About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The Safety and Security Department is responsible for securing the Mercy Corps Afghanistan’s property, assets, and staff members.

Success Summary

The successful candidate will have the ability to interact effectively with international and national team members, both in a managerial as well as in training capacity and to demonstrate skills to multi-task, meet deadlines, and process information. Strong capacity in a structured a timely execution of their responsibilities to ensure quality delivery of candidates for future recruitments of Mercy Corps team members. Strong training skills to further develop hiring managers' and HR colleague's excellent interview abilities together with a fully transparent, effective, fair, and bias-free recruitment process, with the highest integrity of execution.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

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 strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

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

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that 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 sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of 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

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. 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 to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The incumbent of this position directs and manages the security arrangements for the Mercy Corps Herat Team. The Security Officer has to extract security-related information from various sources and compile, analyse, and identify emerging trends. He/she liaises with INSO or other relevant actors to ensure high situational awareness in areas not directly covered by Mercy Corps programmes or field offices. He/she supports Mercy Corps offices in liaison with Afghan and international authorities. The incumbent has to make threat / risk assessments and contextual analysis which shall be consulted with Country Safety/Security & Access Manager in order to make proper decisions when necessary and or required.

OBJECTIVE 1: LIAISON AND EXTERNAL COORDINATION & REPRESENTATION

• Maintains and develops relations with key stakeholders, actors partners in the spirit of cooperation and transparency; supports the field team in that purpose;
• Establishes and maintains relations with the stakeholders, partners, influential and other community representatives contributing to Mercy Corps collective effort to remain transparent and provide services in alignment with the humanitarian principles and do-no-harm.
• Maintains and develops formal and informal relations and contacts in all Mercy Corps areas of operations with the aim to help better access to communities and populations, particularly in hard-to-reach locations.
• Assesses the risks and foresees the impediments related to the access in the areas where Mercy Corps operates in the west Afghanistan.
• Expands and maintains relations with counterparts at other non-governmental organizations and agencies.

OBJECTIVE 2: ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Preparing daily updates as well as Weekly and Monthly reports.
• Site inspections as/when required.
• Plan and conduct safety and security trainings/orientations for MCA staff and visitors.
• Participate in programmatic planning and provide security related analysis. 
• Responsible for security assessment report to donor. 
• Liaises with the UNDSS, IEA police department, and other related security organization to gather information regarding security and/or update on the security situation in Afghanistan.
• Prepares, maintains and updates MCA security documentation including contingency plans, SOP in Herat.
• Establishes contacts with relevant local authorities where MCA has activities in Herat.       
• Ensures that fire prevention devices and fire-fighting equipment are available on the premises; maintains fire evacuation plan and conducts fire drills and training as necessary.
• Provide required road clearance / approval for Mercy Corps Travels in Herat.
• Ensures the timely security advisory and information is provided to all Herat staff.
• Investigates security related incidents involving Mercy Corps personnel, project personnel and eligible dependents.
• Assist in planning of protective services for senior officials and Mercy Corps Expatriates as necessary in the South/West Regions.
• Be aware of the Security policies and procedures of the MCA, and ensure that at all times they are being strictly adhered to.
• Conduct regular operational meetings to review, monitor, adjust and upgrade the performance of the guards as a whole, explaining new directions and policies and procedures at the same time.
• Delegates to and supervise all guards within the Mercy Corps Herat and assist them in preparing work schedules, time sheets and shifts when necessary.
• Directs and controls guards as well as all subordinate to ensure day to day safety and security matters are handled on time and properly.
• Implement and enforces safety regulations and house rules.
• Prepare job responsibilities of the security guards. Adjust and update them according to the working situation.
• Through close supervision recommend improvements and changes to the operation of the Security Department.
• Trains personnel according to established procedures and security training conducts training meetings to discuss problems and future plans, gives relative information.
• Work closely with security team on their day to day tasks and monitor movement within and beyond Kandahar.
• Travel to field for security assessment so as to support the team on the ground if/when needed.
• Confidentiality – strong understanding and adherence to the duty of confidentiality.
• Performs special duties as required or designated by the Country Safety/Security Manager.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

1. Experience of (incident) reporting, (incident) mapping, analyzing political and civil society development, and compilation of security reports and assessments.
2. At least 5 years relevant experience in security or related field of work. Prior experience with an international NGO is desirable.
3. Ability to build constructive relationships with the Government and other local authorities.
4. Demonstrated willingness and competence to travel to the field whenever necessary.
5. Knowledge of Security management and Transportation management
6. Excellent problem-solving and conflict-management skills
7. Excellent English Report Writing Skills.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

1. Conscientious with an excellent sense of judgment
2. Ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks
3. Willingness and ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people
4. Excellent interpersonal skills
5. Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with other MCA personnel
6. Fluent spokein n and written English
7. Computer literate and strong organizational skills.

To apply for this position, please submit your CV and Cover letter, with the vacancy number and position title (MCA113-2024 Application for (Humanitarian Access & Security Officer ) in the subject line, by email to af-vacancieskbl@mercycorps.org.

The deadline for submission is the close of business on 31-July-2024 applications received after the closing date and without a subject line will not be given consideration so, please make sure you put the vacancy number and title on the subject of your email, or your application will be disregarded by the system.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates whose application responds to the above criteria will be contacted for the written test/interview.

Note: Please note that MCA will provide office space and facilities only and is not providing any lodging facilities for its Team Members/Employees in HQ and field offices and it is the employee’s responsibility to arrange the lodgings for themselves if they work in a field office other than their home province.

Ps. Females are highly encouraged to apply for the MCA Open positions.