Humanitarian Access and Security Manager

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.

The IRC began planning to reopen an oPt country program in mid-2022 and launched an emergency response in Gaza in October 2023. The organization is currently supporting a network of local partners in both Gaza and the West Bank to sustain critical health, protection, food security, cash, education, and early childhood development interventions. The IRC is also deploying emergency medical teams to provide surge clinical capacity in hospitals and other health facilities. 

 

The IRC is working to scale its emergency response while building a longer-term oPt country program in parallel. This effort is being jointly managed by the Emergencies and Humanitarian Action Unit (EHAU) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a view to eventually transition the country program fully under the MENA region.   

The Humanitarian Access & Security Manager (HASM) reports directly to the Gaza Deputy Director Field Management and has a technical reporting line to the Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator – oPt and manages the Humanitarian Access & Security Department for Gaza. The HASM supports safe, effective, and efficient access to and by people in need of humanitarian assistance, in line with humanitarian principles, through information and procedure management, direct support to staff, negotiation and liaison, monitoring, and capacity building. The HASM is responsible for monitoring the overall security situation in Gaza, enforcing security regulations, providing sound and timely advice to IRC Gaza staff and management, and providing regular oversight and capacity building to Humanitarian Access & Security staff at the field location.

• Provide technical support to the security team, field office, and program teams on all policies, procedures, guidelines, and planning for staff safety, operational security, and program continuity in Gaza;

• Evaluate, review, and update the Gaza Security Management Plan on a regular basis. Reference and ensure compliance to the IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP and all annexes.

• Identify, establish, and manage context-appropriate approaches to ensure IRC facilities are secure

• Work with the HAS Co & Head of Office/Field Coordinator to develop, consolidate, and implement operating procedures and contingency plans

• Evaluate, review, and update the hibernation and evacuation plans for all IRC offices and residences in Gaza and ensure that practical preparations are in place and known to all staff involved;

• Lead the risk assessment processes of contracted and prospective offices and residences. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards.

• Compile and submit monthly security reporting that track incidents and trends within the IRC’s area of operation. Submit daily contextual updates as needed to the HAS Co 

• Work closely with IRC teams in Gaza to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately. Ensure that final incident reports are provided when IRC closes the case.

• Collect and compile all security reports for IRC Gaza.

• Undertake continual assessments of equipment and the protocols by which that equipment is used, to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met.

• Provide and implement the best possible solutions for the use of equipment to facilitate communication between staff, including here proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment

• When required, replace and/or support the HAS field team

• When required, support Security Risk Assessments in new locations and/or high-risk environments

• When required, replace/act as HAS Coordinator for the Country Program

 

• Identify barriers to access and support program teams in developing mitigation strategies

• Provide technical support to program teams in assessing the suitability of establishing operations in new locations

• Develop ongoing relationships with local authorities as needed and other power brokers within.

• Promote and support the integration of humanitarian access approaches into program design and implementation

• Constantly monitor available sources to collect, compile, and report information, including incidents and trends pertinent to humanitarian access in areas of operations

• Support key field management teams to develop and implement community engagement strategies that promote acceptance and access.

 

• Develop, review, and deliver appropriate training and capacity-strengthening opportunities to IRC and IRC partners.

• Work with relevant internal focal points to develop, review, and deliver onboarding packages and briefings for new hires and visitors.

• Liaise with HAS Co in order to jointly draft a development plan with the precise capacity-building method to the HAS team.

• Liaise with HAS Co in order to plan, and deliver on a timely manner capacity building and training opportunities for all teams at the field level

• On-the-job capacity building of the HAS field team through mentoring, coaching, and guidance

• Support the HAS team to provide regular sensitizations to IRC staff on security preparedness, prevention, and response. Training(s) may include Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs); Contingency Plans (CPs); Security Management, Incident Reporting, Prevention and Response Mechanisms, Communications protocols, etc.

• Support the HAS Co to work with the HR focal point on reviewing and updating the IRC Gaza Security Information package for new hires and visitors.

• Strengthen and expand the capacity of field teams to prepare and respond in a timely manner to emerging emergencies

 

• Participate in program design in close cooperation with program staff, supporting the development of conflict-sensitive and contextually appropriate approaches.

• Participate in program review meetings and contribute to implementation plans to ensure the timely, safe, and secure delivery of IRC service to beneficiaries.

• Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks pertaining to Safety & Security and Humanitarian Access and contribute to developing and implementing mitigation measures and plans.

 

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.

• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to perform in their positions successfully.

• Approve and manage all time, attendance, and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.

• As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the IRC Staff Employment Policies

• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of all staff

 

• At least 3 years experience in High-Risk and Complex environments, with at least 2 years experience working with NGOs in international humanitarian programs – all of them as Security or Humanitarian Access staff. Experience in delivering training; ability to develop, implement, facilitate, and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.

• Proven management experience, including people and projects.

• Highly skilled in organizing and coordinating large-scale, fast-paced, responsive field programs.

• Solid ability to provide team-building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation.

• 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.

• Fluency in English. Very good oral and written communication skills. 

• Fluency is Arabic a plus

• Digital literacy: MS Word, Excel & email applications required; MS Access, Project & GIS preferred.

 

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.