Country Safety Advisor at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than 30 countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Country Safety Advisor

Location: Maiduguri
Employment category: A12 
Reporting to: Country Director with a technical compliance reporting line to the Regional Safety Advisor
Direct reports: Technical management of Safety Officers 

Overall purpose of the Role
The Country Safety Advisor (CSA) will manage all aspects of the DRC Safety Risk Management (SRM) system in all of Nigeria, for both DRC and DDG programmes.  The CSA, in consultation with local safety staff and programme manager, and under the direct supervision of the Country Director is expected to pursue the following objectives and duties in his/her daily work:

• Manage the development and implementation of the Danish Refugee Council’s (DRC’s) Safety Risk Management System (SRMS) 
• Ensure compliance with DRC safety policy as stated in Chapters 19 & 20 of the DRC Operations Handbook
• Supervise and mentor the Local Safety Officers (LSOs) in Yola and Mubi and the Safety Focal Point (SFP) in Abuja
• To develop policies and procedure, in coordination with project staff, for the safe delivery of program activities

Responsibilities
Risk Analysis:

• Conduct regular Safety Risk Assessments (SRA) for each programme area pursuant to DRC Safety Policy
• Provide quality control for SRAs

Safety Improvement Plans:

• Based on the SRA, advise programmes on achievable and cost-effective mitigation measures through the development of contextualized Safety Improvement Plans
• Supervise and monitor the progress of Safety Improvement Plans.

Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS)

• Ensure Nigeria is compliant with the DRC global MOSS
• Based on the SRA, advise programmes on context specific MOSS requirements
• Monitor programme compliance with MOSS .

Local Safety Rules (LSR)

• Based on the SRA and MOSS, ensure all areas have updated LSR
• Ensure all staff are provided with a copy of the LSR and are briefed on their responsibilities.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):

• Ensure each programme area has appropriate SOPs developed and implemented
• Monitor compliance with SOPs

Contingency Plans (CPs):

• Facilitate the development of context-specific contingency plans for each programme area
• Support Incident Management Teams (IMTs) with the implementation of contingency plans
• Conduct regular reviews with IMTs to ensure CPs are up to date, realistic and understood.

Capacity Building

• Conduct – or facilitate the delivery of – safety training for staff at all levels
• Ensure watchmen and guards are trained and aware of their responsibilities, in accordance with the SOPs governing access control.

Liaison:

• Develop a network of contacts through other NGOs, UNDSS, Government agencies and other useful contacts
• Act as the primary representative for DRC Nigeria on safety matters

Crisis and Critical Incident Management:

• Act as the Country level coordinator for the Incident Management Team (IMT)
• Ensure IMT members are aware of their responsibilities
• Ensure IMT logs are maintained and updated as required
• Advise the IMT at country and area levels on safety related issues
• Act as the primary point of contact for safety related matters with the Regional Office and other local actors (UNDSS, etc)
• Conduct after action reviews of all critical incidents to facilitate organizational learning.

Information Management and Reporting:

• Maintain detailed soft and hard copy files of all relevant safety documents
• Monitor the overall situation and provide regular situation reports
• Maintain an up-to-date incident tracking database
• Provide staff with relevant and concise safety related information and analysis, both through external and internal reports, publications, etc
• Coordinate the submission of Safety Incident Reports and ensure that all SIRs are completed within 48 hours of an incident occurring
• Conduct post-incident inquiries, if required, and monitor compliance with action points on SIRs.

Briefings:

• Ensure an up-to-date visitor briefing package is provided to all visitors and international staff
• Conduct safety briefings for all visitors and international staff at the country level; at the field level, ensure that individual areas do the same
• Provide briefings on thematic and specific issues, as requested by the Country Director or Regional Safety Advisor (RSA)

Field Travel:

• Ensure compliance with the Field Travel SOP
• Assist with the planning of field travel, including briefing escorts if required
• Act as the focal point for issues related to armed escorts
• When required, manager and coordinate field travel

Experience and Technical Competencies
Essential:

• At least 3 years’ experience working with NGOs and/or other international agencies
• Experience working in the designated area of operations (West Africa)
• Management and/or supervisory experience within an NGO
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines 
• Stable, moral and robust character and a good team-player
• Excellent communication skills, calm and a good sense of humour
• Proven commitment to accountability practices.
• Emergency First Aid qualification (within the last year).

Preferable:

• Training in safety, fire and evacuation procedures
• Training in safety and disaster management
• NGO/UN Security Management experience
• Military/Police experience (those with officer-level or senior non-commissioned officer rank should apply)

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant area of study
• Master’s degree preferred.

Languages:

• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Knowledge of Hausa and/or other local languages a plus.

Application Closing Date
5th February, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified canidates should:
Click here to apply online