Security Advisor

Reporting to:  PMU  Director

Employment condition: contract for one Year with the possibility of extensions

Direct reports:  N/A

Duty station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with occasional field travel

Number of positions: One (1)

Salary: As per the organization’s salary scale

Application Deadline: 10 October 2025

The overall purpose of the role:

The Security Advisor will be responsible for monitoring and assessing security conditions across all areas of the Project program implementation and providing timely, reliable, and actionable updates to the Program Management (PMU) staff, consortium member organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. This role is critical in ensuring the safety and security of Imagine1day’s and other consortium members personnel, assets, and operations, particularly during field missions and program delivery. The Advisor will work in close collaboration with the Country Director, the PCU Director, and other departmental leads to mainstream security planning into operational procedures and foster a culture of risk awareness, preparedness, and compliance across the consortium.

Major Role & Responsibilities:

• Continuously monitor the security environment across all the consortium members operational areas, with particular attention to staff movement, field travel, and emergency contexts.
• Conduct ongoing threat and risk assessments across all project areas, monitor the evolving security environment, and provide timely briefings on political, social, and economic developments.
• Identify emerging security threats and maintain an up-to-date risk register for each location, proposing appropriate mitigation strategies to ensure staff and asset safety.
• Provide timely security advice and situational updates to the PMU staff,  Consortium members, Country Directors, and other relevant staff as required
• Develop, implement, and regularly update the organization’s Security Management Plan (SMP), including location-specific security, evacuation, hibernation, and medical emergency plans.
• Design and enforce context-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and contingency plans to ensure operational readiness and staff safety.
• Advise and coordinate the implementation of safety and security protocols in line with organizational standards and contextual realities that would meet the needs of the consortium members and PMU
• Support the development, implementation, and review of  the PMU’s  Security Management Plan and contingency plans that incorporate the consortium’s  coordinated plan
• Ensure staff are trained and briefed on security protocols, including personal safety, emergency response, and incident reporting.
• Participate in security coordination forums, including NGO security clusters and INGO networks.
• Conduct incident investigations and provide recommendations for corrective action as needed.
• Support safe travel planning, including route assessments and pre-departure briefings.
• Maintain up-to-date contact lists for emergency services, local authorities, and key partners.
• Ensure confidentiality and sensitivity in all security-related matters.
• Lead crisis response and incident management, including coordination of the Crisis Management Team (CMT), incident investigations, and emergency actions such as evacuations or arrests.
• Strengthen external coordination and local engagement by liaising with government, UN, INGOs, and community actors, and representing Imagine1day in security networks and meetings.

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, and children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, or religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect all cultures.

Safeguarding Commitment 

Imagine1day has zero tolerance for violations of Child and Adult Safeguarding, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and the Code of Conduct. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment Imagine1day implements a range of procedures and actions including Criminal Background Checks/ International vetting/Certificates of good conduct to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded and abuse is prevented.

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in security management, preferably within international NGOs, humanitarian organizations, or multi-partner programs.
• Strong and practical understanding of the security landscape in Ethiopia, especially in regions where Imagine1day and its consortium members operate.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting risk assessments, developing contingency plans, and leading emergency response mechanisms.
• Proficient in developing and implementing organization-wide security protocols and systems.
• Proven ability to escort and guide international staff and visitors, including VIP guests, with a high level of professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and situational awareness.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating security briefings, providing orientation and training to staff, and ensuring compliance with safety and security protocols across multiple organizational units.
• Strong understanding of inter-agency coordination and ability to support cross-organizational security planning within a consortium structure.
• Excellent guiding, planning, and communication skills to support high-profile missions and ensure the safety and comfort of international delegations.
• High level of discipline, integrity, and discretion, with the ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize competing tasks, and adapt to dynamic and unpredictable security environments.

•  Bachelor’s degree in Security Management, International Relations, Political Science, Crisis Management, or a closely related field.
• Additional certifications in security risk management, first aid, hostile environment awareness training (HEAT), or emergency response are highly desirable.

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; proficiency in additional international languages (e.g., French or Arabic) or local Ethiopian languages is an added advantage.

• Imagine 1day Internal staffs
• Imagine 1day External partners (Pension Office, Landlord, and other government & private organizations