Security Officer

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

UNOPS Hub in Amman

The UNOPS Hub in Amman implements projects in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen, in partnership with bilateral donors, national governments, and other UN agencies.  With an established presence across the region, the office runs operations including large-scale procurement, project development, and technical management, and provides financial, human resources, and infrastructure-related services. The functional objective of UNOPS Hub in Amman is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner and in line with the principles, rules and regulations of UNOPS, in order to support the response to the current needs and national priorities in the region. 

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a fully diverse workforce.

The Security Officer will report to the Project Manager will be responsible for, but not limited to the following functions and responsibilities:

1.       Advisory and technical

2.       Operations

3.       Staff Development

4.       Team management

5.       Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

1.       Advisory and Technical

• Advise the Head of Office, Operations Manager and all Project Managers on all safety and security related matters including the planning and implementation of projects.
• In line with the UN Security Management System methodology, policies, and procedures, develop, as required, security risk assessments outlining potential threats, risks levels and recommended mitigation strategies for office and project operations, taking into consideration relevant and existing assessments;
• Provide technical advisory and oversight services to ensure that safety and security is a core component of all programmes at the duty station and that appropriate funding is provided based on actual needs.

2.       Operations

• Review all new project proposals from a security perspective and provide comments and proposals to ensure security concerns are addressed.  Conduct field assessments if deemed necessary.
• Maintain close relations with UNDSS and assist UNDSS in performing their overall coordination role providing information and support on issues related to UNOPS.
• Develop, adapt, and implement security policies, protocols and procedures for local conditions, consistent with UN security frameworks.
• Propose and control budgets for security operations and monitor expenses.
• Analyze data to form proposals for improvements (e.g. implementation of new technology)
• Prepare an annual security work plan including budget for all aspects of office security including full compliance with UN security management policies, procedures and guidelines; including:
• Fire Safety
• Security plan
• Implementation of mandatory security mitigation measures
• RSM
• Revise and update the office Business Continuity Plan from a Security and Safety perspective
• Maintain up-to-date database of personnel and their dependents, information and related to UNOPS offices, residences, project sites, focal points, and the warden system for the implementation of the office/operation’s security plan; ;
• Review security arrangements for all operations, maintaining relevant instructions, such as security and evacuation plans for ready access by all parties;
• Ensure the smooth and efficient evacuation of UNOPS staff members, designated personnel, and dependents, managing the implementation of UNDSS and UNOPS evacuation and extrication policies, and assuming leadership in the case of declaration of evacuation.
• Coordinate personnel when responding to emergencies and alarms.
• Develop mechanism for reporting all security related incidents that may have an impact on UNOPS projects or programmes.
• Liaise with and update regularly the UNOPS Chief of Security on the security situation, submitting periodic reports on security issues and performance.
• Plan and coordinate security operations for specific events and visits.
• Brief all new project managers on security concerns specific to their projects;
• Perform security assessments, both routine and exceptional, as required, to ensure optimal safety standards are in place for staff traveling across the area of operation.
• Manage and perform daily monitoring, taking necessary action when required, and generate reports as needed.
• Maintain accurate multi-sourced country records on current and projected security issues (assessments, security plans, etc.) and brief necessary staff across the region when required;
• Manage the inspection of the main office, facilities, residential compounds, as well as field offices and compounds, providing guidance and procedures for achieving full compliance with the mandatory mitigation measures and RSM compliance.
• Monitor and facilitate staff adherence to, and compliance with, the various UNDSS advisories, in particular: directions related to warden systems; mandatory mitigation measures); residential security management (RSM), etc.
• Ensure that appropriate and effective coordination is maintained with other UN security officers and other regional security services to facilitate seamless implementation of the security arrangements across the respective business unit/office.
• Liaise with the local government security organizations to gather and assess information on security and safety matters that might affect UNOPS personnel and programmes located in various areas in the country and provide analysis of security related information obtained.
• Determine, manage and account for the use of security equipment including security communications equipment.

3.       Staff Development

• Develop and deliver staff development and training programs for UNOPS personnel and security focal points, including on Security Risk Assessments within the area of operation.
• Ensure that all UNOPS personnel receive briefings upon initial arrival, local security training as necessitated by changes in the security environment, and are kept informed of matters affecting their security;
• Maintain up-to-date instructions and training for personnel on implementation of the security plan, including required precautions, comprehensive listing of emergency supplies, and guidance on action taken during emergencies, including natural disasters and political crises
• Provide heightened security awareness training to staff, beyond the required security and emergency procedures, if necessary.

4.       Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

5.       Knowledge building and Knowledge sharing

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for Business Unit personnel on Security related topics.
• Lead and conduct initiatives on capacity development and knowledge building for Security personnel, including network development, plans, learning plans and activities, procurement practice information and best practice benchmarking.
• Oversee team’s contributions to Security knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in Security.
• Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively

6.       Perform other related duties as assigned by supervisors.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Security Specialist directly impact on the security, safety and performance of UNOPS’ personnel, local programmes, projects and operations and therefore the organization’s credibility as an effective service provider in project services and management.   This promotes the image of the office and enhances UNOPS’ competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services in the country/region served.

• Advanced university degree in social or political science, law, public administration, business management or security management is required
• A first-level university degree in combination with an additional 4 years' relevant experience at the international level may be accepted in lieu of formal education
• a Technical/Professional Diploma in combination with an additional 6 years  relevant, international and national experience may be accepted in lieu of formal education

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in international security management, with at least 3 years in a senior command or leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience and exposure in cross-border and/or international security-related issues is required;
• Direct experience with the United Nations Security Management System is a strong advantage;
• Ability to produce Standing Operating Procedures/Security Risk Assessments/Security Plans in accordance with UNDSS methodology is an asset;
• Proficiency in computer skills, including MS office, is required.
• Fluency in English is required.

Contract type: International ICA 

Contract level: IICA 2

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
• Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.