Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Field Security Officer
Job Ref Code: 2100009M
Location: Yobe
Employment Type: Full-time
Job: Risk Management
Organization: Catholic Relief Services
Schedule: Regular
Shift: Standard
Employee Status: Entry Level
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Job Level: Day Job
Travel: Yes, 50 % of the Time
Job Summary
- The Security Officer assists in maintaining a safe and secure environment for CRS employees and visitors, premises, and assets as well as maintaining regular communication with staff during field movement. The Security Officer is responsible for ensuring that appropriate systems and procedures are in place to maximize safety and security and that they are adhered to at all times.
- The Security Officer is responsible for supporting the Northeast Nigeria Security Coordinator and Head of Office, Yobe State to ensure that safety and security is mainstreamed into all field operations across Northeast Nigeria and that the high-quality information is available for decision making.
Roles and Key Responsibilities
Policies and Procedures:
- Be familiar with CRS’s Safety and Security procedures and policies and Safe and Sound Manual, and support the Security Manager and Head of Office, Yobe in ensuring they are always adhered to.
- Work with the Security Manager to develop, consolidate, implement, and regularly review operating procedures and security plans across Northeast Nigeria and Yobe in particular.
- Assist the Security Manager to provide training(s) that may include Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Contingency Plans (CPs), Security Management, Incident Reporting, Prevention and Response Mechanisms, Communications (including satellite phones), and risk / threat analysis.
Communication:
- Provide thorough security briefings to CRS staff and visitors upon arrival in Yobe State.
- Initiate, review, and collate security incident reports for each field site.
- Implement, maintain, and regularly update the CRS Yobe State staff and visitors list, Security Communications Tree and SOPs as needed
- Ensure the communication equipment functions at all times (HF radio, sat phone, internet, phone lines). Follow-up on any calls made by satellite phone and radio.
Staff and Vehicle Movement:
- In collaboration with the Travel Team, monitor movement and provide security guidance to international and national staff on the current situation in operational areas.
- Daily track and record all CRS field movement within Yobe State. Maintain strong communication to report and record observations, information, and occurrences during staff movement
- Serve as focal point with drivers during interstate movement by tracking the location of all vehicles and staff and communicate with CRS Security Officers in other states.
- Regularly conduct field visits to assess field site compliance with safety and security procedure during field activities.
- Ensure vehicle and personal tracking systems are appropriate, fully resourced, and operational
Monitoring and Analysis:
- Collect information regarding politics and security in Yobe State as well as on safety and security issues concerning CRS.
- Respond to security relevant incidents with information gathering and inform the CRS NE Operations Security Manager and the Head of Office, Yobe.
- Undertake continual assessments of equipment (including vehicles) and organizational assets to ensure that minimal conditions for security are met. Prevent loss and damage by reporting irregularities; informing violators of policy and procedures.
- Ensure that perimeter security staff (guards) have the capacities to perform their duties as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Conduct monthly health and safety inspections such as, but not limited to: fire extinguishers, smoke/fire detectors and inspection of CRS facilities in Yobe State
- Regularly inventory and stock as necessary hibernation kits, first aid kits, and vehicle safety kits; ensure that staff know what is in the kits and how and when to use them
- Submit regular contextual updates (weekly / monthly situational reports) to the Security Manager
- Work closely with CRS field teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written Incident Report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately.
- Take appropriate measures to secure CRS premises, personnel, assets, and properties by regularly monitoring and control of CRS existing security set-up.
- Check that facilities and equipment conform to security norms (closures and doorways are in a good state, open spaces lit up, buildings identified, fire extinguishers present, electrical installations buried, etc.).
- Review lodging options for staff in Damaturu and in field locations, ensuring they meet CRS standard operating procedures.
Coordination:
- Maintain a wide professional and personal network of influential actors and clearly communicate CRS’s status and mission in Yobe State and across NE Nigeria.
- Build acceptance to facilitate continuity of current CRS programs and any future humanitarian or development programming by liaising with local communities, local authorities and other humanitarian actors and stakeholders within the state.
- Coordinate regularly with the NE Security Officers and the CP Security Manager on safety and security issues and fulfill all reporting requirements to the Country Office in Abuja.
- Assist NE Security team in staff safety and security matters and act as a backup security focal point, as requested.
- Attend and represent CRS at UN, Sector, and other meetings relating to access and security as appropriate, following guidance from the Head of Office.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
- High School diploma required Bachelor’s degree a plus.
- Degree in Criminal justice, Peace and Security studies, Political science or a related field
- Minimum of two years working in a security-sensitive environment.
- Previous experience in security management with NGOs
- Completed formal security management trainings
- Ability to plan and organize work and write clear and concise reports and communicate effectively (both written and verbal)
- Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
- Proven ability to read maps
- Knowledge of the geography and culture of Northeast Nigeria
- Stable, moral, reliable character and a good team player
- Excellent communication skills, calm, with a good sense of humor
- Proven commitment to accountability practices
- Excellent Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Word, email, Skype, internet searches)
- Fluency in oral and written English. Fluency in Hausa or Kanuri or any other local language is a distinct advantage.
- Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge through formal and informal training
- Must be familiar with and committed to gender equity in programming and management practices
- Additional education may substitute for some experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment.
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups.
- Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.
Key Working Relationships:
- Internal: Head of Office; Fleet team; Procurement team; NE program team; Security Team; Security Manager; CP Fleet team; NE Operations; DCRs; CR
- External: UN/OCHA; Implementing partners; UN Agencies; INGO forum.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results:
- Integrity
- Continuous Improvement & Innovation
- Builds Relationships
- Develops Talent
- Strategic Mindset
- Accountability & Stewardship
Required Languages:
- English, Hausa. Kanuri and/or Fulfulde is an added advantage.
Travel:
- Applicant must be willing and ready to travel for at least 50% of time to within the state and/or outside the state.
