hazardous environments
• Full professional proficiency in Spanish and English.

Desirable

• Previous experience in co-leading a coordination space
• Remote management experience
• Calm and diplomatic in nature;
• Ability to manage competing priorities and to meet deadlines;
• Effective team-player;
• For this role, the best candidate will also demonstrate ability to think beyond evidence, to deliver results and solve problems. He/She will show wit and ambition as well as a longsighted mindset.
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills, excellent communication skills, calm and a good sense of humor
• Knowledge of Colombian context a plus

Education: 

Master's degree in political science, peace & conflict studies, history, disaster management or a military education

Languages: 

• Spanish fluid
• English Fluid

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of
• Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. 

We offer

Contract length: 12 months 

Band: F Non Manager

Type of Contract: Expatriate and National contract

Designation of Duty Station: Bogotá - family Duty Station

Start date: 15th November 2024

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. 

End date of application: October 7th, 2024

Note 1: The applicant who applies to this selection process authorizes DRC to validate the personal information provided in the CV. Your identification will be checked in public and private databases for the exclusive use of validating the information, in accordance with our anti-fraud, money laundry and terrorist financing policies.

Note 2: The applicant who freely and voluntarily wishes to take part in the selection process to occupy the position of this publish, must observe strict adherence to the rules that apply to the matter (suitability in the titles presented, execution of tests in a personal and individual and truthfulness in the information) adhering to the manuals and anti-fraud policies of DRC, under penalty of disqualifying the applicant who incurs in any irregularity in the opinion of the organization, even by suspicion, and even in possible criminal conduct under Colombian law.