The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

JOB OVERVIEW

The IRC is seeking a Humanitarian Access Safety & Security Assistant (HASS Assistant) for its Ukraine operations based in Kharkiv, UKRAINE and support covering Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk and Sumy regions. The HASS Assistant will work with the corresponding HASS Senior Officer and with technical support from the Humanitarian Access and Security Department, to assist in ensuring that organizational security policies and procedures are responsive to the context, are contextually appropriate, and known to staff. He will also be in charge of assisting in the creation of a strong network with all the actors in the area and maintaining excellent relations with the local authorities. 

Reporting to the HASS Senior Officer, the HASS Assistant will be assisting in the implementation of IRC Safety & Security management measures, as well as assisting the HASS Senior Officer in providing contextual analysis and understanding to decision-makers. The HASS Assistant will prioritize the humanitarian principles, humanitarian needs, duty of care, and the IRC’s strategy action plans for Ukraine in their work. The HASS Assistant will be technically supported by the HASS Senior Officer and the HASSM – Ops to fulfill the HA&SS Department standards for its Area of Responsibility.

The HASS Assistant will conduct onsite briefings for staff and assist in the development and implementation of appropriate plans, standard operating procedures, and contingency plans. S/he will assist the HASS Senior Officer in providing expert humanitarian security and advice to the IRC staff in Kharkiv Field Office, contextual understanding, advisories, and incident management. The HASS Assistant might be requested to cover for the HASS Senior Officer during limited periods.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety and Security Management

• Support IRC Kharkiv, and, if necessary, IRC in other offices in Ukraine, by assisting the HASSO in providing technical support to the wider team on all policies, procedures, guidelines, and planning for staff safety, and operational security.
• Support IRC by assisting the HASS Senior Officer in evaluating, reviewing, and updating security management plans regularly. Reference and ensure compliance with the IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP and all annexes.
• Support IRC and the HA&SS Dpt. by assisting the HASS Senior Officer in working with key stakeholders to develop, consolidate, and implement operating procedures and contingency plans.
• Support IRC and the HA&SS Dpt. by assisting the HASS Senior Officer in evaluating, reviewing, and updating the hibernation and evacuation plans and ensuring that practical preparations are in place and known to all relevant staff.
• Support IRC and the HA&SS Dpt. by assisting the HASS Senior Officer in conducting risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices, residences, and hotels. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards.
• Support IRC and the HA&SS Dpt. by assisting the HASS Senior Officer in undertaking continual assessments of equipment, and the protocols by which that equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met.
• Assist the HASS Senior Officer in implementing the best possible solutions for the use of equipment to facilitate communication between staff, including proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment.
• Assist the HASS Senior Officer with the follow-up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards.
• Support IRC and the HA&SS Dpt. by assisting the HASS Senior Officer in ensuring safety and security protocols, reporting mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives account for gender-specific risks, staff profiles, and background, and are sensitive to local contexts.
• Assist the HASS Senior Officer on the update, regularly, all safety documentation relating to their area of operation (SOPs, CPs, Security briefing, S&S regulation memo, CONOPs, etc.).
• Support the HASS Senior Officer in tracking all the movements in its Area of Responsibility.

Networking and Liaison

• Monitoring and providing support and reporting on NGO security initiatives, as required.
• Working to ensure that IRC, its mission, and work in all areas of operation are known and accepted.
• Working to encourage stakeholders to collaborate with IRC in ensuring that staff are safe and given permission to continue humanitarian activities in Ukraine.
• Liaise with relevant security actors e.g., NGO security staff, UN, security forces, local community stakeholders, and local authorities.

Context Understanding and Reporting

• Compiling and submitting regular reports that track incidents and trends in local security contexts.
• Submitting daily contextual updates as needed to relevant staff.
• Supporting the HASSO to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately.
• Monitoring the operating environment in the region, identifying new threats, assessing IRC vulnerabilities, and recommending possible responses to the HASSO.
• Providing credible information and contextual understanding of localized and country-wide security situations and incidents along with appropriate advice to IRC.
• Weekly rotational monitoring on-call nights and weekends is expected.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education: Graduation from a higher education facility in a relevant subject is preferred, however, secondary education and significant professional experience will be considered.

Experience: Demonstrable experience of civilian, non-profit, or NGO work experience within international humanitarian assistance programs, having undertaken planning, organizing, and executing security operations in the field. Experience in obtaining information on local, national, and international development, and providing clear dynamic briefings and analysis of given and unfolding security and political situations when they occur (both written and verbal).

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with external stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation and mediation skills essential with experience in conflict resolution essential.
• Superior oral and written communication skills, with the ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working successfully with local stakeholders such as local and international NGOs, local authorities, government, etc. with sensitivity and diplomacy.

REPORTING STRUCTURE AND TEAM COLLABORATION

Managerial Reporting to: The Humanitarian Access, Safety & Senior Security Officer

Technical Reporting to: The Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Senior Officer and the Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Manager – Operations (HASSM - Ops)

Supervises: N/A.

Key Interfaces: Operations teams, Program teams, Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Department, Humanitarian Access, Safety & Security Officers and Assistants from other IRC offices and other relevant staff as necessary with program expansion.

IRC employees are eligible to the following benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Purposeful job and development opportunities

• English classes and unlimited online training courses
• Life Insurance
• Medical insurance for staff and family members
• Free psychological support to employees and their family members
• 30 calendar days of annual vacation with flexibility beyond the legally set minimum requirements
• Up to 10 days of paid medical leave

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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