Deputy Director Security and Business Continuity

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

At work today in more than 30 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

IRC has been working in Pakistan for over 39 years, and manages and delivers large complex programs to meet needs in health, education, protection, environmental health and livelihoods for displaced, poor and affected communities.

IRC works in partnership with local government and non-governmental organizations and currently works across Pakistan.

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Country Director and technical supervision (Management in Partnership) of Regional Safety & Security Director, the Deputy Director Security & Business Continuity (S&BC) will be responsible for overall security matters and business continuity aspects of IRC Country program.

The position will also contribute and support in advancing the agenda of staff wellbeing in consultation and collaboration with the HR and Duty of Care colleagues.

Major focus of this role is to enable the country program and its staff to securely and safely deliver programs in a complex environment, and to proactively identify deficiencies and risks.

The position will be part of the Senior Management Team (SMT) of the country program and will contribute in the growth of IRC’s overall profile and portfolio in the country by devising and employing efficient and effective strategies and policies to ensure operational continuity as well as timely delivery of programs with minimum disruptions.

Major Responsibilities:

The Deputy Director Security & Business Continuity will perform major responsibilities outlined under three key areas below:

Safety & Security

• Promote the development of appropriate security information networks relevant to all IRC teams working in Pakistan
• Support managers/teams in collecting and disseminating relevant security information thus enabling line management to manage security and safety effectively. This includes the security level and its implication
• Support staff in methods ensuring security information is recorded and analyzed regularly, and help management provide regular, concise and clear verbal and written security updates
• Ensure staff movement across the country is updated on a case by case basis
• Attend relevant security meetings
• Design and deliver security management training to all field office senior staff and security focal points
• Design and deliver security awareness training strategy for all staff, and supervise the implementation
• Conduct investigations into security incidents that impact IRC Pakistan Program
• Undertake regular site assessments of IRC physical properties and project areas, report on findings and design necessary improvements
• Review security plans and policies
• Maintain an updated list and contacts with focal points across the programs
• Liaise with other agency security focal points, including NGOs, UN and local authorities concerned for security related issues
• Develop weekly security update and progress reports for submission to Country Director and Regional Safety & Security Director
• Maintain confidentiality, impartiality and neutrality in all aspects of security arrangements
• To co-ordinate with managers, administration, and logistics to ensure that the appropriate systems of administration, communication and transport are in place to facilitate good security management
• Develop periodic context analysis (internal and external) including: incident maps, stakeholder analysis, review of existing security management arrangements and capacity assessment
• In conjunction with the Security team, to organize refresher workshops on security and initiate simulation training in given risks (hi-jacking, robbery, evacuation, etc.)

Business Continuity

The aim of BC is to create the plan and systems to ensure that business processes continue during a time of emergency or crisis and recover quickly. The position will ensure overall risks management by developing contextualized crisis management, contingency and business recovery plans. The post holder will:

• Prepare for critical incidents management
• Train and carry out mock exercises for the Critical Incidents Management Team (CIMT)
• Closely collaborate/communicate with the RSSA/Regional CIMT during critical incidents
• Periodically identify risks and organizational exposure
• Prioritize risks and develop mitigation actions/plans
• Prioritize essential services/processes
• Allocate adequate resources in budgets to ensure organizational preparedness and readiness to timely and effectively manage with minimum impact
• Create contingency plans of at least one year in advance of all major potential risks and situations
• Periodically train and run refreshers/mock drills for CD and SMT to handle important situations
• Periodically train/run drills of senior and junior staff on risk mitigation and contingency plans
• Periodically maintain the plans to keep them current.

Access

• Regularly assess accessible/inaccessible areas and issue access reports.
• Identify barriers to access and support field management to develop strategies to address identified barriers.
• Provide assistance to the Country Director for provision of technical input and advice in assessments to consider potential new IRC programs in new geographic areas, and technical input in the writing of new program proposals as required.
• Provide assistance to Country Director and relevant program teams to promote integration of humanitarian access approaches into program design, implementation and operation.
• Develop and deliver training materials, coaching and advice for staff and partners addressing humanitarian access issues.

Apart from the above mentioned responsibilities, the post holder will also carry out any other relevant task assigned by the supervisor in consultation with the post-holder.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Directly Reports to:               Country Director Position directly supervises:               Security & Safety Officer and others as recruited 

Indirect Reporting (MiP):                     Regional Safety & Security Director

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal:              Program, Awards Management, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, Govt. Liaison, IT, Heads of Field Offices

External:              UNDSS, Other INGOs Safety & Security, Government Security Agencies

Job Requirements:

Education: University Degree

Work Experience: Relevant overall experience of 10+ years, with at least 5-7 years of security and safety management experience in complex and volatile environments, preferably with INGOs

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

•         Security professional with NGO and/ or UN security background

•         Highest moral and professional integrity

•         Broad understanding of the work of the IRC in the humanitarian context

•         Ability to work under pressure in an unstable security environment

•         Able to handle sensitive information with strict confidentiality

•         Able to maintain impartiality and neutrality in all aspects of  his/her work

•         Good convincing and influencing skills;

•         Good computer skills

•         Understanding of country’s legal frameworks

•         Experience in comprehensive security management

•         Proven level of technical security expertise

•         Demonstrated coaching, training and capacity building skills

•         Demonstrated initiative and pro-active problem-solving skills

Preferred

•         Understanding and familiarity of business continuity and resilience approaches and standards

•         Understanding of Duty of Care approaches and elements of staff wellbeing

Language Skills:

•         Fluency in English and Urdu oral & written communication

•         Familiarity with other local languages preferable

Certificates or Licenses:

• Professional certifications and diplomas in security management related fields preferred
• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way 
• Standards for Professional Conduct. 
• These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.