Local Security Associate

Peace and Security Cluster

Recent assessments indicate widespread explosive ordnance contamination in Northern Ethiopia including Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions, especially in areas that have seen intense fighting. While the full extent and impact of the contamination is yet to be established, the fighting is believed to have contaminated vast swathes of land with explosive remnants of war (ERW). Moreover, explosive remnants of war (ERW) continue affecting the life of civilians, in recent months. ERW is spread across residential areas and internally displaced persons sites, in communal locations and amongst rubble, posing an immediate risk to life, the delivery of humanitarian aid, inhibiting safe movement, and preventing access to basic services.

The project aims to reduce the immediate and long-term impact of explosive ordnance on civilians and humanitarian operations in northern Ethiopia through coordination and explosive ordnance risk education. As lead of the mine action area of responsibility, ensuring MA contributes to improving the safety of at-risk communities by establishing a humanitarian mine action sector, capable of effectively delivering on the objectives of the Humanitarian Response Plan. The Mine Action Response Programme defines and implements specific activities in accordance with emerging humanitarian needs and through needs-based prioritization, involving an analysis of the explosive ordnance threat, IDPs movement, survey data, and the wider humanitarian response.

Reporting to the Operations Senior Officer - Quality Assurance, the Local Security Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNOPS rules and regulations and UN Security Management System policies.  They are responsible for resolving security related issues and information exchange in a timely fashion. The Local Security Associate will perform the following duties:

• Conducts routine security assessments and prepare summaries and recommendation

• Gather, research, verify, and update security information and data required for 

• Maintains staff lists, and information related to UNOPS offices, residences, project sites, focal points, and the warden system for implementation of the Office/Operations Security Plan; 

• Disseminate, relay, exchange and communicate information regarding the security situation in the country or areas of responsibility;

• Support in reporting online security incidents affecting UN staff, offices and assets;

• Provide support in conducting security evaluations and provide advice on security measures for the residences of UN staff (RSM), as well as on latest trends and threats to staff safety and security;

• Support  in reporting security incidents affecting UNOPS staff, premises and assets, and assist in the preparation of security reports, such as the Security Incident Report (SSIR), survey reports and security assessments;

• Support in the monitoring compliance with the Security Risk Management measures and Standard Operating Procedures established for the duty station;

• Contribute to the compilation of data required for the programme's self-assessments;

• Provides oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

• Provide general administrative assistance to the FSA;

• Maintain a statistical database of all security incidents in the country and analytical charts;

• Maintain a database on contact details in relation to host country security authorities;

• Help  assess the security situation at the duty station and ensure adequate gathering and verification of security information that may be required for a proper analysis of the situation by the FSA

• Maintain regular contacts with UNDSS and Security Focal Points Of UN agencies;

• Provide support in organizing and conducting training courses on security awareness and preparedness, and provide security orientation to newly assigned staff members;

• Undertakes routine follow up action on security issues on behalf of the supervisor and informs supervisor of status.

• Administratively supports the organization of training courses on security awareness and preparedness, and may participate as a resource.

• Conducts basic elements of security briefings to newly arrived staff, as required.

• Provides guidance and advice to personnel on routine security procedures, communication channels, and focal points.

• Administers security-clearance processes including requests for compound access. 

• Conduct security briefings, as required;

• Maintain routine and confidential correspondence files/documents.

• Works closely with UNDSS and assist UNDSS in performing their overall coordination role providing information and support on issues related to UNOPS 

• Organizes, facilitates and/or delivers training and learning initiatives for personnel on procurement

• Provides sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in procurement.

• Collects feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilizes productively.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master or equivalent);

OR 

• First-level university degree (undergraduate, bachelor or equivalent) with two years of relevant experience;

OR

• Secondary school diploma (or high school equivalent) with six years of relevant experience.

Relevant certification in security-related studies is desired.

Work Experience:

• A minimum 6 years of relevant working experience in the areas of security or operations services in national or international, public or corporate organizations, including in the following areas: incident reporting, security administration support, security communication, telecommunication and warden system is required with a secondary school diploma. A Bachelor or Master degree may substitute for some of the required years of experience.

• Prior experience with the UN system or international NGOs is desired.

• Knowledge of Telecommunication (including HF and VHF) is desired.

• Possession of a valid driver’s license is required.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Amharic (speaking, reading, and writing) is required.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

• Contract type: LICA (Local ICA - Specialist)
• Contract level: ICS-6 (LICA-6, G6 equivalent)
• Contract duration: Six months, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance