Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator

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.

The IRC is seeking a Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator (HASC) for its Libya program based in Tripoli with travel to program locations and the support office in Tunisia. A member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the HASC will work with country leadership to ensure that organizational security policies and procedures are responsive to the context, are contextually appropriate and known to staff, and will advise on humanitarian access processes and approaches in close coordination with program teams.

Reporting to both the Country Director and Regional Safety and Security Director (RSSD), the HASC will analyze security trends, advise, update, and implement IRC’s Security Management Plans. The HASC will streamline humanitarian access approaches in line with humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care and the IRC’s strategy action plans for Libya.

The HASC will conduct onsite training for staff, facilitate the development and implementation of appropriate plans, standard operating procedures and contingency plans. S/he will provide expert humanitarian security and access advice to all levels of IRC staff across the country program including building relationships, negotiating and mediating humanitarian access, contextual understanding, and conflict analysis, advisories, and incident management. This position will manage the HAS Manager in Libya.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS AND COORDINATION:

Reports to: Country Director (CD) and Regional Safety and Security Director (RSSD)

Direct Supervision: HAS Manager

Technical Supervision: HAS Officer in East Libya who reports to the Field Coordinator

Internal collaboration: Deputy Directors, Field Coordinators, Program Senior Managers, and Operations Staff, Grants and Partnerships staff, Supply Chain, HR Departments and Regional Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety and Security Management Planning

• Provide technical support to the CD on all policies, procedures, guidelines and planning for staff safety, operational security and program continuity.
• Evaluate, review and update security management plans on a regular basis.
• Ensure compliance with IRC’s minimum security standards.
• Work with key stakeholders to develop, consolidate and implement operating procedures and contingency plans.
• Evaluate, review and update the hibernation and evacuation plans for all IRC offices and residences in Libya and ensure that practical preparations are in place and known to all relevant staff.
• Conduct risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices and residences.
• Undertake continual assessments of equipment, and the protocols by which that equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met.
• Provide and implement best possible solutions for use of equipment to facilitate communication between staff, including proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment.
• Develop and maintain a network of IRC Security Focal Points at each field office and program sites enhancing gender balance.
• Ensure safety and security protocols, reporting mechanisms, and capacity building initiatives account for gender-specific risks, staff profiles and background, and are sensitive to local contexts.

Humanitarian Access Management

• Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites in Libya.
• Ensure humanitarian access approaches are responsive to local context and include overarching community engagement components.
• Oversee and provide structure to ongoing relationships and approval processes with local authorities within Libya.
• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission and work in all areas of operation is known and accepted.
• Work to encourage stakeholders to collaborate with IRC in ensuring that staff and programs are safe and given permission to continue humanitarian activities in Libya.

Networking and Liaison

• Maintain a network of IRC security focal points across Libya as well as external professional contacts and counterparts.
• Provide timely feedback on questions and technical assistance requests from country program team members, MENA regional staff and HQ.
• Monitor and provide support and reporting on NGO field security initiatives, as required.
• Identify, create and maintain a network with NGO/UN and other humanitarian access and security specialists appropriate to Libya.
• Facilitate NGO security coordination through networking, collaboration and coordination with humanitarian actors. Liaise with relevant peer actors e.g., NGO Security Focal Points, the Libyan INGO Forum, etc.

Training and Capacity Building

• Update and implement capacity building plans to ensure staff are capacitated to identify, manage and mitigate risks appropriately .
• Work closely with the Regional office to identify learning and development needs across the country program.
• Provide regular trainings for IRC staff on humanitarian principles and safety and security preparedness. Training(s) may include Standard Operational Procedures, Humanitarian Negotiations, Contextual Understanding, Safety and Security Risk Management, Incident Management & Reporting; etc.
• Work with relevant internal focal points to develop and review information and on-boarding package for new hires and visitors.

Context Understanding and Reporting

• Compile and submit regular reports that track incidents and trends in humanitarian access and local security contexts within IRC’s areas of operation.
• Submit regular contextual updates as needed to relevant field and program management staff.
• Work closely with IRC field management teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately. Ensure that final incident reports are provided when IRC is closing the case.
• Ensure that all incidents are reported on IRC’s online reporting system within 48 hours of the incident occurring.
• Monitor the operating environment in the region, identify new threats, assess IRC vulnerabilities and recommend possible responses
• Coordinate regularly with the RSSD on safety and security, and fulfill reporting requirements to the region
• Provide credible information and contextual understanding of localized and country-wide security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to IRC field and program management staff.

Program Development

• Participate in program design in close cooperation with Deputy Director of Programs and other relevant staff.
• Support Program Senior Managers and field management staff in developing conflict-sensitive and contextually appropriate approaches in Libya.
• Participate in program review meetings and contribute to implementation plans to ensure the timely, safe, and secure delivery of IRC service to beneficiaries.
• Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks pertaining to humanitarian access, safety, and security, and contribute to the development and implementation of mitigation measures and plans.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the security members in field offices
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Job Requirements

• 5 years of experience, including substantial non-profit or NGO work within international humanitarian assistance programs, with proven ability to plan, organize, and manage security operations in high-risk field settings.
• A university degree in Security Risk Management, International Relations, Political Science, or a related field is advantageous.
• Demonstrated understanding of humanitarian principles and sector-specific practices relevant to field operations.
• Knowledge of communication technologies (e.g., satellite communications, mobile networks) is an asset.
• Experience in delivering training; ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.
• Proven management experience, including people and projects.
• Solid ability to provide team-building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation.
• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with external stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation and mediation skills essential with experience in conflict resolution essential
• Superior oral and written communication skills, with the ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including local and international NGOs, government authorities, and community actors, with a high level of cultural sensitivity and diplomacy.
• Digital literacy: MS Word, Excel & email applications required; MS Access, Project & GIS preferred.

Language/Travel:

• Fluency in English and Arabic (verbal and writing) required.
• 30% travel.

Working Environment

The security level is 3 (Orange) in Tripoli. Staff must comply with all IRC security policies and procedures applicable to IRC employee.

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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