Medair is an international humanitarian organization established in 1988. Medair has been operating in Afghanistan since 1996 with programs mainly in the Health, Water & Sanitation, and Livelihoods sectors with significant reconstruction activities in remote areas. Current projects are Water & Sanitation, Food Security, & Disaster Risk Reduction.

An Integrated Emergency Response: Medair aims to respond to high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, and morbidity in Tirinkot district.  The project intends to improve and extend WASH services including water supply infrastructure and hygiene practices to improve outcomes for vulnerable families.

An Integrated Emergency Response: Medair aims to respond to high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, and morbidity in Uruzgan, which has been significantly affected by drought and conflict conditions. Building upon Medair’s decades of experience in the Central Highlands and Kandahar, the project intends to improve and extend the utilization of lifesaving preventive and curative nutrition and health services by mothers, PLWs, and children U5; to increase access to clean water, to reduce vulnerability to water-related and other preventable diseases, and to improve and increase food security for the most vulnerable families through food voucher distributions.

Overall Purpose:

Working as an important member of a diverse team who are committed to serve the world’s most vulnerable with practical and compassionate care, the Security & Liaison officer will gather and analyse information about the security context, provide technical advice to all staff operating out of Uruzgan, ensuring that security SOPs remain up-to-date and are scrupulously adhered to. On a day-to-day basis this involves the monitoring and communicating of relevant security information, working with the field managers to ensure the safety and security of all Medair personnel and visitors. An important aspect of the role is mitigation and risk reduction through briefings, training and enforcing security protocols.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical responsibilities

Policies and procedures:

• Provide technical support, as required, to field management during context, risk and situational assessments to help develop an understanding of the issues that can affect security (e.g. culture, ethnicity, politics, religion, economics, crime, social issues, etc.)
• Suggest mitigating measures that reduce the likelihood or impact of identified risks
• Support the team with writing and regularly reviewing location-specific security plans
• Consolidate existing and/or support the development of new security related standard operating procedures, ensuring and enforcing their usability by the relevant Medair team members
• Support other team members with the reporting of security related incidents, including full analysis and appropriate follow-up.

Information gathering:

• Maintain good communication with security officers and security managers of other agencies
• Work with field managers to build a network of useful contacts to help prevent or resolve security incidents

General responsibilities

Base Security:

• Responsible for base security: including the Crisis Management and Hibernation stock in the Uruzgan base safe room, responsible for raising procurement requests for any missing items.
• Provide management of guards including, working with HR for contracts when needing renewal, scheduling of guards and day-to-day management of guards.
• Regularly review documents and equipment to support crisis management, ensuring items are in line with standard procedures, up-to-date and in good working order. This includes, but is not limited to, contact information, communication equipment, emergency supplies, safe rooms, etc.
• Conduct health and safety checks of the base.
• Fire warden responsible for checking fire safety and security.

Liaison Tasks:

• Act as a connecting link between Medair and the local authorities and communities, building positive relationships, representing Medair, navigating access challenges in a diplomatic and constructive manner.
• Provide accurate updates from communications made by local authorities and communities towards Medair.
• Advise project and logistics teams on approaches and practices to dealing with local stakeholders.

Training:

• Brief new staff and visitors on relevant security issues, providing refresher training as required.
• Source and recommend relevant security training for staff in areas such as personal security, use of communication equipment, landmine/UXO awareness, first aid, etc.
• Promote and use the Medair e-library and other operating procedures, ensuring that all standardised formats are used, and guidelines are followed.

Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree relevant to the position is required and Master’s degree preferred.

Relevant Experience: At least 4 years of experience is required, If the required degree is not applicable, 2 more years of experience is required. Previous experience working for an NGO and INGO and Intercultural experience is desirable.

Languages: Fluent in English, Pashto & Dari with oral and written skills.

Computer and IT Skills: Strong computer skills in Microsoft products, particularly Excel.

Organizational capacity: Ability to prioritise and multi-task.

Team building:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Team player.
• Able to make decisions within a consultative and supportive framework.
• Able to motivate others.

Adaptability:

• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels.
• Creative, open-minded, flexible, self-learner, diplomatic and sensitive to humanitarian issues.

Problem solving & initiative:

• Problem solving ability, Calm in crisis, good organisation skills, familiar with security management procedures.
• Good communication skills, particularly in handling sensitive information.

Character:

• Honest and conscientious, dedicated with strong attention to detail.
• Accountable, high work-ethic.

Communication skills: Ability to clearly communicate and willingness to listen.

Interested applicants should apply and forward their applications through the online JOB APPLICATION FORM which can be found under the submission email. The link should be copied, pasted, and opened on a new page.

Note: Please indicate the position title and vacancy number in your application letter. Applications received after the closing date or without the exact position title and vacancy number will not be given consideration. After submitting the online application, if some applicants do not immediately receive an automatic email from Medair, they shouldn't worry about their submission. When you open the link. please use the dropdown menu and choose the title of the position.