Assistant Field Security Officer

Location: Gondar, Ethiopia

Organization: UNHCR

Deadline: November 2, 2025

Job Description

Standard Job Description

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Assistant Field Security Officer supports and undertakes activities pertaining to workforce security and security for persons of concern. The incumbent supports and provides guidance in all security-related aspects of the operation.

The incumbent is supervised by a senior officer who defines the work objectives and provides general guidance. The incumbent may provide input to the supervision of general service staff in the office.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

Support the Representative or the Head of Office in managing the safety and security of UNHCR personnel, partners, operations, and premises.
Support in the development of security risk management processes in close cooperation with UNHCR managers, UNDSS and the security cell, identifying the appropriate security risk management measures and monitoring compliance of same.
Assist in the development of security plans for evacuation/relocation, medical evacuation, and other security contingencies.
In cooperation with UNHCR senior personnel, assist in ensuring that security measures are fully integrated into operational planning, including budgetary provisions, at the earliest stages of development.
Respond to personnel queries on security issues and provide immediate assistance or security-related advice as required.
As a member of a multi-functional team, contribute to efforts to ensure the physical protection and security of forcibly displaced and stateless people.
Develop and maintain relationships with security-related actors, including host government law enforcement authorities, the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), and partner agencies.
Support UNHCR management as members of the country Security Management Team (SMT) or Area Security Management Team (ASMT), and Area Security Coordinators (ASC).
Provide country-relevant security advice and training to UNHCR personnel and, where appropriate, to personnel of NGOs and operational partners.
Conduct rehearsals and practical exercises to ensure that personnel are familiar with security contingency plans and can implement them confidently in an emergency, including for Wardens.
Prepare periodic reports and incident reports on security in accordance with UNSMS and UNHCR standard operating procedures, sharing with managers in the country of assignment and, as appropriate, regional security coordinators and the Field Security Service.
Maintain linkages with the Psychosocial Wellbeing Section, and the Medical Service, referring cases as required.
Contribute to a person-centered approach to all aspects of UNHCR security risk management, ensuring inclusion of the diverse personal profiles of personnel and the development of appropriate support and measures.
Undertake other security-related duties as determined by the supervisor.
Understand all required security learning and training and ensure that changes in security policies and processes are effectively communicated to personnel.
Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues, and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Security Management, Risk Management; Political Science; International Relations; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Security Management Learning Program; First Aid Training;

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Not specified.

Desirable

Experience in having established working networks with law enforcement and other security actors.

Functional Skills

FS-Security Planning
FS-Security Analysis
CO-Drafting and Documentation
IT-Computer Literacy
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Judgement and Decision Making
Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies

Planning and Organizing
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

– The incumbent should have extensive experience in security management operations in emergency contexts and high-risk operational environments. This should include hands-on field-level in core operational security function(s) in volatile security environments.
The incumbent should have good communication skills, including oral and written communications.

– S/HE should have a mature approach and verifiable evidence handling security incidents in a solution-focused manner.

The incumbent should have experience negotiating access with armed actors in very volatile and complex security environments and fragile contexts.

– The incumbent should have extensive knowledge in field-level security assessments in hostile environments and the ability to produce timely reports.

– Previous Security Risk Management (SRM) expertise is essential: Good mastery of SRM rules, including knowledge of person-centered approaches in security risk management, and good practices will be highly appreciated. Good writing skills, patience, good listening skills will be needed to properly perform the duties. Ability to represent UNHCR in regional cells and forums dealing with security issues is essential.

– Prior experience in security coordination with stakeholders such as local authorities and security management structures (woreda/kebele, police, militia, etc.).

– Experience in evaluating the level of risk and assessing the existing security measures for the UNHCR staff, operations, premises, partners and persons of concern.

– Knowledge and awareness of security protocols and procedures in place in accordance with the UNSMS policies, UNHCR Policies and the Security Risk Management process for the designated area.

– Experience in monitoring, updating and reporting of security-related events.

– Political & Security Awareness: Knowledge and awareness of security protocols and procedures in place in accordance with the UNSMS policies, UNHCR Policies and the Security Risk Management process for the designated area. Experience in monitoring, updating and reporting of security-related events.

– Prior experience in risk assessment and mitigation: Experience in evaluating the level of risk and assessing the existing security measures for the UNHCR staff, operations, premises, partners and persons of concern.

Demonstrated experience in conducting regular security assessment missions to the field as required in coordination with UNDSS/other agencies; gather and analyze information about the security situation during field missions to put the necessary mitigation measures in place.

– Demonstrated experience in conducting regular security assessment missions to the field as required in coordination with UNDSS/other agencies; gather and analyze information about the security situation during field missions.

Personal Qualities:

– Adaptability and resilience: He/ she should be capable of working in a challenging and sometimes volatile operational context, including emergency situations.
– Cultural sensitivity: An understanding and appreciation of the local culture in the region and a respectful approach to working with diverse population.
– Strong teamwork and collaboration: The ability to effectively work in a team and foster a collaborative work environment.
– Integrity and ethical conduct: Highest standards of professional and ethical behavior in all security management operations.
– Sound judgment and capacity for principled and unbiased assessment of operational security context.
– Reliable, able to work independently with little of no supervision and a mature and proactive approach to managing duties and responsibilities.
– High capacity for rational behavior and sound ability to maintain logical response under stressful situations and contexts.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for specific duty stations, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The armed conflict in Sudan, which started in April 2023, has led to over 23,000 forcibly displaced persons crossing into Ethiopia through the Metema Point of Entry (PoE) on the eastern Sudanese border. The refugees are settled in the Aftit refugee settlement, West Gondar Zone, Amhara Region. The refugees and asylum seekers are largely of Sudanese and Eritrean origin, with a small pocket of other nationalities, including South Sudanese. UNHCR has been on the ground from the onset – providing life-saving assistance, addressing various protection needs, and ensuring effective referrals to appropriate services as needed.

Similarly, the conflict in northern Ethiopia led to difficult humanitarian conditions, including limited access to basic social and life-saving services for camp and urban refugees in the Tigray region. As a result of the conflict, many refugees moved from the Mai Ani and Adi Harush camps to the Alemwach refugee settlement, North Gondar Zone, in Ethiopia’s Amhara region.

UNHCR has a presence in Gondar and is working very closely with the Government of Ethiopia’s Refugee and Returnees Services (RRS), local authorities, and several humanitarian partners to respond to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in the region. UNHCR has been actively engaged in the humanitarian response in the Amhara Region, providing comprehensive support across multiple sectors to ensure the protection of refugees and asylum seekers.

The operational response is principally focused on screening and recording persons seeking international protection, addressing critical life-saving needs, including food and healthcare access, establishing a protection desk to handle diverse protection issues, and facilitating referrals to relevant services. There are two refugee-hosting settlements, Aftit and Alemwach, in West Gondar and North Gondar Zones, respectively. In addition, the Metema Transit Center (TC), 5km from the Point of Entry (PoE) on the Ethiopian-Sudan Border at Metema Yohannes, is set up to respond to the influx from the Sudan Emergency.

There are pockets of refugee returnees coming in from Sudan through the Metema Point of Entry. The current security situation in the region continues to be challenging and move further in-country to their places of initial displacement or other regions. Over 2,840 refugee returnees have been recorded at the Metema PoE, as of March 2025.

A substantial number of Eritrean refugees who were forced across the border from Sudan had started and were at various stages of resettlement processes before crossing over to Metema. In addition, UNHCR remains engaged in seeking other complementary pathways as part of the solutions orientation to the plight of the refugees and asylum seekers in the operation.

The incumbent of the position is expected to provide field-level in-person support to UNHCR operations in the deep field locations requiring 60-70 percent of the time to be spent in the field around refugees and IDPs hosting sites.

The Assistant Field Security Officer reports to the Head of Field Office and supports/undertakes activities pertaining to workforce security and security for persons of concern. The incumbent supports and provides advise on all security-related aspects of the operation in Amhara region. The incumbent is supervised by the Head of Field Office in Gondar, who defines the work objectives and provides general guidance. S/he will need to develop and maintain working relationships with key security interlocutors, including host government security authorities, UNDSS, other partner organizations as well as community elders in the camps/settlements.

Living and Working Conditions:

Gondar is a category E, non-family, high-risk duty station. The UNHCR Field Office has an office on the ground. however, staff members are expected to arrange their own living accommodation. Generally, there are few UNDSS-approved hotels; tap water is not reliable and quality is not guaranteed, hence the need to drink bottled or boiled drinking water as alternatives. Water storage containers are a necessity. The R&R cycle is 6 weeks, and national staff are eligible for SCWS (9 in 10). The electricity supply could be unstable, depending on the season, resulting in blackouts. The office relies on WiFi for internet connectivity. Staff need to be aware therefore that internet may not be accessible after working hours.

In Genda Wuha, West Gondar Zone, where the Aftit refugee settlement is located, temperatures vary between seasons. During the hot season between March and May, temperatures could rise to as much as 43 degrees centigrade. The rainy season starts from about June to October and experiences strong winds and periodic storms.

In Dabat, North Gondar Zone where the Alemwach refugee settlement is located, temperatures are a bit low and could vary from 10o C to 25o C during the day. Nighttime temperatures could drop to as low as 5oC.

The incumbent will be based in Gondar Office, sometimes spelled as Gonder, is a city and woreda in Ethiopia. Located in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, Gondar is north of Lake Tana on the Lesser Angereb River and southwest of the Simien Mountains. As of 2016, Gondar has a population of 299,969. Gondar previously served as the capital of both the Ethiopian Empire and the subsequent Begemder Province. The city holds the remains of several royal castles, including those in the Fasil Ghebbi UNESCO World Heritage Site for which Gondar has been called the “Camelot of Africa”.

Staff members should be prepared to operate under challenging conditions with limited resources. There are both Government hospitals and private health providers in Gondar including pharmacies. There is a referral medical hospital in Gondar but limited equipment. However, for severe medical conditions, patients are referred to Addis for treatment. Staff with medical conditions should come with at least 3 months of prescribed medication. The town has a central market where most of the common items can be found.

Although there are functioning banks in Gondar, transacting in dollars is not possible. Staff are also advised to always have a cash reserve on them. It is recommended that first time travelers to the duty station dispense sufficient funds from the ATMs in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Ethiopian regulations do not permit the transportation of more than $ 4,000 or its equivalent into the country.

The security situation is fluid and staff members should always get the latest travel advice and support prior to travel to Gondar. There is an existing curfew.

Additional Qualifications

Skills