United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Security Advisor

War Child is a growing organisation working in challenging environments, and we are looking for a Security Advisor to lead the security function across the organisation. Security of personnel and programmes is one of the biggest challenges to humanitarian activity, and the Security Advisor is primarily responsible for ensuring our people are safe and our programmes are delivered securely in high-risk countries. You have significant influence on programmatic decisions in assuring War Child’s duty of care obligation both in UK and overseas. Security management is about protecting and preserving the lives and wellbeing of War Child staff and partners, protecting assets and reputation, and delivering sustainable humanitarian assistance to children in conflict. You play a crucial role in enabling this.

Your Role
The Security Advisor leads the security function ensuring War Child’s security management (HQ and country operations) is fit for purpose. Reporting to the Director of Programmes (DP) as well as direct and independent access to CEO and Audit & Risk Committee, you will implement effective strategies for risk mitigation, programme continuity, and protect all individuals engaged in War Child activity overseas. Internally, the role business partners to Heads of functions, SMT and Country offices providing meaningful information, analysis and subject matter expert advice. Externally, you engage with international security agencies and partner organisations overseas. You represent the organisation at international analytical fora, and significantly, you engage with War Child’s external commercial risk services facilitating a global crisis response capability. You are a core staff when resolving security incidents or crises, and closely support the Country Directors (CD), DP and CEO. You risk manage global travel of disparate profile staff and visitors.
Your Responsibilities
• Develop and maintain a global security risk management system for WCUK. Manage risk thresholds across programme activity, develop contextual analysis and advise senior managers. Develop and annually review the organisation’s security strategy.
• Lead and develop appropriate security policies and crisis management plans ensuring they are continually applied. Foster a strong global security culture, maintaining safety standards across the organisation. Record all security incidents, conduct analysis, inquiry and reports.
• Develop and manage the annual security budget recommending security investment to HQ and country operations. Control purchase and issue of security related equipment at HQ.
• Lead global crisis management (CM) capability. Ensure a reliable CM response from London, lead CM training and build capacity of country CM teams synergizing country and HQ responses. Liaise with national authorities and stakeholders during crises.
• Provide security technical input to field offices and develop country Security Officers and CDs’ security management capacity. Annually train security managers in risk management.
• Support development of field-based security plans, analysis and training for safe programming. Identify offices or programmes that require safety improvements, advise best practice in relation to context and financial capacity.
• Represent organisational security at the Audit & Risk Committee, providing clear, concise written risk reporting for better oversight of the organisation. Advise CEO and Directors risk mitigation measures and resources requirements, work to minimise WCUK’s risk exposure.
• Business partner with department Heads to manage security risks associated with War Child’s strategy objectives: advocacy, media, philanthropy and partnerships, youth engagement etc.
• Risk manage global travel for staff, donors, consultants, media and ambassadors, develop a robust travel process ensuring travellers are adequately prepared to go into hostile environments. Enable quality security training across the organisation within financial constraints.
• Develop and maintain an effective information management process (WCUK security Salesforce). Analyse incidents and recommend improvements to security plans. Manage threat warnings and SITREPs, collate data and supply analytical products for HQ or country offices.
• Provide security input and analysis to Program Funding Unit (PFU) and Finance for new proposals, ensuring security is considered and resourced.
• Line manage Programmes Assistant prioritising workplans. Initiate bespoke security products and technical support to field offices.

For more info, an application form and a JD click on this link: https://www.warchild.org.uk/who-we-are/jobs/security-advisor-sept2019