Safety & Security Manager

Background: Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions, and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 15 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike. 

 Project Description:   The USAID-funded West Bank and Gaza (WBG) Basic Education Activity will strengthen education services for Palestinian children of KG 1 through Grade 6 that enable them to thrive and reach their full developmental potential. Under the Basic Education Activity, USAID seeks to work with the private sector, non-formal, non-governmental, community-based, UN, and civil society partners to strengthen early childhood and primary educational opportunities through high quality early childhood education services and supplemental support structures to strengthen foundational pre-primary and primary education for children in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Specific areas of focus anticipated include strengthening foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, social emotional learning (SEL)/soft skills, building teacher and student resilience capabilities and assets, and strengthening pathways between non-formal to formal education. 

Position Description:

The Safety and Security Manager (SSM) will report directly to the Chief of Party (COP) and maintain a strong reporting and link of collaboration and technical oversight from the Creative HQ RSM. The Safety and Security Manager will be responsible for liaising with the concerned officials in PA and Israel to facilitate the processing of permits, and ensure safe movement of staff and visitors across checkpoints and passageways as well as ensuring that safety and security policies and procedures are adequate and known to staff, visitors, and partners. Responsible for liaising with border crossing points mainly from Jordan into West Bank, West bank into Gaza, Egypt into Gaza, and Israeli airport arrival and departure.  

The SSM will maintain strong relations and updated security information gathered from reliable sources such as OSAC, AIDA, UN, WFP, ICRC, through meetings with UNDSS, AIDA, ACU, USAID, US Embassy, and others, and through the media on an ongoing basis. S/he will provide prompt security advisories, and SMS or alike alerts as appropriate for dissemination to all staff when security threat levels are heightened.

The SSM is responsible for safety and security risk management of the project and advising the COP on best practices to prevent and mitigate risk to all Creative/BEA staff and property and provide guidance on incident management.  The SSM will take the lead on tracking staff movements and is responsible for the management of cars and drivers by providing technical and administrative support.

The SSM is expected to promptly identify changes and analyze the security situation in West Bank & Gaza, Jerusalem, Israel, and the region, and to effectively integrate safety and security policies and procedures into office practice.

The SSM will provide support and advice to project staff on issues related to safety and security risk management.  S/he will assist program teams in incorporating security planning and awareness into program planning. The SSM will be responsible for coordinating with the operations team on all logistics activities related to the project and maintaining situational awareness and accountability of all property and project staff members.  S/he will track and manage Creative staff, consultants and partners travelling in West Bank and Gaza and Jerusalem, Israel and the region, and ensure compliance with corporate security policies.

 Safety and Security Policy, Procedures, and Risk Assessment

1. Track security issues and liaise with the Palestinian authorities and USAID to facilitate issuing permits and ensure safe movement for staff, visitors, and partners across checkpoints and passageways during field visits in West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem, ensuring robust maintenance of records and timely renewal of necessary permits.
2. Monitor and assess the security context and security situation in the West Bank and Gaza, Jerusalem, and Israel. Continuously collect updated security information from reliable sources such as OSAC, AIDA, UN, WFP, ICRC, through meetings with UNDSS, AIDA, ACU, and others, and through the media on an ongoing basis.
3. Maintain a database of security incidents and a simple reporting system for staff.
4. Establish and maintain a system for efficiently issuing and controlling the use of Creative cards.
5. Report and recommend appropriate actions in case of security incidents.
6. Ensure that existing and new staff and visitors are informed and aware of security policies and procedures and provide refresher training when needed or as directed by the COP or the HQ RSM.
7. Develop a system of reporting and documenting security incidents including vehicle accidents and handle all related security issues.
8. Provide, if directed, a weekly security report to the Chief of Party and HQ RSM.
9. Be able to assist with out-of-hours emergency response for the project staff and partners, if needed.
10. Regularly update and circulate staff contact information.
11. Ensure communication and correspondence files are maintained, and secure electronic and paper systems are used for storing sensitive security information.
12. Conduct professional liaison with security personnel in other NGOs, embassies, and government liaison offices when directed by the COP.
13. Report security and safety incidents, violations and recommend corrective actions, as appropriate, to the COP and the Creative HQ RSM.
14. Acting as the primary focal point in developing secure working arrangements during critical incidents such as humanitarian crisis, security incidents, etc. and support the program management in implementing safe or alternate working modalities.
15. Provide daily and monthly reports, security advisories, and SMS alerts as appropriate for dissemination to the Staff, partners, HQ RSM. when security threat levels are heightened. 
16. Provide a brief Weekly Security Report, containing:
    1. Security situation update
    2. Security Issues
    3. Project or major incidents
    4. Security tasks completed that week.

 Managing Transportation and Drivers 

1. Ensure vehicles are clean, undergo regular maintenance inspections.
2. Ensure that vehicle operation laws are always observed. Cars have all required papers and are equipped with required safety equipment.
3. Update, monitor, and report the vehicle logs for expenses and fuel consumption on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
4. Collect information on all accidents, follow-up with insurance and promptly generate a report for the COP, DCOP, Senior FM, and Sr. Operations Manager.

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Key Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, public relations/administration, or any related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant working experience in Safety & Risk Management
• Experience supporting international donor-funded projects is required, USAID experience preferred. 
• Experience in issuing access arrangements. . 
• Extensive experience in setting up and managing safety and security systems and protocols and providing training to staff and partners. 
• Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies.
• Good knowledge of communications equipment and operations.
• Ability to develop and manage a computer database and tracking systems.
• Ability to write professional letters and reports in English and Arabic, speak, read, and write in Hebrew is preferable.
• Good knowledge of Israel and West Bank, roads and routes.
• Valid driving license, Jerusalem preferable.
• Ability to work autonomously in a highly stressful & challenging environment with tight deadlines.
• Specialized training in safety and security management is desirable.