Field Security Officer, P-3, Gaza

Org. Setting and Reporting
The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the
difficult circumstances in which they live. In line with this mission, the Agency works towards five strategic
outcomes: (a) Palestine refugee rights under international law are protected and promoted; (b) Palestine
refugee health is protected and disease burden is reduced; (c) school-age children complete quality,
equitable and inclusive basic education; (d) Palestine refugee capabilities are strengthened for increased
livelihood opportunities; and (e) Palestine refugees are able to meet their basic human needs of food, shelter
and environmental health.
The Field Security Officer is responsible to the Senior Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (DUA) and receives
technical guidance and advice from the Director of Security and Risk Management (DSRM)- HQ (Amman).
The Field Security Officer will provide direct supervision to professional and support staff within a department
with a large workforce.

Responsibilities
The Field Security Officer (FSO) is responsible for advising on and operationalizing all aspects of UNRWA security
and risk management, crisis readiness and preparedness in the Field, with a particular emphasis on front line
Area staff security. The FSO serves as a principal advisor to her/his supervisor (DUA) and assists in the execution
of his/her security responsibilities in the respective Field as per the UNRWA Framework of Accountability. The
FSO ensures UNRWA’s Security and Risk Management system is context specific and tailored to the needs of
front line staff. S/he supports the identification, implementation of security and risk management best practices
and other Standard Operation Procedures across the Field. S/he ensures UNRWA’s participation in the UN
Security Management System and supports UNRWA’s compliance with safety and security requirements as
appropriate. The FSO maintains close co-operation with UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS),
Agency Funds and Programmes Security Officer(s) as well as with de facto authorities/host government,
community and beneficiaries. The FSO supports her/his supervisor in the management of the Field Security Risk
Management team. In Gaza Field Office, the FSO provides direct supervision of the close protection team. In
this context, the Field Security Officer performs the following:

•Security Risk Assessment:
-Develops, as required, security risk assessments outlining potential risks and recommends cost effective
prevention and mitigation strategies towards improving the safety and security of the front-line Area Staff and
the installations in the respective Field;
-Prepares comprehensive and context specific threat analysis and security risk assessments to include all area
staff, locations, installations and activities in the assigned Field;
-Performs security risk assessments, both routine and exceptional, as required, to ensure optimal prevention and
mitigation measures are in place, including personal security risk assessment preparation for the Field Director
and alternate official on an annual and ad-hoc basis;
-Assists/provides inputs in coordination with DSRM, HQ (Amman) in the implementation, further development
and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the security and risk management system with the objective to
minimize risk in the contextual, programmatic and professional work-place risk categories for front line Area
staff;
-Reports on UNRWA security incidents as required and ensures that the Agency Security Incident Management
System (SIMS) is fully implemented, kept up-to-date and reports filed properly; participates in the upgrading of
the SIMS to provide critical information for analysis at the Field level and encourage incident reporting at the
Camp and Area level in coordination with assets on the ground;
Accessibility
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-Participates in and provides safety and security inputs to operational and planning documents such as the
Headquarters/ Field Implementation Plan and the Security and Risk Management Best Practices Guide;
supports the identification of existing best practices on the ground on her/his Field of operations;
•Security Plan and Safety and Security Requirements:
-Reviews safety and security arrangements for all offices and identified at most risk installations and maintains
instructions such as security, contingency, emergency and evacuation plans as required; engages and builds
office and installations managers’ capacity in relation to security arrangement of their pertained
offices/installations;
-Prepares, maintains and updates the Field specific safety and security contingency plans in accordance with
the United Nations Security Policy Manual that governs International staff and UNRWA risk management system
for Area staff; coordinates and organizes emergency medical evacuation and convoy security procedures;
-Supports and supervises the implementation and adherence to the Camp Security Plan and coordinates
capacity building efforts for relevant front line staff; guides and supervises Mobile Safety Officers in the
completion and follow up of the same;
-Ensures that all new International and Area staff personnel receive briefings upon arrival, local security training
as necessitated by changes in the security environment, and are kept informed of matters affecting their
security;
-Supports the design and supervises implementation of the front line staff capacity building plan in the assigned
Field, including SSAFE training programme for front line staff and Professional work-place risk training to identify
at most risk categories of staff;
-Supports the International staff warden/information systems as required;
-Ensures that UNRWA Field Office procedures conform to the UNSMS and UNRWA policy and standards as
appropriate, and that UNRWA personnel are included in the Security Plan comprising International staff with
dependents and the Area staff;
-Assists her/his supervisor in assessing and implementing MOSS with a view towards MOSS compliance for
International staff and supports the development and implementation of operational procedures and
standards about contextual, programmatic and professional work-place risk categories for front line Area staff
based on best practices in the Field.

•Office Security:
-Develops and implements office security requirements in UNRWA installations; oversees access control
mechanisms (visitors/vehicle screening) in UNRWA premises;
-Conducts office security surveys and recommends physical security measures to her/his supervisor;
-Assesses fire safety arrangements (fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, etc.) in UNRWA premises and makes
recommendations to responsible units regarding fire safety arrangements; prepares fire/building evacuation
plans and conducts periodical drills;
-Develops a plan to engage front line Area Staff, beneficiaries and community further into the installation
security;
•Emergency Communications System (ECS):
-Ensures that all security and communications equipment are functioning and in good condition including
radio communications;
-Ensures that radio communication training is provided to staff that are required to use various communications
means;
-Ensures that adequate communication system is in place at the Area-Camp level and that front-line staff
engages and relates to it.
•Reporting and liaison:
-Updates her/his supervisor, DSRM at HQ(A) and UNDSS country offices on relevant security developments;
participates as a member of the country/area security cell; attends the Area Security Management Team
(ASMT) meetings in support of her/his supervisor as required;
-Establishes a flow of accurate and timely security related information to management and staff;
-Establishes and maintains contacts with area and programme staff, Chiefs of Area Offices, Camp Service
Officers and programmatic front line area staff as appropriate;
-Guides and supports frontline Area staff in establishing community based security platforms;
-Establishes and maintains contacts with national security and law enforcement agencies and authorities, and
security officials of diplomatic missions and international organizations to obtain/share the best information
pertaining to protection for UNRWA staff and operations;
-Establishes and maintains communication links with designated Official, Security Management Team, Area
Security Coordinators and other Field security personnel;
-Develop a strategy to further engage with beneficiaries, community and host governments (and de facto
authorities) to increase coordination, collaboration and acceptance;
-Supports the implementation of clear reporting lines and strength communication channels between the HQField-
Area-Sub Area- Camp levels;

• The FSO may provide overall supervision of the close protection team working directly with the close
  protection team leader; Ensures that requisite standards are planned and met for close prrrotection team
  members including but not limited to training standards, equipment/systems safety and storage, and
  qualification renewals.
  •Implements Residential Security Measures (RSM), conducts residential security surveys of UNRWA international
  staff and recommends physical security measures to Area staff members; prepares justification for residential
  security measures as required;
  Accessibility
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  •Reports all security related incidents involving UNRWA staff as per Agency guidelines to her/his supervisor and
  makes sure that these are entered into the Security Information Management System; investigates assesses and
  follows up these incidents as needed; Provides security training to UNRWA staff; organizes and maintains
  country files on security issues (assessments, security plans, messages, maps, etc.).
  Competencies
  UN Core Values of Professionalism, Integrity and Respect for Diversity and Core Competencies of
  Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default:
  •Leading and Supervising:
  -Demonstrated competence in management, problem solving skills and excellent interpersonal and
  supervisory skills;
  -Promotes learning environment in the office/field; provides constructive coaching and feedback to others;
  -Ability to manage units, sections and teams;
  •Empowering Others:
  -Creates an empowering and motivating environment;
  •Applying Technical Expertise:
  -Understanding and demonstrated application of security planning, security risk management as related to
  staff, installations and programmes;
  -Demonstrated technical skills in fire and road safety and communication equipment;
  -Basic paramedic knowledge/skills;
  -Ability to identify best practices and to build SOPs accordingly;
  •Teamwork:
  -Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others in a team environment and with
  people of diverse backgrounds, culture and nationalities;
  •Communication:
  -A high level of written and verbal communication skills and practical report and proposal writing experience;
  •Judgment and decision-making skills;
  •Technological awareness:
  -Good command of MS Office applications.
  •Engages and Nurtures:
  -Demonstrates experience in community engagement initiatives;

• Education
  A university degree from an accredited educational institution preferably in political science, international
  relations, humanitarian law, human rights, conflict studies, social sciences or international law with a focus on
  security and risk management.

• Work Experience

• A minimum of six years of progressively responsible experience in security management with the UN Security
  Management System (UNSMS) or International Organization (IO) Security Management or International Non-
  Governmental Organization (INGO) Security Management and/or experience in police or military

• Progressively responsible practical experience at the Field/country level in moderate to high risk security
  environments within UNSMS, IO security management, INGO Security Management

• A minimum of 2 continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the
  country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport or a national identity number.

• Advanced university degree in a relevant discipline such as political science, international relations,
  humanitarian law, human rights, conflict studies, social sciences or international law with a focus on security
  and risk management (desirable)

• Additional technical certification in relation to security and risk management such as security management,
  community security, civilian-military coordination, human rights & protection, close protection, counterterrorism,
  intelligence management, hostage management, operational planning and investigation, crisis
  management and emergency or disaster planning (desirable)

• Senior Staff College (military or police) training (desirable)

• Additional management, programme and project management qualifications (desirable)

• Knowledge of UN field security operations/ UN Field Security Coordination Officer/Adviser or INGO Security
  management experience (desirable)

• In possession of UN Security Certification Programme (SCP) certificate (desirable)

• Knowledge of UN policies, procedures and operations relating to security; Knowledge of humanitarian
  operations, humanitarian, human rights, and/or international refugee law (desirable)(desirable)
  Languages
  Excellent command of spoken and written English.
  Assessment
  Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by
  competency-based interview.
  Accessibility
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  Special Notice
  Additional Information:

• The incumbent will be required to travel in the Agency's area of operations.
  Desirable qualifications:

• Knowledge of UN policies, procedures and operations relating to security;

• Familiarity with UNRWA, its mandate, programmes and delivery modality,

• Knowledge of humanitarian operations, humanitarian, human rights, and/or international refugee law;

• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic.
  Type of Contract and duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension.
  UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business
  foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full
  potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live.
  For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/
  United Nations Considerations
  Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him
  or her.
  UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender
  agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups.
  At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of
  securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic
  diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is
  committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation
  for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when
  requested and indicated in the application.
  UNRWA Considerations
  UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality
  and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of
  dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should
  consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they
  have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law,
  sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they
  have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other
  than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who
  have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or
  who appear on the UN Sanctions List.
  UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.
  Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For
  more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by
  clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
  The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application
  according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United
  Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations
  and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate
  information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in
  inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or
  modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration
  for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
  Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline
  date.

How to apply:

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at https://careers.un.org/lbw/Home.aspx go to Department and choose UNRWA for UNRWA posts. Only applications received through https://careers.un.org/lbw/Home.aspx will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received, only short-listed applicants will be contacted via e-mail only.