Risk and Safety Manager – Job vacancy at Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), Ethiopia

Department: Administration

Supervisor: Country Director

General Description of Role

The Risk and Safety Manager (RSM), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will report directly to the Country Director (CD).  The RSM will play a key role in planning and implementation of all security policies and practices for CVT locations including Gambella, Tigray and Addis Ababa.  The responsibilities encompass a range of issues including, but not limited to, physical safety, security, and well-being of CVT Ethiopia staff, clients, contracted workers, and visitors; as well as safeguarding of psychical, financial, intellectual, and reputational assets under CVT’s control.  This position will lead the CVT Ethiopia security management team and advise the team regarding physical security threats and risk and the mitigation options to ensure the appropriate level of protection.

Main Responsibilities

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

• Conduct risk assessments in operational sites by liaising regularly with available sources of risk management information, including participation in regular health, safety and security activities and briefings within the (I)NGO, diplomatic and UN communities as well as communicating with local administration and security sector to continuously update and modify existing policies and procedures appropriately.
• Monitor the political, economic, environmental and social context of the area of operation as well as at the regional and country level.
• Review existing, and modify and/or design as necessary, strategies, policies, procedures, standards, training and practices that mitigate risks, respond to incidents, and limit the organization’s exposure to risk of unauthorized disclosure, misuse, theft, vandalism, and damages of the information and physical assets under CVT’s control; financial and reputational losses; and/or injuries, illness, or death of staff members and clients.
• Identify significant security risks, designs and implements strategies and programs to prevent and reduce risks and increase safety of clients and staff.
• Identify resources for mitigating risks or responding to incidences in the operational areas and keep track of and/or share with the teams these resources.
• Determine and advise on the appropriate level of protection for clients, staff, physical assets, intellectual property and information assets throughout the country, while ensuring optimal use of personnel, technology and equipment.  Recommend procurement of additional equipment as appropriate.
• Conduct risk assessments in potential newly targeted areas in country.

Risk Management Coordination

• Serve as a lead member of the CVT Ethiopia security management team.
• Serve as CVT’s key risk management contact in Ethiopia, ensuring local team members understand protocols and policies related to health, safety and security.
• Maintain and implement all in-country risk management protocols, particularly with respect to travel and facility risk management, reviewing and updating Area Briefing and protocols at least every quarter (calendar-driven), or whenever there is a substantive change in the security situation or climate, which warrants such a change (event-driven).
• Guide and direct Zonal Managers in identifying, developing, implementing and maintaining security processes across program sites.
• Arrange regular testing for safety and security devices in all the operations sites (e.g. fire extinguishers, first aid kits, fire drills); report immediately any malfunctioning equipment, locks, or doors; maintain log of completed, pending, and future checks.
• Manage and ensure the security and safety of staff, premises, materials, and assets in all CVT locations with comprehensive security management systems and procedures.

Security Communication Management

• Act as the focal point for all safety and security-related telecommunications systems, including phone-tree incident notifications and satellite phone oversight.
• Serve as a focal person for convoy and verify security status and make Go/No-Go determination in Addis Ababa (or other locations where such measures are necessary), communicating the decisions to all relevant staff members and partner agencies.
• Liaise with partner organizations to facilitate radio communication as needed.
• Update the CVT Ethiopia CD, security management teams, and headquarters on local developments.
• Provide all new and traveling staff in location with comprehensive health, safety and security briefing in collaboration with local resources and partners.
• Communicate with and manage relationship with security service providers in Addis Ababa.  Monitor the security services during the visits to Tigray and Gambella (and any other location) and provide support and guidance to the CVT managers in addressing any issues identified.
• Support, advise, and guide logistics staff in monitoring the work of security guards in field offices and in camps.

Incident Response

• Prepare and submit security incident reports for Addis Ababa. Provide support for Tigray and Gambella staff in preparing security incidence reports.
• Assist the staff in ensuring internal incident reporting systems are understood, utilized, and responsive to ongoing developments while recommending any necessary improvements. Oversee and/or conducts investigations of security incidences as needed, liaising with local law enforcement authorities as appropriate.
• Keep track of all incident reports, regularly analyze any trend, and submit monthly Risk Management report to the CD.
• Assist senior staff at CVT Ethiopia in determining how to address incidences in the most appropriate manner.

Others:

• Assist in development of operational plans and budgets related to risk management.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  No direct supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment:

• Office environments with regular travel to the operation sites.
• Position is based in Addis Ababa with frequent travel to Gambella and Tigray.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear and see. The employee frequently is required to sit, stand, walk and climb stairs; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift and carry heavy supplies. This position requires car travel up to 2 hours per one-way journey.

Travel:

• Regular travel to sites in Gambella and Tigray, depending on project development and security conditions.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Terms of Employment:

Starting immediately with a contract from December 1, 2021, subject to 60 working-days of probationary period.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in security, risk management, development, business, logistics, or a related field is required.
• At least five (5) years of experience working in a security, risk management, coordination, logistics, facility management, or operational capacity in different locations in Ethiopia is required; experience in a humanitarian setting is strongly preferred.
• Formal risk management and security training required. The ability to train other staff in risk management and security strongly preferred.
• At least two (2) years of experience working with an international organization is required, ideally with regular interaction with expatriate staff.
• Must be detail- and result-oriented, a self-starter, flexible, adaptable, analytical, approachable, ethical, impartial, and an excellent team player with excellent organizational skills and commitment to humanitarian work.
• Effective verbal, written, presentation, and listening communications skills including report writing. Can multi-task effectively, with ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Written and spoken fluency in English and Amharic is required. Proficiency in Nuer and or Tigrigna is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing security measures.
• Demonstrated experience sensitively building trust with local communities and partners.
• Strong analytical skills and sound judgment, with the ability to synthesize diverse and complex information from a wide range of sources, and to develop clear and actionable recommendations based on that information.
• Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements, client or staff needs and security climate.
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve creatively and mitigate risks effectively to support successful project implementation.
• Political, culture and gender awareness in the context of Ethiopia.  Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism while interacting with many internal and external actors from various cultural, political, linguistic communities.
• First aid certification is preferred.