Country Security & Access Manager

Responsibility Syria and associated offices for the country program

Department Middle East – Syria country office

Reporting to Country Director – Syria

Technical/matrix reporting line to the Middle East Regional Security and Access Director

Direct reports Syria Security and Access Team, Lebanon SFP, Turkiye SFP

Budget responsibility Portfolio security budget

Relationship management Syria country team, Regional and global support team, relevant external stakeholders for the country office such as INGOs/NGOs, INSO, UNOCHA, UN agencies.

Context

Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.

Our team of more than 7,000 staff and local volunteers work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.

We do this by working with local actors to develop safe and inclusive local programming that is evidence based, conflict sensitive, climate smart, and reaches those in need.

Job Profile

The Security and Access Manager is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring the safety and security of Relief International’s (RI) staff, assets, and operations in Syria, Lebanon and Turkiye. This position focuses on developing and implementing effective security and access strategies, conducting risk assessments, and building organizational capacity to operate safely in a volatile and high-risk environment. The role involves leading access negotiations, developing contingency plans, and providing strategic guidance to the country team. The role will be based in Damascus with regular travel to operational areas in Syria and neighboring countries as needed.

Key Responsibilities

Security and Access:

• Ensure that risks are identified in the working environment and project locations across all operational areas
• Foster a culture of security awareness, duty of care, and collaboration within the Relief International team
• Lead on access negotiations and advice for the area and senior management team
• Ensure that security risk management (SRM) is an integral part through all areas of implementation and planning
• Lead the development and regular review of the country and area country security risk management tools and ensure all staff are brief and trained on use
• Continuously monitor changes in the security and operating environment, including political developments, conflict dynamics, and local tensions, ensuring real-time updates to risk mitigation strategies
• Ensure and lead budgeting for security-related needs and following tracking the security budget burn rate
• Provide technical support and supervision to area security focal points, ensuring a unified and effective approach to security and access and team cohesion
• Update and develop security risk assessments for all operating areas and effective mitigation measures to ensure the safety of Relief International country staff, premises, assets and reputation
• Update inside mandated review cycles the country and area contingency plans, ensuring that they are fit for purpose, kept as live documents and adapted to changing contexts
• Provide guidance, feedback to staff on humanitarian-development program access analysis, identify staff’s training needs on access issue such as humanitarian negotiation, humanitarian principles, and stakeholder analysis
• Identify and evaluate the risks and possible threats associated with program activities and take appropriate action to control the risks, communicating and collaborating regularly with the country senior management team
• Act as the security lead for incident management at the area and country level, providing leadership and support as required
• Collaborate closely with the Regional Security and Access Director to ensure alignment with Relief International’s global safety and security strategy

Training and Capacity Building

• Develop, review appropriate training, capacity-strengthening and development opportunities for Relief International Syria and Partner Organizations
• Conduct and deliver ongoing professional development to staff to enhance their understanding and application of Relief International Syria security and access protocols

Reporting

• Report all safety and security incidents in a timely manner, ensure mitigation and response measures are in place and after-action reviews held for lessons learned for Syria, Lebanon and Turkiye
• Ensure that the Country Leadership team and regional counterparts are updated about the operating environment for Relief International in implementation areas
• Develop and disseminate high quality weekly situation reports covering all operational areas
• Provide high quality analysis and guidance on access challenges and opportunities, ensuring alignment with the country programmers vision and Relief International standards

External Representation and Coordination

• Participate and represent Relief International in Access and Security Working Groups / coordination mechanisms
• Maintain effective communication with INGOs, NGOs and UN humanitarian access focal points
• Liaise and coordinate with relevant security actors which include peer agency security staff, local community stakeholders, and local authorities

Management and leadership

• Create a positive and productive work environment which is free from harassment and bullying
• Demonstrate sensitivity and understanding of diversity and cultural differences, gender issues and the commitment to equal opportunities
• Technically manage and provide support to area security focal points
• In collaboration with HR and the Regional Security and Access Director, update and ensure there is a focused capacity building plan for all staff covering key areas of SRM and access
• In collaboration with management and the Country Director ensure timely and quality staff performance management of safety and access focal points
• In accordance with Relief International’s HR policy and in-line with RI’s staff care efforts, maintain a healthy work environment, with reasonable workloads and proper leaves
• Work with closely with the HR team to assess and prevent risks of excessive stress and burnout in the workplace and

Behavior and Conduct

• Ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies
• Be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members
• Ensure own actions and the actions of the teams’ members they manage do not impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve.
• Ensure external stakeholders are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms
• Report any concerns and ensure a well-functioning Incident Management Team at country level.

Person Specification

Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.

Essential criteria

• Bachelor’s degree with commensurate work experience. Prior relevant working experience will be considered without a third level degree
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in security and access management in high-risk settings conflict and post conflict settings
• Strong analytical skills with significant experience providing high quality risk and security risk assessments.
• Strong and proven experience for providing high quality SRM training
• Prior experience leading teams in high risk locations including providing medical cover for team members
• Prior experience in critical incident management and providing IMT training to senior management teams
• Prior experience in development of multi country security packages
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with colleagues in a multi-cultural sensitive setting
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and manage time efficiently.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including ability to give effective feedback and to guide and mentor direct reports.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite and mapping software such as ARCGiS or similar platforms.
• Proficient in tracking and satellite communication systems.
• Minimum of FREC 3, MIRA or equivalent qualification which is current and in date.
• Must have the ability to travel to Syria, Lebanon, Turkiye and Jordan
• Previous and recent experience working in the Middle East
• Fluency in English

Desirable criteria

• Certification in SRM or risk management
• Qualified and certified to deliver emergency HEAT and first aid/trauma care
• Working knowledge of Arabic

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