Global Objectives of this Position

Based in Damascus, the Damascus Humanitarian Access and Security Officer oversees context monitoring and analysis, liaison with the local authorities, and support to security management. A highly professional sense of security and confidentiality is mandatory.

Hierarchical Relations

Line manager: This position is directly under the supervision of the Country Humanitarian Access and Security Manager (C-HASM).  

Line manager+1: Program Director (PD)

Supervises: Damascus guards

Responsibilities & Tasks

Under direct responsibility of the C-HASM, you will be responsible for:

• Ensuring the monitoring of the security context and incidents

• Security Management of HI activities in Rural Damascus, Quneitra, Sweida and Daraa

• Improving relations with local authorities (civil, military, tribal, etc.)

• Risk Analysis

• Management of guards

TASKS DESCRIPTION

CONTEXT MONITORING ​

• Daily monitoring of local media (Arabic / English), confirmation with local sources, and daily reporting on key updates related to the Syria context.  Summarized translation of key information when relevant

• Regular monitoring the overall political, military, economic, social and humanitarian context in South of Syria

• Alerting HI’s security managers (C-HASM and PD) without delay of all security incidents or threats that could have an impact on personnel’s security and/or HI’s affairs

• Prepare weekly reports summarizing key events and providing deeper analysis on specific topics

• Provision of a summarized security / context briefing in weekly / monthly team meetings upon request

• Active participation in internal strategic workshops and planning meetings, with inputs on the population needs, gaps, presence of other actors, and other contextual factors

• Under the supervision of the C-HASM, development of contacts with local stakeholders on a regional level (civil society, civil and military authorities, local NGOs, local authorities, etc) in order to obtain all the information and agreements necessary for the acceptance of HI’s programs in the local context

• Lead context and security assessments for new areas of intervention as requested and complete the context assessment form

• Provide maps and / or geographical information related to security environment, incidents and/or threats as requested

SECURITY MANAGEMENT

• Validate field teams’ daily movements in HI’s usual areas of intervention

• Act as one of the focal points for overseeing and tracking movements during working hours

• Provide recommendations based on context monitoring and analysis regarding suspension of field team movements and/or mission operations

• Ensure access analysis, identify obstacles to access, opportunities for improvement, and key players

• Contribute to the periodic review and update of the South of Syria security and contingency plan, SOPs, and incident management

• Perform internal checks on gaps or non-respect of security procedures and provide recommendations to the concerned managers

• Provide an adapted context/security briefing to new arrivals, including: new national staff, visiting international staffs

• Contribute to training materials and conduct trainings to HI staff on HI’s security procedures, on standards security SOPs, and on other relevant security topics (including the use of sat phones and GPS tracking devices, safety precautions in areas contaminated with ERWs, safe driving practices, etc.)

• Advise HI’s security managers (C-HASM and PD) during crisis management and resolution of security incidents

IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES

• Under the guidance of C-HASM and PD, develop and maintain relevant relationships with key local authorities in South of Syria and HI’s local network of focal points related to security to obtain all the information and agreements necessary for the acceptance of HI’s programs in the local context

• Develop and maintain strong network with NGO Humanitarian Access and Security Officers / liaison officers in the areas of intervention

• Upon request of C-HASM and PD, attend and represent HI in external meetings related to security management.

RISK ANALYSIS

• Contribute to the security mainstreaming by closely coordinating with all departments of Damascus office as necessary

• In particular, follow up on active recruitment efforts, logistics, procurement, and financial procedures to ensure they are conducted in a conflict sensitive manner and pose no risk to HI activities

GUARDS MANAGEMENT & OFFICE + GUEST HOUSE SECURITY

• Recruitment of guards with C-HASM

• Management and training guards

• Support C-HASM on the update the security rules according to the context

Note that this job description must remain flexible, to respond to additional tasks or changes as identified by the line manager.