Security and Access Coordinator – Colombia

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council helps refugees and displaced persons all over the world: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights and strengthen their chances for a better future. We work in conflict areas, along the displacement routes and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work towards successful integration and – where possible – towards fulfilling the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown into an international humanitarian organisation with over 7,000 employees and 8,000 volunteers. The Danish Refugee Council is based in Copenhagen, Denmark and has a presence in forty countries. It is a non-profit organisation, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced people. All our efforts are based on our values ​​compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation and honesty and transparency.

General purpose of the role:

Under the direct management of the Country Director, the Safety and Access Coordinator is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the DRC Safety Risk Management (SRM) system and humanitarian access matters, including the implementation, updating and contextualization of all DRC programmes within the geographical area of ​​responsibility.

This role has a country focus and ensures compliance with DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. As such, the role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and daily tasks.

The role provides support and/or technical guidance (including security and access assessment) to land operations, while overseeing land operations to enable staff to carry out their work in a confident, safe, sustainable, principles-based and effective manner. The Coordinator enables, ensures, contextualises and reports on compliance with the DRC MOSS Security Management System, while achieving effective access and continuity of operations through close collaboration with programmes. Thus, the Coordinator provides regular support and technical advice on humanitarian access, taking into account global guidelines and tools, and regularly updates the country’s access strategy and red lines.

Therefore, the Coordinator leads the Humanitarian Access Working Group together with OCHA and is part of the Safety and Security Forum, where he/she provides regular coordination support together with the DRC S&A Officer.

Key Responsibilities of the Role:

Safety:

• Act as a national point of contact for safety
• Monitor, update and ensure the applicability of the Safety Risk Management (SRM) process
• Develop and support the implementation of safety management policies, protocols and procedures at regional and national levels
• Facilitate Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) and support the implementation of mitigating measures
• Analyze, manage and report relevant information within the geographic area of ​​responsibility
• Maintain relevant safety documentation, data and records for the areas of concern
• Develop the capacity of and coordinate relevant Crisis Management Teams (CMTs)
• Co-leader of the National Safety and Security Forum
• Provide technical advice on the purchase of safety-related equipment, facilities and other resources.
• Ensure active participation and contribution to the Senior Management Team (SMT)
• Regularly inform the regional safety coordinator of relevant safety matters
• Ensure sufficient support to local partners in the DRC in the areas of safety and security

Access:

• Act as a national central point for access
• Monitor, update and ensure applicability of the Access Strategy and Red Lines
• Provide technical support and analysis to support the development of specific access strategies at the local level
• Co-leadership of HAWG together with OCHA
• Develop and supervise access-related risk analyses
• Regularly update the Global Access Unit on relevant access issues
• Ensure adequate support to local partners in the DRC in the area of ​​humanitarian access

Training, guidance and support

• Support and deliver regular safety and access training and update the training tracker at regional level
• Provide guidance and technical supervision to local security personnel and local DRC partners
• Provide peak support to C/IMTs as needed.

As coordinator, the position holder is responsible for the following:

• Responsible for coordinating strategy and operations within a specific discipline in the country
• Typically has technical line responsibilities within a specific discipline, both for strategy and operations
• Ensure transversality of security and access between the different parts of the organization (support services, program and operations)
• Provides expert advice and support in determining strategy and ensuring operational quality and compliance
• Drafting a qualitative report including contextual analysis
• Monitor security and access incidents, ensure rapid responses and provide ad hoc recommendations
• Support in drafting reports, both internally and for external stakeholders (donors, partners, NGO community, etc.)

Roles reporting to this position

• No direct reports (technical function), but oversees the Security and Access teams and works closely with the Security and Access Officer, Area Managers, Base Managers, Operations Director and DRC Program teams.

Experience and technical competences: (including years of experience)

• At least 5 years of work experience as a security and access manager/advisor at an NGO
• A master’s degree in international relations, political science, or similar
• Proven ability to coordinate in complex, unstable and uncertain environments
• Experience working in multicultural work environments
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement effective and contextualized protocols and systems
• Experience in collecting, analyzing and writing reports
• Ability to conduct and produce high quality Safety Risk Assessments (SRAs)
• Experience in managing access in unstable and complex areas
• Experience in critical incident management
• Experience in providing training in the field of safety and access
• Experience working in hostile or hazardous environments
• Full professional command of Spanish and English.

Desirable

• Previous experience in co-leading a coordination room
• Experience with external management
• Calm and diplomatic in nature;
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines;
• Effective team player;
• For this role, the best candidate will also demonstrate the ability to think beyond evidence, deliver results and solve problems. He/she will demonstrate humor and ambition, as well as a long-term mindset.
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills, excellent communication skills, calmness and a good sense of humor
• Knowledge of the Colombian context is a plus

Education:

Master’s degree in political science, peace and conflict studies, history, disaster management or military training

Languages:

• Spanish liquid
• English Liquid

All DRC positions require candidates to master the DRC core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: focusing on achieving results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborate: involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: taking ownership and initiative and striving for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrate Integrity: Uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values ​​and Code of Conduct.
• Conduct, including protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract duration: 6 months

Band: F

Type of contract: Expatriate and National contract

Indication of the location: Bogotá – family location

Start date: November 15, 2024

Salary and employment conditions are in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s expat employment conditions; see drc.ngo under Vacancies.

Note 1: The applicant who applies for this selection process authorizes DRC to validate the personal information provided in the CV. Your identification will be checked against public and private databases for the exclusive use of validating the information, in accordance with our anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policy.

Note 2: The candidate who voluntarily and of his own free will wishes to participate in the selection procedure for the position of this publisher must strictly comply with the rules applicable in this area (suitability of the titles presented, performance of tests at a personal and individual level and veracity of the information), and must comply with the manuals and anti-fraud policies of the DRC. Under penalty of disqualification, the candidate who is guilty of any irregularity in the opinion of the organization, even in case of suspicion, or even in case of possible criminal conduct under Colombian law, will be excluded.