Security and Access Coordinator (National Position) Gaza – Occupied Palestinian Territory

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title Security and access coordinator

Location Gaza

Travel AFTER

Job family and grade Professional job family P4

Checks before rental This role requires extensive pre-employment due diligence

Context

About Relief International

Relief International (RI) works with communities affected by conflict, climate change and disasters to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.

Currently, RI operates in 14 countries around the world, including some of the most vulnerable: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey and Yemen.

Relief International includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: Relief International Inc., Relief International-UK, Relief International-France and Relief International-Europe. Under our alliance agreement, we operate with a single, shared management structure.

About us country programme/regional programmes

Relief International was operational in the occupied territories from 2007 and, after going into hibernation in 2017, recently reactivated its activities in late 2023. Relief International is currently building its response to the current and evolving situation in both Gaza and the West Bank through both a direct implementation and a partnership approach. Relief International’s programming in oPT follows Relief International’s global health-first strategy, with components linked to our health work through the WASH, Protection, Education and Livelihood sectors.

Job profile

As Security and Access Coordinator, your role will be to ensure the security and access of Relief International’s operations in the Gaza Strip. You will manage security and access risks, ensure compliance with RI’s Security Management Framework and lead field teams. You will work closely with the Area Director, the Country Security and Access Manager and other supporting departments to develop area strategies that translate into actionable plans and daily activities. The role includes supporting and providing technical guidance to base operations while coordinating emergency responses and ensuring sustainable access to the Gaza Strip.

Main responsibilities

AUTONOMY AND COMPLEXITY:

• The Security and Access Coordinator solves problems in simple situations and relies on professional experience, established procedures and guidelines. You will be expected to analyze potential solutions using judgment and precedents to address security risks, manage access, and respond to challenges in a dynamic operational environment.
• You will need to manage evolving security risks while supporting humanitarian operations, which often requires rapid decision-making and close coordination with the Area Director, Country Security and Access Manager and local staff.
• You will work within standard guidelines and policies and receive a moderate level of guidance. However, there will be a need for independent judgment in assessing safety risks, managing field movements and making decisions that affect both staff safety and program operations. The ability to adapt to new situations and proactively offer solutions is essential.

Capacity building and knowledge transfer:

• Develop a capacity building plan for local partners and field staff in close collaboration with the Country Security and Access Manager.
• Support knowledge transfer to local security and access teams, identifying training and development needs.
• Providing relevant safety-related training and technical supervision to local safety personnel, including drivers.

Security management and framework implementation:

• Support the development and implementation of the Security Management Framework at area level, maintaining high standards in all security-related documents and protocols.
• Work with the Country Security and Access Manager to review security policies and operationalize protocols.
• Develop security risk assessments (SRAs) and security improvement plans (SIPs) for sites and activities in Gaza.

Information management and reporting:

• Proactively analyze, manage and report relevant security information to the Country Security and Access Manager, Area Director and other department staff.
• Maintain security-related documentation, data and documents for Gaza, including maps, incident reports and briefings.

Field Movement and Travel Management:

• Review and approve field movement requests and ensure safe travel plans in coordination with the Supply Chain and Operations Coordinator.
• Be the focal point for travel management and travel security and handle requests through the Humanitarian Reporting System.

Monitoring of equipment and resources:

• Ensure security, communications and medical equipment is operable and available for all field deployments.
• Provide familiarization training for the proper use of equipment to support field teams.

Emergency response and coordination:

• Coordinate emergency response in Gaza and provide technical advice to the management team at area level.
• Monitor information networks and provide security and access related advice according to RI policy.

Training and staff development:

• Collaboratively create development plans for security and access personnel, support their progress, and provide training and exercises for program and support teams.

Stakeholder engagement and humanitarian access:

• Ensure that field teams conduct principled and sustainable negotiations with relevant actors, taking into account humanitarian principles.
• Oversee the implementation of RI’s humanitarian access strategy within Gaza, ensuring the mission is understood and accepted by key stakeholders.

Briefings for staff and visitors:

• Provide comprehensive security briefings for international personnel, visitors and new hires arriving in Gaza.
• Provide pre-departure safety briefings for RI field personnel.

Other responsibilities:

• Provide technical support to the Area Director on all operational planning elements.
• Play a key role in the Incident Management Team at area level.
• Follow up on violations of the RI Code of Conduct and operational violations of humanitarian principles in collaboration with the Area Director and Country Security and Access Manager.
• Perform any other duties reasonably required by the role.

Person specification

Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the position.

Essential criteria

To be successful in this role we expect you to have a minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a position with security and humanitarian responsibilities for an INGO (Programs and Operations staff meeting these criteria, but may not be in a Security or Operations position has had). Security in the title is strongly encouraged to apply). In addition, we also expect the following:

• Willing to learn, good sense of humor and high emotional intelligence
• Team player and collaborative, but with the ability to work independently, take initiative and make decisions.
• An interest in politics, security and a critical understanding of the current situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; knowledge of regional and broader geopolitical developments and how these influence the war.
• Understanding personal limitations and areas for personal development.
• Driven, dedicated and proactive with a drive for excellence.
• Stable personality, able to operate professionally under stress.
• Experience working in a multicultural work environment.
• Experience in gathering information, analyzing and writing reports, in critical incident management.
• Full professional proficiency in English (the ability to read and write English at a high level and to operate in a professional space).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in direct security and access position.
• Experience working in a non-governmental organization
• Strong organizational skills
• High computer skills with MS Office programs
• Demonstrate good presentation and analysis skills.
• A demonstrated ability to multitask and translate information into action
• Ability to work under pressure, with very short deadlines and strong communication skills.
• Fluent in oral and written Arabic and very good English.
• support.

RI values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, as well as ‘Do No Harm’, Relief International Values:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Cooperation
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability