Humanitarian Access, Safety, and Security Coordinator

Borno | Maiduguri

Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
Location: Borno | Maiduguri
Grade: Mid level - Mid level
Occupational Groups:
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
- Security and Safety
- Managerial positions
Closing Date:

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.

GeneralOverviewofIRCin Nigeria

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping torestore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of AlbertEinstein, theIRCis atworkinmore than 40 countries and 29U.S. cities to help people survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen their communities. In Nigeria, the IRC provides lifesaving and resilience-building programs across multiple sectors, addressing the needs of conflict- affected andcrisis-impacted communitiesthroughintegratedhumanitarianassistanceanddevelopmentprojects.

The Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Coordinator (HASS Coordinator) plays a critical role in supporting the effective implementation of IRC’s operations in Nigeria. Reporting to the Senior Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Coordinator (SHASSC), this position deputizes for the SHASSC and provides technical oversight to the HASS Team, ensuring compliance with IRC’s global standards and alignment with donor requirements. The HASS Coordinator will drive the development and implementation of humanitarian access strategies, safety protocols, and security management systems across IRC’s programs in Nigeria.

MajorResponsibilities

Management&Coordination

Deputize for the SHASSC in providing day-to-day oversight of the Humanitarian Access & Security Department, including mentoring and supporting HASS team members.
Provide technicalguidance and supportto field managers andcoordinatorson safety and access-related policies, procedures, and guidelines, in line with IRC’s Global Security Strategy and SecurityMinimum Standards (SMS).
Contribute to reviewing, updating, and implementing country-wide security management plans, operational protocols, and context-specific guidance for all IRC locations in Nigeria.
Collaborate with supply chain, finance, and HR teams to ensure security and safety considerations are integrated into budgeting, procurement, and personnel planning as needed.

ContextUnderstanding&Analysis

Compile and share regular reports on security incidents and humanitarian accesstrends, offering clear, data-driven insights to the SHASSC and senior leadership.
Providecredibleinformation,analysis,andforecastingonlocalizedandnationalsecuritycontexts, highlighting implications for IRC programs and staff safety.
Conductorsupportsecurityriskassessments(SRAs)andaccessreviewsincoordinationwithfield teams, ensuring that recommended mitigation measures are tracked and implemented.

HumanitarianAccess&StrategyDevelopment

Develop responsive, context-appropriate humanitarian access strategies that facilitate program delivery in insecure or hard-to-reach areas.
PromotecommunityacceptanceofIRC’smissionandhumanitarianprinciplesthroughproactive stakeholder engagement, relationship-building, and effective communication strategies.
Contributetocontingencyplanningfornewoperationalareas,supportingprogramdesignand implementation with risk-mitigation inputs.

Training&CapacityBuilding

IdentifyknowledgeandskillgapsamongIRCstaffandpartnersregardingsecurityprotocols, humanitarian access, and risk management.
Facilitate and/orco-deliver trainings on security awareness, incident reporting, and crisis management, ensuring consistent capacity-building across all field sites.
Coach and mentor the HASSteam, field security focal points, and relevant program staffto strengthen technical competencies, including readiness to respond to emerging risks.

Program&PartnerCycleManagement

Collaboratewithprogramteamsduringprojectdesign,implementation,andreview,ensuringthat access and security considerations are integrated into all phases.
Engage in partner and vendor assessments to verify adherence to humanitarian principles, identifying and mitigating security and access risks in supply chain andpartnership arrangements.
Support the implementation of mitigation measures, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and IRC’s duty of care obligations.

Networking&Liaison

BuildandmaintainanetworkofsecurityfocalpointswithinIRCandamongpeeragencies, government offices, local communities, and other relevant stakeholders.
Represent IRC in inter-agency forums, security clusters, and NGO security networks, as delegated by the SHASSC.
KeepupdatedcontactlistsandwardensystemsforIRCoffices,ensuringeffectivecommunication channels for staff alerts and incident reporting.

EmergencyPreparedness&Response

IncoordinationwiththeSHASSC,assistindevelopingandtestingcountry-levelemergency preparedness plans, ensuring alignment with identified scenarios.
Advise and support the establishment of Critical Incident Management Teams (CIMTs) at field levels, strengthening rapid response and crisis management capabilities.
Contributetomaintainingcurrentevacuationandmedevacplans,workingalongsideHRandother departments to safeguard staff well-being.

People&Culture &StaffDevelopment

Promoteacultureofsafety,respect,andteamspirit,fosteringanenvironmentinwhichstafffeel supported and well-informed about security policies.
Ensureregularcheck-insandperformancereviewsfordirectreports,guidingthecreationand monitoring of individual development plans.
Advocate forstaff care, self-care, andpsychosocial support, engaging HR asnecessary to address well- being concerns related to security stresses

KeyWorkingRelationships

Internal:SHASSC(Supervisor),CountryandFieldManagementTeams,Program Coordinators/Managers, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, and M&E teams.

External: NGOcounterparts, UNagencies, community leaders, security networks, government security agencies (as appropriate).

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

University degree in Security Management, Political Science, International Relations, or a related field preferred; a technical degree or certification in security-related disciplines with significant experience may be considered.

Experience:

5+yearsofprogressive experience in humanitarian access, safety, and security management in complex contexts, preferably including Nigeria or similar environments.
Demonstratedrecordofimplementingsecuritymanagementframeworks,protocols,and capacity-building initiatives at the field level.
TechnicalSkills&Competencies:
Stronggraspofhumanitarianprinciples,duty-of-carestandards,and NGOsecurityprotocols.
Provenabilitytoanalyzesecuritycontexts,synthesizeinformation,andproduceactionable recommendations.
Experienceindesigningandleadingstafftrainings,capacity-buildingworkshops,orsimulations related to security and access.
SoftSkills &Attributes:
Excellentcoordination,interpersonal,andnegotiationskills,withanabilitytocultivate collaborative relationships internally and externally.
Self-motivated,abletoworkeffectivelyunderpressure,prioritizetasks,anddeliverhigh- quality results in dynamic security contexts.
Demonstratedculturalsensitivity,professionalism,andacommitmenttosafeguardingand ethics.
LanguageProficiency:
Fluency in writtenand spoken Englishisrequired;proficiencyinlocalNigerianlanguagesisan advantage.

Standards of Professional Conduct The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

WorkEnvironment

The position will be based in Maiduguri, Nigeria with extensive travel tofield sites. Travel may be under challenging security environments that require robust risk-management protocols and flexibility.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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