Safety & Access Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title Safety & Access Officer  

Location Gaza – oPt Country office

Travel NA

Job Family and Level  On completion of Job Evaluation

Pre hire checks This role is classified as requiring pre-employment checks /enhanced due diligence

Scope Keep all sections below if not applicable, confirm None. Do not delete the fields.

Department: Safety & Security

Reporting to:  Area Director and Tehcnially to the Safety & Access Manager 

Context

About Relief International

Relief International (RI) partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and well being.

Currently, RI is active in 14 countries around the world, including some of the most fragile: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.

Relief International includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: Relief International Inc., Relief International-UK, Relief International-France and Relief International-Europe Under our alliance agreement, we operate with a single, shared management structure.

About our Country Program/ Regional Programs

Relief International was operational in OPT starting in 2007, and after entering hibernation period in 2017, has recently reactivated its operations at the end of 2023. Relief International is currently building its response to the current and evolving situation in both Gaza and the West Bank through both a direct implementation and partnership approach. Relief International’s programming in OPT follows Relief International’s global strategy with Health as a central focus with components linked to our work in Health through the sectors of WASH, Protection, Education and Livelihoods. The context in OPT is extremely dynamic and requires focus on nexus programming that brings together both humanitarian service delivery combined with systems strengthening and longer-term programming

Middle East Region

RI operates in six countries in the Middle East region:  Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Yemen, with a focus on the four RI sector pillars: Health, WASH, Education and Economic Opportunity.  We employ more than 4,000 staff (direct and indirect) in the Middle East region and implement a range of humanitarian and development programs valued at approximately $70 million USD on an annual basis.

3. Job Profile

The Safety and Access Officer is a key leader in ensuring the safety and security of Relief International's team and programs in the Gaza Strip. Your role will be to develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive security and access strategies, ensuring the safety of staff and facilitating access to RI's areas of intervention in Gaza. You will directly manage the Safety and Access Assistant and collaborate closely with the Area Director and Country Security and Access Manager.

Key responsibilities

 Accountability and Complexity

• Identify and address common safety and access challenges in the Gaza Strip, utilizing established protocols and procedures to ensure the safety and security of RI's staff and operations.
• Work closely with the Operations Department to implement security measures, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance with safety protocols.
• Monitor security incidents and trends, report findings to the Safety and Access Officer, and contribute to the development of risk mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate with relevant authorities and stakeholders to secure access for RI staff and programs to operational areas within the Gaza Strip

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive pre-departure briefings for staff deploying into the field, as directed by the respective Safety and Access Officer.
• Implement and monitor movement tracking platforms, serving as the main point of contact for all Relief International staff and visitors during field deployments, ensuring adherence to the oPt Missions Security Staff Movement SOPs.
• Collaborate with logistics and fleet departments to support field-level movement oversight and coordination as directed.
• Maintain a detailed log of security and humanitarian access-related incidents and developments throughout the Gaza Strip on the oPt Missions security incident register, providing analytical and contextual updates.
• Draft and disseminate security alert advisories for Relief International staff via the Security Group Signal Platform during significant security incidents or elevated threat levels.
• Prepare and submit area-level weekly situation reports to the respective Safety and Access Officer and Area Director.
• When requested by the respective Safety and Access Officer and Area Director regularly test and exercise the local area security communications tree, acting as a warden responsible for conducting headcounts.
• Plan and implement security risk assessments for each location of Relief International's operations and new areas of planned interventions within the Gaza Strip.
• Assist the Security and Access Department with the smooth operation of security and access activities, including attending weekly meetings, contributing to analysis, and performing tasks as directed by the Country Security and Access Manager and Area Director.
• Attend local security coordination meetings with external groups and other NGOs, establishing strong networks with other Safety and Access actors.
• Monitor and oversee static security operations, ensuring effective follow-up with security guards at Relief International facilities in Gaza.
• Act as the key point of contact for coordinating all meetings and training sessions at Relief International designated area level office(s).
• Address and resolve issues that may arise in areas of operation, conducting regular field visits and stakeholder engagement with host communities.
• Participate in the delivery of safety and security trainings to relevant Relief International staff.
• Develop and disseminate safety and security alerts and advisories to all field staff.
• Ensure hibernation, relocation and evacuation plans at the local area level are established, contextualized and regularly updated.
• Provide cover and assistance to other Safety and Access staff in the field during their absence.
• Prepare and submit security incident reports as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall Safety and Access objectives of the organization. 

Communication:

• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Committed to providing a quality service
• Teamwork

Behavior and conduct

• Ensures that behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies
• Acts with integrity and holds themselves accountable for being respectful, inclusive and professional
• Reports any concerns

1. RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

• Integrity
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Inclusivity
• Sustainability

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Person Specification

Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.

• At least 3 years of experience in direct safety and access position.
• Previous experience working in non-governmental organization
• Strong organizational skills
• High computer skills on MS Office programs
• A demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action
• Ability to work under pressure and with very short deadlines & strong communications skills.
• Fluent in oral and written Arabic and very good English.

Please send your CV to [email protected] with Subject "Safety & Access Officer" 

Closing date: 15 Aug   Please apply immediately we will be reviewing applicants on a rolling basis, therefore we may withdraw the position from the jobs board before the closing date.

As a humanitarian organization, Relief International is committed to the safeguarding of all those we come into contact with through our work. We are committed to the core humanitarian principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. Relief International expects all st aff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviors outlined in the Code of Conduct.