Global Security Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:

Global Security Manager

Location:

London, Nairobi, Kampala, Bishkek or other locations where Saferworld has a presence may be considered. National T&Cs will be offered and the right to work in that specific country will be required.

Reporting to:

Head of Operations and Governance

Salary:

Grade G (In line with National Salary Grading)

Contract terms and hours:

Open Contract. 30 hours per week

Background:

Saferworld Global is a group of independent international organisations working in partnership to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. We work in solidarity with people affected by conflict to improve their safety and sense of security and conduct wider research and analysis to contribute to local, national and international policies and practices that help foster lasting peace. Our priority is people – we believe in a world where everyone can lead peaceful, fulfilling lives free from fear and insecurity. We operate on a not-for-profit basis with partners in Africa, Asia and the Middle East and policy centres in Beijing, Brussels, London and Washington DC. Saferworld is registered separately in Belgium, the USA and China as strategically aligned affiliate organisations.

Saferworld is committed to providing a safe trusted environment that safeguards our staff, partners and communities. Our organisational integrity is derived from the values and principles that underpin and guide our work.

Job purpose:

The Global Security Manager (GSM) will be responsible for managing and guiding on all security-related matters across Saferworld’s offices globally. This role includes developing and supporting systems, policies, processes and capacities to anticipate and mitigate risks to staff, while ensuring the continuity of effective programmes.

The GSM will collaborate with both country and global staff to address safety and security issues, aiming to foster a culture of high standards in security awareness, planning, practice and management. Additionally, the GSM will provide recommendations on global security policies to designated focal points and senior management and will respond to security threats and individual security situations as necessary globally.

A critical component of the role involves being an active member of the Crisis Management Team, offering continuous support during incidents.

In all cases, the GSM’s responsibilities extend to cybersecurity risks, working closely with IT and Operations teams to ensure comprehensive cyber security measures are in place and effectively managed.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage the development, maintenance and regular improvement of Saferworld’s security policies, guidelines and procedures to ensure they are comprehensive, up-to-date and effectively implemented across the organisation.
• Regularly assess and report on compliance with security policies and procedures and lead initiatives to enhance staff awareness and understanding of security measures and practices.
• Conduct regular reviews of the organisation’s security infrastructure and make recommendations for improvements to enhance the safety and security of staff and assets.
• Manage the development and/or maintenance of crisis management preparedness and response plans, ensuring these plans are robust, regularly tested, and involve all staff.
• Undertake security assessments and audits of programme areas and potential sites, providing informed recommendations on security measures and risk levels to ensure a safe operational environment.
• Provide security training for staff, including in-house sessions and ad-hoc training, while identifying ongoing training needs and coordinating with third-party providers as necessary.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with security personnel in other organisations, including peacebuilding entities, UN agencies and local authorities, to gather and verify security information and represent Saferworld in relevant security forums and meetings.
• Maintain oversight of the incident reporting system, ensuring timely dissemination of relevant data and gather lessons learned to advise on improvements to security policies and procedures.
• Serve as a key member of the Crisis Management Team, offering sustained support and strategic guidance during incidents and crises.
• Oversee the development and participate in an on-call rota to provide immediate support and guidance outside of regular business hours during critical security incidents or emergencies.

Role and responsibilities:

Security strategy, plans and procedures

• Oversee the creation and improvement of Saferworld’s security policies and guidelines, ensuring they remain comprehensive, effective and relevant.
• Regularly assess compliance with security policies and procedures, report findings, and enhance staff awareness through targeted initiatives.
• Conduct periodic reviews of security infrastructure and recommend enhancements to ensure the ongoing safety of staff and organisational assets.
• Perform spot checks to evaluate organisational systems and compliance, identifying areas for improvement.
• Maintain and lead on the incident reporting system, ensuring that current and relevant data is available and regularly shared with relevant stakeholders.
• Create and distribute standard reference materials to aid managers in monitoring the security and safety of their teams, ensuring they fulfil their responsibilities effectively.
• Collect and analyse lessons learned from the implementation of policies, procedures, and guidelines, advising on necessary amendments to improve security practices.
• Assist relevant managers in preparing and maintaining comprehensive crisis management and emergency response plans, including contingency planning for emergency evacuations. Regularly test these plans through realistic exercises to ensure readiness.
• Prepare detailed reports on security management for internal bodies such as the Security Management Teams, the Risk and Security Committee and Senior Management Team Management, providing insights and recommendations for improvement.

Coordination, advice and support

• Provide expert technical support and guidance on security-related matters to all staff.
• Ensure consistent communication on security issues, fostering an ongoing awareness and development of a proactive security culture within the organisation.
• Stay informed of major security, political, economic, and social developments in the regions where Saferworld operates, advising staff on potential security implications.
• Work with the operations team to ensure that all staff travel is conducted safely and in accordance with organisational travel policies. Liaise with travel and insurance providers as necessary.
• Provide support for planning and executing travel to high-risk locations, particularly in areas where Saferworld does not have a permanent presence.
• Be an active member of the Crisis Management Team when this is required.
• Develop a system and participate in an on-call rota to provide immediate support and guidance during critical security incidents or emergencies outside regular business hours.

Assessment

• Conduct security assessments and audits of programme areas and potential new locations, offering informed recommendations on the security situation and risk levels.
• Perform security assessments of sites, offices, and residences as needed, advising on current measures and recommending improvements. Develop systems to enable staff to carry out such assessments independently.
• Monitor security compliance across the organisation and ensure rapid response to incidents.

Briefing, training and learning

• Oversee the provision of security training, including engaging with third-party providers and advising on training needs and solutions.
• Prepare security briefings for non-staff personnel traveling under the auspices of Saferworld, ensuring they are well-informed and prepared.
• Regularly review and update the security training policy, ensuring its effective implementation and compliance.
• Regularly brief senior leadership and security management teams on the content and practical application of country security plans and emergency response protocols.

Representation

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with security personnel in other peacebuilding organisations.
• Liaise with country authorities and security networks (such as United Nations, embassies, high commissions, security providers, GISF & other NGOs) to gather and verify security information on a regular basis.
• Represent Saferworld at other meetings as required.

Policy

• Ensure that Saferworld’s security policies, procedures, and systems are coherent, effective and informed by internal experiences, partner input and the organisation’s broader approach to security and protection.

Key working relationships

• Head of Operations – Working closely to integrate security into operational planning and execution, coordinating the implementation of security measures, and ensuring that operations are conducted safely and in compliance with security protocols.
• Head of Programmes – Work in close collaboration with the Head of Programmes to integrate security considerations into programme design and delivery. Coordinate with the Hof P to effectively address security concerns, ensuring that appropriate responses and updates are promptly and accurately implemented.
• Director of Finance and Operations – Working together to ensure that financial and operational decisions reflect security needs. This includes advising on budget allocations for security measures and integrating security considerations into operational planning and financial management.
• Director of Policy and Programmes – Work closely to align security policies with organisational policies and programmatic goals. This collaboration involves sharing security insights and providing guidance to ensure that policies and programmes are developed and implemented with a strong security perspective.
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Ensure that the CEO is informed of security risks and measures in place. This involves providing strategic security updates and supporting the CEO in ensuring the overall safety and security of the organisation.
• Security Management Team – The GSM will lead and coordinate the security management team, providing regular updates and expert advice on security issues. This role includes facilitating communication within the team, ensuring the implementation of security strategies and guiding the team in responding to security incidents.
• Country Managers/Directors – Provide strategic direction and technical advice to Country Managers/Directors, supporting them in managing security risks in their respective regions. This includes advising on budget allocations for security measures, coordinating with other security related team members, such as Security Focal Points on security plans, security assessments and ensuring that country operations align with organisational security policies.
• Operations and HR teams – Work in cooperation with the Operations and HR teams to ensure compliance with security training policies. This involves collaborating on the development and implementation of training programmes, monitoring training compliance and addressing any security-related HR issues.

Scope and accountability

Decision making and limits of authority

This is a managerial role with decision-making authority. As such, decisions and recommendations are made independently within the established guidelines, with overall responsibility lying with the CEO.

Responsible for overseeing the organisational security policy and protocols for staff, consultants, and, where applicable, partners.

Accountable for monitoring and ensuring compliance with agreed systems and procedures.

Other resources

Overall responsibility for monitoring the security of staff across the organisation

Manage the central security budget and advise on budgeting at programme level.

People management

N/A

Legal, regulatory and compliance responsibility

Ensure compliance with security protocols

Person specification

Knowledge, qualifications and experience

• An understanding of international relations, geopolitics and ongoing international security issues
• People, team and organisational management experience
• An understanding of the role of international NGOs in development and humanitarian response, in particular peacebuilding NGOs
• Experience working in a security capacity with an international development or humanitarian NGO or multi-lateral agency (UN, EU) in a developing country
• Progressively responsible experience in security, risk, disaster or emergency management in the public or private service areas, such as national security, military or police, or in an INGO, corporate environment or related field. Experience of security risk management standards, of undertaking security assessments and audits and implementing security management systems and protocols
• Experience of working in a variety of contexts and insecure environments
• Experience of developing, presenting and facilitating successful trainings and workshops.
• Some familiarity with humanitarian standards (e.g. Core Humanitarian Standards, SPHERE, Red Cross and Red Crescent Code of Conduct and IHL instruments, HAP)
• Experience of working with local partner organisations
• Ideally a university degree in security management, risk management, business administration, political/social science, international relations, or related field.
• Desirable to have cyber security qualifications or experience
• Desirable to have health and safety qualification.

Skills and abilities

• Excellent communication skills in written and oral English, with a proven ability to communicate across differences in culture and language.
• Ability to build rapport and influence behaviour change across an organisation and across cultures
• Ability to keep geographically dispersed teams aligned with a single overarching security strategy.
• Ability to collaborate with a variety of different teams across the entire organisation and formulate bespoke solutions that are pragmatic and user friendly.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with a range of key internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to identify risks and solve problems in a rapidly changing context, particularly at times of crisis, while remaining calm and assuming a leadership role as required.
• Influencing skills to provide direction to management and country teams.

Personal qualities

• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Saferworld.
• Commitment to and compliance with Saferworld’s safeguarding principles.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage stress.
• Active listening and effective communication with colleagues working in diverse contexts.
• Commitment to own continuing personal and professional development.
• Demonstrates honesty, transparency and ethical behaviour in all dealings.
• Able to maintain composure and effectiveness under pressure or in challenging situations.
• Flexible and able to adjust plans and strategies in response to changing circumstances.
• Works effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders, fostering a spirit of cooperation and teamwork.
• Takes responsibility for decisions and actions, delivering on commitments and meeting expectations.
• Understands and respects the perspectives and needs of colleagues and partners.
• Values diversity and treats others with respect and dignity.
• Focuses on achieving measurable outcomes and driving continuous improvement.

Other requirements

• Be willing to undertake travel as needed, and undertake the above tasks in project locations worldwide, sometimes in insecure environments and at short notice.
• Overseas travel approximately 4-6 weeks per year.