Ireland: Global Security Advisor

Trócaire works in partnership with local and church organisations, supporting communities in over 20 developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East to bring about lasting change. Trócaire envisages a just and peaceful world where; people’s dignity is ensured and rights are respected; basic needs are met and resources are shared equitably; people have control over their own lives; those in power act for the common good.

Trócaire is the overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland and is a member of the Caritas Internationalis and CIDSE networks.

Country programmes are focussed on one or more of a number of thematic areas: building sustainable livelihoods, promoting gender equality, addressing the HIV & AIDS crisis, governance and human rights, and preparing for & responding to humanitarian emergencies. The organisational strategic plan for the period 2016-20 envisages a move to more integrated programming with a focus on women’s empowerment, resources rights and humanitarian response.

Trócaire’s headquarters are located in Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland. Country programmes are managed through country offices, of which there are 16 at present. In some cases, humanitarian interventions are channelled through other member organisations in the Caritas Internationalis network.

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.

Reporting to the Director of International Division this is a contract of indefinite duration and is based in the Trócaire Head Office, Maynooth, Co. Kildare[1], with travels to countries of operation in Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Safeguarding Programme Participants-Children & Adults

Trócaire is committed to Safeguarding people within our programmes from Exploitation and Abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives. Any candidate offered a job with Trócaire will be expected to sign Trócaire’s Safeguarding Policies and Global Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Security strategy, plans and procedures

· Oversee the development and maintenance of Security Policy and Guidelines.

· Regularly assess and report on compliance with policies, procedures and guidelines.

· Ensure security procedures and policies are suitable for Trócaire in head office and overseas and make recommendations to further enhance staff security.

· Undertake spot checks to test organisational systems and compliance.

· Maintain oversight of a central incident reporting system and database and ensure that up-to-date, relevant incident data is available and disseminated on a regular basis.

· Develop and distribute standard reference materials to help Country Directors to monitor the security and safety of their staff.

· On a regular basis, gather lessons learned from the implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines, and advise on the amendment of parameters where necessary.

· Ensure relevant staff in Trócaire take responsibility for corporate crisis management preparedness and response plans for Ireland and country offices, including contingency planning for emergency evacuation. Ensure these systems are regularly tested through realistic and robust exercises that involve both HQ and field based staff

· As required, prepare reports detailing the management of security within the organisation for a variety of internal bodies such the Board and Executive Leadership Team.

Coordination, advice and support

· Provide technical support and guidance to all staff on security-related matters.

· Ensure regular communication on security issues, contributing to ongoing awareness of the security agenda at all levels of the organisation, proactively encouraging the development of an improved security culture at Trócaire

· Stay abreast of major security/political/economic/social developments in the countries/regions Trócaire operates and advise staff on the security implications of any changes in these areas.

· Leverage Trócaire’s online travel management system to its maximum so as to ensure staff travel is conducted as safely as possible and adheres to organisational travel policy. Regularly liaise with our travel provider.

· Provide support for planning and execution of travel to high risk locations, particularly countries where Trócaire does not have a permanent office, in particular particularly work with the Humanitarian Team.

Assessment

· Undertake security assessments/audits of programme areas and potential programme areas, and provide informed recommendations on the security situation and level of risk.

· Undertake site/office/residence security assessments as requested and advise on the overall security and the current security measures in place; advise relevant staff as to how to keep this information up to date and to maintain a high level of security awareness. Make recommendations tailored to the needs of each location. Develop systems to allow such security assessments to be carried out by other staff.

· Undertake country office security compliance monitoring and rapid response to incidents.

Briefing, training and learning

· Provide in-house security training for all Irish based staff and train field staff on an ad hoc basis.

· Provide oversight of training provision and advice as needed.

· Provide support to field office and Ireland staff in identifying security training needs and solutions, including the identification of appropriate in-country options.

· As required prepare security briefing for non-staff personnel who are travelling under the auspices of Trócaire

· Review and amend as necessary the security training policy, monitoring its implementation and compliance.

Representation

· Develop and maintain good working relationships with security personnel in other organisations, particularly CAFOD (England & Wales) and SCIAF (Scotland), Cordaid & CRS with a similar approach to security as relevant and appropriate.

· Maintain and develop further relationships with Consular Section, Dept. of Foreign Affairs and An Garda Síochána, Special Detective Unit, Counter Terrorism (International) and where possible encourage joint trainings and exchange of information.

· Represent Trócaire at European Inter-agency Security Forum (EISF) meetings and at other networks as required.

· Liaise with country authorities and security networks (such as United Nations, embassies, security providers & other NGOs) to gather and verify security information on a regular basis.

· Represent at Trócaire at other meetings as required.

Policy

· Ensure Trócaire’s security policy, procedures and systems are coherent, effective and informed by our experience, that of our partners, and the organisation’s approach to security and protection.

· Support the implementation and maintenance of divisional and organisational systems and procedures for ensuring good practice and meeting sectoral standards on accountability and programme quality, including the Red Cross Code of Conduct, the SPHERE standards and People in Aid. Promote compliance with HAP-I standards on accountability to beneficiaries. Promote Caritas Internationalis Standards.

Travel

· Be willing to undertake fieldwork and undertake the above tasks in project locations worldwide, sometimes in insecure environments and at short notice. Overseas travel approximately 8-12 weeks per year.

Note:The above duties and responsibilities represent the current requirements of the role. The fluid and varied nature of the environments in which Trócaire works could require other tasks to be undertaken from time to time and at short notice.

Person Specification – Essential Requirements

(E) Qualification

A specialised professional qualification or membership of professional institute in the security sector

(E) Experience

· Significant international security management experience through national security forces and/or commercial international security.

· A sound understanding of international relations, geopolitics and ongoing international security issues

· People, team and organisational management experience

· Two years’ experience working in a security capacity with an international development or humanitarian NGO or multi-lateral agency (UN, EU) in a developing country

· 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. Humanitarian Charter, SPHERE, People in Aid, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Code of Conduct and IHL instruments, HAP)

· Experience of working with local partner organisations

(E) Skills

· Excellent communication skills in written and oral English, with a proven ability to communicate across differences in culture and language.

· Ability to keep geographically dispersed teams aligned with a single overarching security strategy.

· Ability to collaborate with a variety of different team’s 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.

(E) Qualities

· An understanding of, and empathy with, the role of international NGOs in development and humanitarian response, in particular faith-based NGOs with a rights-focussed approach.

(E) Other

Desirable working knowledge of French and/or Spanish and/or Arabic.

[1] As this post is based on the Island of Ireland, non EU / EEA nationals will require current and valid permission to work and reside in the Island of Ireland as work permits are only issued in exceptional circumstances.

To apply for this position, please click on; https://trocaire.workable.com/j/617AA5168A and complete the application form.