Description
The Regional Safety and Security Director (RSSD) will serve as the principal safety and security advisor to the Regional Vice President (RVP) and will be a full member of the Regional Management Team and IRC's global safety and security (S&S) team.
The RSSD will contribute to regional strategy, priorities, and decision-making, bringing a risk-informed perspective to program, operational, and resourcing choices. They will integrate Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) informed security risk analysis into strategic, operational, programmatic, and partnership decisions.
The RSSD will operate with significant autonomy and influence, working in close partnership with Country Directors to ensure that each country program has robust, context-appropriate protocols, systems, and capacities in place to address unique threats and challenges.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Regional Management
- Contribute to regional strategy, priority-setting, and decision-making as a senior leader
- Serve as the principal safety and security advisor to the RVP
- Partner with Country Directors to align safety, security, and humanitarian access with country Strategy Action Plans (SAPs)
Security Risk Management
- Lead and supervise the identification, analysis, and mitigation of S&S risks across the region
- Guide and support Country Directors and field leaders to adapt and implement context-specific security risk management strategies
- Review, monitor, and encourage compliance with the Security Minimum Standards (SMS) in all country programs
Humanitarian Access Management
- Enable and safeguard principled, secure, and sustained humanitarian access across country programs
- Strengthen and expand humanitarian access teams and capabilities across the region
- Develop, adapt, and implement context-specific guidelines for humanitarian access and engagement with state and non-state actors
Performance Management and Development
- Lead and actively contribute to the recruitment and selection of key positions with S&S responsibilities
- Co-manage and mentor direct-report staff, setting clear expectations, defining performance objectives, providing regular, timely feedback, and conducting documented performance reviews
- Promote and safeguard staff well-being, monitoring staff care across the region and supporting appropriate interventions
Learning & Development
- Design, support, and supervise the implementation of regional capacity-building plans
- Embed gender-sensitive approaches into all capacity development and learning initiatives
- Lead and facilitate critical incident management trainings and simulations
Incident Management
- Support country programs to ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality incident notification, reporting, analysis, and dissemination of lessons learned
- Serve as a member of the Regional Incident Management Team
- Facilitate After-Action Reviews and oversee and monitor the SHIELD incident database
Qualifications & Requirements
- At least 10 years' experience in international humanitarian assistance
- Prior experience in East Africa with strong knowledge of regional and country dynamics
- Fluency in English required; proficiency in a relevant regional language is an asset
- Demonstrated grounding in humanitarian principles, codes of conduct, NGO culture, and proven success in gender-sensitive security management and gender equality