Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict – away from destructive approaches towards cooperative solutions. With more than 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries across the globe.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Safety & Security Coordinator – North West (SSC)

Locations: Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kwara, and Niger
Employment Type: Full time

Job Description

• The project aims to improve peace and security in Nigerian border communities in Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kwara, and Niger State. This will be achieved through community capacity building, institutional strengthening, and cross-border collaboration.
• The project start-up phase includes a baseline study, community entry and advocacy, security assessments, and conflict scans to inform targeted interventions. Activities focus on empowering community members through training in conflict sensitivity and early warning systems, establishing and revitalizing local government level and state-level Peace Architecture Dialogues, and fostering collaboration amongst project stakeholders.
• The project also seeks to promote trust-building and social cohesion, through approaches such as sport activities between communities and security officials, media engagement for conflict-sensitive journalism, and community outreach through radio dramas and participatory theatre. By fostering inclusive dialogue and enhancing security coordination, the project aims to improve perceptions of peace and security while building sustainable mechanisms for conflict resolution and prevention in the region.
• Strategic Objective 1: To strengthen the capacity of community members for peace and security in the Nigeria-Benin border areas.
• Strategic Objective 2: To enhance Security Coordination and collaboration between communities and security agencies along the Nigeria-Benin border.
• Strategic Objective 3: To improve intra and inter-communal perceptions of peace and security along the Nigeria-Benin border.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with SSM to ensure security strategies for Search Nigeria and that responses are appropriate and aligned with regional and global priorities.
• Deliver oversight of security prevention, preparation, and response and recovery activities, particularly in Areas of Responsibility and support other offices to counter threats emerging from changing political, social, and economic situations.
•  Developing, reviewing and ensuring effective implementation of the Search Nigeria Security Management Plans, SOPs/Contingency Plans, including a security plan in assigned offices, together with key staff
• Ensure that all safety and security management systems are in line with existing Search security policy, protocol and approach
• Implement and ensure effective monitoring of a personnel and vehicle tracking system in each office.
• Support the SSM in planning and implementing risk mitigation strategies (acceptance, deterrence, protection) to improve safety and security.
•  Ensure that appropriate safety and security systems are in place to provide timely and accurate security information to all staff members and visitors.
• Provide crisis/Incident management support (evacuation and hibernation) as required.
• Be readily available at all times to the Head of Programme Implementation/Project Manager and field staff to advise on security developments.
• Maintain an updated Search staff contact list and security notification tree and test the tree on a regular basis.
• Conduct regular site visits to field sites to assess safety/security arrangements.
• The SSC will work closely with Search program staff to facilitate easy access to program location, conduct regular security risk assessment of Search program location and facilities.
• The SSC will further assist the SSM in building up the capacity, awareness and preparedness of staff to deal with security-related risks, threats and incidents through the delivery of high quality, regular trainings or briefings to staff and Search visitors within the area of responsibility
• Supervise and liaise on a daily basis with the contracted guards to ensure the guard force is trained and aware of Search SOPs and are effectively enforcing the required regulations.

Analysis:

• Report, analyze and communicate current socio-political context and the security situation and the wider context (country, region, global trends as applicable).
• Ensure compliance with the incident reporting system, prepare weekly reports for the Field offices and update data on available incident data tools and ensure that the incident register is updated regularly.
• Conduct ongoing threat assessments and compile daily/weekly situation reports/monthly security analysis and ensure that the information is shared in a timely manner.

Networking:

• She/he will develop a wide web of relevant contacts of stakeholders to engage with positively to address access challenges, collate and disseminate relevant security information
• Attend security & emergency related briefings and meetings and share security related information with third party security and risk management service providers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science or a related discipline
• At least 5 years of relevant experience at international NGOs in safety and security functions
• Experience in liaising with communities, civilians, police and/or military government authorities as well as with regional institutions preferred.
• Substantial practical field experience in security management (direct INGO security management).
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
• Good contextual knowledge, analysis and report writing skills.
• Must be Competent and literate in some of the relevant local languages of the North West region.
• Willingness to travel at short notice, and often in difficult circumstances.
• Experience of incident reporting, incident mapping, intelligence collation and analysis functions, set up and execution of an incident warning system (warden system), compilation of security reports and assessments.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Knowledgeable  in Training and facilitation skill using different training media
• Ability to conduct regular mock drills in all offices (e.g. fire drill, evacuation, etc.)
• Experience and knowledge of personnel and organizational security issues, threat/risk assessment, security management and security awareness in an insecure environment
•  Technical competency and training experience in field-based communications systems such as HF Codan, Motorola VHF, Thuraya, satellite systems and internet systems.
• Experience working successfully with stakeholders such as local and international NGOs, government, etc., with sensitivity and diplomacy.

Competencies:

• Leading and supervising: Has the ability to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of SFCG. Is able to build trust within the team and acts with integrity.
• Accountability: Being accountable and passing on accountability for one’s own actions and those of colleagues and the organization.
• Attention to detail: The ability to process detailed information effectively and consistently
• Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others in order to achieve a shared goal – even when the object at stake is of no direct personal interest possibilities.
• Creativity: The ability to come up with original and innovative ideas and solutions, to adopt points of view outside the usual parameters.
• Solid ability to provide team building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation.
• Focus on Quality: Setting high quality standards and striving for continuous improvement and quality assurance.
• Learning Ability: The ability to absorb new information readily and to put it into practice effectively
• Adaptability: The ability to remain fully functional by adapting to changing circumstances (environment, procedures and people).

Application Closing Date
5th August, 2024.