Safety and Security Officer (SSO) at West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP)

WANEP-Nigeria is the Nigerian Country Office of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), a sub-regional NGO with regional secretariat based in Accra, Ghana, whose mission is to enable and facilitate the development of mechanisms for cooperation among civil society-based peacebuilding practitioners and organizations in West Africa by promoting cooperative responses to violent conflicts; providing the structure through which these practitioners and institutions will regularly exchange experience and information on issues of peacebuilding, conflict transformation, social, religious and political reconciliation; and promoting West Africa’s social and cultural values as resources for peacebuilding.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Safety and Security Officer (SSO)

Location: Mabuchi, Abuja
Employment Type: Contract (1 year contract, renewable subject to availability of funding)
Reports Directly To: Chief of Party (CoP) and Operations Manager
Works Directly With: WANEP’s Programs Staff, and consortium partners.

General Position Summary

• The Safety and Security Officer (SSO) will operationalize WANEP-Nigeria’s security policy, ensuring the safety of staff, partners, and program operations across various intervention sites.
• Working under the supervision of the Operations Manager, Chief of Party, and National Network Coordinator, the SSO will oversee the implementation of security protocols, conduct regular security checks, and provide travel security briefings to staff members.
• This role is crucial in maintaining a secure environment that enables the smooth operation of WANEP-Nigeria's peacebuilding programs.
• The SSO will also support the coordination of security-related responses and engage in strategic planning for risk mitigation in challenging operational settings.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Security Management and Coordination:

• Oversee the implementation of WANEP-Nigeria's Security Management Plan (SMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), contingency plans, and regular risk assessments.
• Ensure that security protocols are updated regularly, disseminated to staff, and translated into local languages for accessibility.
• Provide regular security briefings to staff, especially when traveling to intervention sites, and ensure they understand all safety measures before departure.

Security and Contextual Information Analysis:

• Monitor and analyze the local security environment, including political, social, and environmental factors, to identify emerging threats and security risks.
• Compile and disseminate written reports detailing security situations, incident mappings, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Maintain and regularly update site-specific risk assessments, Go/No-Go area maps, and political economy analyses.

Security Planning and Preparedness:

• Implement emergency response plans, crisis management protocols, and evacuation procedures for field staff operating in high-risk areas.
• Ensure the availability and operational functionality of necessary safety equipment, including communication tools and protective gear.

Incident Response and Management:

• Serve as the lead contact in the event of security incidents, managing the response and ensuring timely incident reporting.
• Liaise with external agencies such as local authorities and security forces to coordinate incident management efforts.
• Maintain detailed incident reports and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to resolve security issues effectively.

Staff Capacity Building and Training:

• Provide comprehensive security orientation to new field staff upon arrival.
• Identify security-related training needs and organize capacity-building sessions to enhance staff awareness and preparedness.
• Foster a culture of security consciousness within the organization, ensuring staff adherence to security protocols and reporting mechanisms.

Coordination and Partnerships:

• Maintain effective communication and collaboration with local authorities, international agencies, and other stakeholders to share critical security information.
• Represent WANEP-Nigeria in security forums and networks to stay informed on best practices and emerging security trends.

Accountability to Beneficiaries:

• Ensure that all Security and safety practices are inclusive and reflective of the needs and voices of the communities WANEP-Nigeria serves.

Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in security management, preferably in an NGO setting, with demonstrated expertise in conflict zones or insecure environments.
• Experience in conducting risk assessments, preparing contingency plans, and crisis management in high-risk areas.
• Proven track record of liaising with security forces, local authorities, and international stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and mapping/database systems.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English, with proficiency in local languages an advantage.
• Ability to assess complex security situations, devise mitigation strategies, and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team and in a highly sensitive environment.

Application Closing Date
30th November, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Resume and Cover Letter in one document indicating the job title, and addressing the position requirements and location to: [email protected] using the position as the subject of the email.

Note

• Please note that any application submitted that does not follow the above instructions will be automatically discarded.
• Due to the urgency of the recruitment, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.
• Equal Employment Opportunity: As an equal-opportunity employer does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. We do not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status, or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• WANEP-Nigeria is committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC.
• As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to the Code of Conduct Policies, and values at all times.