Security Specialist, Office of Security Coordinator (OSC), West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO), Dakar, Senegal, NOC

The Position:

The Office of the Security Coordinator (OSC) at UNFPA Headquarters, New York coordinates and leads the organization’s global response to safety and security management to enable the strategic direction of the Executive Director with regard to safety and security of UNFPA personnel, property and assets.  OSC provides technical advice, guidance and support in the implementation of security policies and procedures to the Executive Director, senior managers and personnel to fulfill their security related accountabilities.  OSC also leads the organizations Business Continuity Management (BCM) preparation, validation and testing of Business Continuity Plans (BCPs). 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

 

The key functions of the Office of the Security Coordinator are:

1. Enable the delivery of activities guided by the 1994 Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) targets and objectives, the UNFPA Strategic Plan in compliance with United Nations and UNFPA safety and security policies and procedures; 
2. Coordinate strategic corporate safety and security management policies and procedures internally within the organization and with external partners. 
3. Mainstream safety and security in organizational programmes and activities;
4. Lead crisis management, preparedness and business continuity management for UNFPA offices globally in support of managers in their respective geographic areas of responsibility.
5. Lead the corporate Business Continuity Management (BCM), oversee the preparation, validation and testing of Business Continuity Plans (BCPs). 
6. Represent UNFPA at the UN Security Management Policy Forums to ensure the organization's specific interests and needs are incorporated in security policies and procedures. 

In addition to OSC staff at Headquarters, the Regional Security Advisers (RSAs) are members of the team, located at each Regional Office to undertake the aforementioned activities in their respective areas of responsibility.

The Security Specialist reports to the Regional Security Adviser (RSA) on security policy, technical and administrative matters, assisting the RSA in the provision of safety and security advice to offices in the region.  The security specialist serves as a member of the regional management team, together with the RSA and assists Regional Director(s),country offices Representatives, programme managers with the aim to enhance their ability to make informed risk decisions, manage security risks in accordance with the UN Framework of Accountability and UNFPA Security Accountability Policy. 

 

You would be responsible for:

Key End-Results:

1. Effective implementation of Security Risk Management (SRM), Business Continuity Management in UNFPA activities and operations conducted in compliance with applicable policies and procedures;
2. Strengthened crisis preparedness and management at regional and country offices;
3. Continued and enhanced programme efficiency and delivery through situational analysis, updated contingency response plans and security risk management compliance levels for all offices;
4. Safety and security considerations including cost considerations for the implementation of security mitigation measures are mainstreamed in programmatic activities;
5. Effective and efficient gender mainstreaming in security and crisis/emergency management;
6. Enhanced collaboration with internal and external partners in support of common goals and objectives; 

Accountabilities, duties and responsibilities: 

Within delegated authority and the given operational set-up, the incumbent may be accountable for all or assigned parts of the following typical duties to provide coordinated and cohesive approach to the development and/or improvement of processes related to Security Risk Management and Business Continuity Management throughout the designated region:

Security Coordination, Enabling delivery of UNFPA mandate: 

1. Under the supervision of the Regional Security Advisor, plan, develop, and coordinate procedures and modalities relevant to the collection, collation, and analysis of security information in support of the UNFPA operations for all offices in the region.
2. Monitor situations and events in the Region and gather and analyze information with the aim of identifying emerging trends and providing early warning of any potential situation that may affect the security of UNFPA staff, premises and assets throughout the Region and that may also impact programme delivery.
3. Monitor the security situation and provide independent and comprehensive analysis with the goal of identifying trends and predicting the specific conditions that would impact on the security of UNFPA personnel and eligible family members, premises, assets, and resources.
4. Advise the Regional Security Advisor on steps needed regarding multi-country or regional geo-security environment and key political dynamics that have the potential to impact on programme delivery.
5. Assist the RSA and coordinate business continuity management (BCM) plans validation for the region, provide guidance and support to offices in the periodical reviews, test and implementation of business continuity plans. 
6. Conduct security assistance missions in support of offices in the region to assess levels of preparedness, identify gaps and guide Representatives in the implementation of cost effective and pragmatic security mitigation measures.  

Security Risk Management and Planning:

1. Advise the Regional Security Adviser in the execution of his/her duties with regards to the security of UNFPA personnel and eligible family members, premises, and in accordance with UN and UNFPA Security Management Systems. Attend as an observer, all SMT/ASMT meetings, assist the UN Department of Security (UNDSS) as appropriate and participate as a member of the security coordination cell established by UNDSS.
2. Provide advice on technical security requirements contained in the UN Security Plan, Security
3. Risk Management (SRM), Residential Security Measures (RSM), and other relevant policies, guidelines, and assessments and monitor their implementation. Provide technical oversight for contracted security providers.
4. Assist the RSA in consolidating security reporting from Country Offices and provide an analysis in the regional context, highlighting the potential impact this may have on programme delivery and particularly, in humanitarian scale up emergencies as needed;
5. Prepare, maintain, and update UNFPA security documentation including security contingency plans and provide the Regional Security Adviser, and the Office of the Security Coordinator (OSC) with mandatory reports in accordance with UNFPA security reporting guidelines. This includes the monitoring/reporting on security compliance and the submission of all Serious Security Incident Reports (SSIRs).

Security Networking and Partnership Building:

1. Under the coordination of the Regional Security Advisor, establish contact and maintain networks with all UNSMS/NGOs security advisors, research organizations (think tanks), humanitarian, developmental and security research institutions and relevant local authorities as appropriate.
2. Under the coordination of the Regional Security Advisor, and relevant Country Representative, provide advice and support to I/NGOs, Consultants or Organizations working as UNFPA implementing partners, in coordination with UNDSS, and using the SLT policies as a framework.

Implementation, compliance and monitoring of UNSMS policies/procedures:

1. Monitor that Country Offices comply with and periodically exercise security procedures/protocols and guidelines including: Security Risk Management Measures (SRM-M) and UNFPA’s Global Security Compliance platform.
2. Review proposals for country and area Security Risk Management measures (SRM-M), Residential Security Measures (RSMs), Local cost shared security budget (LCCSB), and other relevant security documents and provide advice when warranted.

Training, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:

1. Introduce technological innovations and approaches to security procedures and systems.
2. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
3. Organize, plan and/or implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders on security related preparedness and operations.

Work Relations

UNFPA Security Specialist reports to the Regional Security Adviser (RSA) (P5) as a direct supervisor and provides advisory services to the RSA, the Regional Director (D2),  technical advisers covering specialized functions at the Regional Office (P5) within UNFPA and externally with Principal/Chief/Security Advisers (D1, P5, P4) of the Department of Safety and Security (DSS) and UN agencies and funds and Programmes (P5, P4).  

In addition, the incumbent interacts directly with a wide range of external stakeholders: senior Government officials at the duty station and representatives of member states, senior officials of INGOs, donors, implementing partners, professional associations.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in Social or Political Science, law or public administration or a discipline related to Risk Management, International Relations, Conflict Analysis and Resolution or equivalent formal training in security and risk management such as military and/or police senior command staff college. 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional work experience, with at least three years’ field experience in a position within the UNSMS, proven crisis management and; 
• Experience in working in crisis /humanitarian response locations enabling programme delivery is an asset.
• Analysis /information capabilities from police / military or humanitarian contexts would be considered an important asset.
• Knowledge of UN Security Management System, policies, practices and procedures is required  
• Strong background in political and security analysis ideally in a regional context is desirable.
• Security Certification Program (SCP) certified required. 

Languages: 

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this position, fluency in English is required. 
• Knowledge of French is desirable.
• Additional knowledge of language may be added to meet the specific needs of the Office of the Security Coordinator or a regional office. 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results, 
• Being accountable, 
• Developing and applying professional expertise/ business acumen, 
• Thinking analytically and strategically, 
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships, 
• Communicating for impact, 
• Judgment and decision making. 

Functional Competencies:

• Organizational leadership and direction, 
• Ensuring operational effectiveness and accountability for results,
• Delivering results based programmes,
• Providing conceptual innovation to support programme effectiveness,
• Generating, managing and promoting the use of knowledge and information,
• Providing a technical support system, 
• Strengthening the programming capacity of Country Offices, 
• Facilitating quality programmatic results,
• Managing data,
• Managing documents, correspondence and reports,
• Managing information and workflow,
• Planning, organizing and multitasking,
• Ensuring Safety and security of UNFPA personnel and operations,
• Safety and Security,
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks,
• Analyzing; Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise,
• Relating and networking,
• Deciding and Initiating action,
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts,
• Impact and influence,
• Innovation and Marketing of new approaches, 
• Organizational Awareness,
• Client Orientation.

 

Compensation and Benefits:

 This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.