Regional Senior Security Officer, P5

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

We are looking for a talented Regional Senior Security Officer (RSO) to be based at our Regional Bureau (RBC) in Cairo, Egypt at a P-5 Level that will provide technical advice, guidance, and management of WFP’s response to safety and security to enable the effective delivery of Programmes that meet food assistance needs and maintain the security and safety of WFP personnel, activities, and facilities.

The RSO reports to the Regional Director (RD) and is accountable to the Director of the Security Division, however, may delegate day to day responsibilities to a senior member of her/his team. The RSO is responsible for supporting and advising the RD on her/his security responsibilities and accountability, for advising on strategic issues and to support Country Directors (CDs) in the Region establishing the appropriate security structure and capacity required by the context and WFP’s portfolio in the country.

As  Regional Senior Security Officer, you will:

• Advise the RD and the CDs within the Region on relevant strategic, contextual or operational issues that may have an impact on the safety and security of WFP staff, operations and assets.
• Promote inclusion of security in all relevant processes and practices through engagement at Regional and Country office levels for informed decision making and implementation.
• Support the establishment of Regional and country-level security structures and capacities.
• Continuously assess security compliance and alignment with corporate processes at all levels to implement, optimize and prioritize remedial actions/efforts in adherence with the UNSMS and WFP Framework of Accountability.
• Actively support and equip personnel with security responsibilities with an appropriate and clear understanding of operational and support functions and resources to efficiently support their responsibilities.
• Contribute to the development of global and Regional WFP security strategy, policies and guidance to ensure optimal security presence, capacity and activity to promote the safety and security of all WFP staff and operations.
• Provide support and guidance to relevant Directors and their delegates in line with WFP security strategy and policies.
• Apply effective risk and crisis management principles and procedures for developing situations, including responding to security emergencies.
• Participate as is practical in the development and review of the SRM in the Region, SRMM Residential Security Measures, and security planning, and providing oversight for implementation if required.
• Under the direction or of the Security Division Chief of Operations, prioritising and coordinating Security Assistance Missions (SAMs) in the Regions.
• Oversee the implementation of SAM recommendations using tools to monitor and ensure that the Security Division KPI matrix is updated every 6 months. 
• In countries where there is no WFP security professional, ensure your unit provides assistants in the development of the security analysis for the country context and the security budgetary requirements for the Country Strategic Plan (CSP). 
• Promote the mainstreaming of budgeting for security into CSPs and review the CSO contribution within the RB project cycle.
• Provide technical field security advice and analysis in support of the RB and COs.
• Represent WFP in Regional and National inter-agency meetings and promote information sharing with UNDSS, other UN security officers, and relevant security personnel from other organisations in the Region.
   

• Maintain open communication channels with the Chief of Operations within the Security Division, the Chief of Policy and Enabling Services and other RSOs, sharing relevant information pertaining to WFP’s responsibility to provide a consistent service across WFP programmes.
• Coordinate with CSOs, FSOs, CDs and personnel with security responsibilities for the implementation of security risk management processes, policies and procedures within the RB.
• Establish and maintain a Regional security network among WFP personnel with security responsibilities, providing leadership and mentorship where necessary.
• Support COs to meet their security reporting requirements.
• Undertake security mission to countries within the Region to become familiar with national context and specific situations, and advise the RD and CD on specific issues that have security implications, specifically inclusive of political aspects/analysis.
• Support medivac/relocation/evacuation plans.
• Advise on security training needs for the Region and oversee training programme to ensure COs’ ability to delivery on their CPS objectives.
• In the absence of security professionals and the appointment of a Security Focal Point (SFP) in a country programme, ensure there is enough support from RSO Unit to ensure that effective security management policies are applied.
• Play an active role in the career development of security professional in the Region, in line with the security division objectives and under the guidance of the staffing coordinator.
• Provide technical inputs to all CSO’s work plans and provide CDs feedback on the SFPs’ performance for their work plans.
• Incorporate gender perspectives in all areas of work and contribute to integrating gender in planning and implementation processes.
• Actively participate in Regional working groups for the implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Sexual Harassment, Harassment, Abuse of Authority Prevention (SHAP) strategies in the Region.
   

Experience:

• At least eleven (11) or more years of relevant and progressive professional experience in Security Management, Crisis Management and strong background in political and security analysis in a regional context.
• Relevant experience in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is required.
• Experience in working in crisis and humanitarian response locations enabling programme delivery is required.
• Has contributed to the development of global and regional security operations strategy, and supporting policies and guidance.
• Has supported in the monitoring and evaluation of security operations activities to assess and inform the improvement of activity impact.
• Has led multi-functional and cross-geography teams.

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Security Management, Risk Management, International Relations or Law Enforcement or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
• A diploma obtained from Military/Police Academy with qualifying relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the First University degree.

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in English is required.
• Fluency (level C) in Arabic is required.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of another second official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish), and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese is desirable.

The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year. WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. For more details please visit icsc.un.org

September 6, 2020

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.