JOB SUMMARY:

We are seeking a highly skilled and visionary security professional to join our team as the Director of Operational Security. This is a pivotal role holding significant responsibility within the CARE Security Unit, overseeing CAREs operational security function but also acting as a key strategic partner and thought leader within the team. If you are an experienced NGO security professional, this is a unique opportunity to shape the way we work and react to security challenges, make a positive impact on daily lives of colleagues, and contribute to our mission of empowering communities and eradicating poverty. 

Reporting to the CARE Executive Director Security, Operational Access and Risk as the Director of Operational Security, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and security of our staff, programs, and assets across CARE's operational areas. You will lead and manage a team of Regional Security Managers (RSMs) and regional security assistants, providing guidance and support in the operational delivery of the function.

As a champion of staff safety in humanitarian response efforts, you will drive preparedness within the CARE Security Unit (CSU) to ensure we can effectively meet all program challenges. Your innovative thinking, problem-solving skills, and adaptability will be key as CARE evolves, continuously finding effective solutions to emerging challenges. Additionally, you play a vital role in insuring critical information flows reach decision makers and crisis teams, you will support CARE’s crisis teams to respond effectively to events and challenges.  You will be responsible for ensuring safe operational access to program areas by enabling a security risk management platform, approving and implementing security protocols, and coordinating with local stakeholders and partners. You will lead efforts to create a secure environment for program delivery, enabling teams to operate effectively in challenging contexts. Your expertise in risk assessment, security planning, and crisis response will be critical in maintaining access to program areas while safeguarding personnel and assets.

Success in this role relies on building strong relationships and influencing internal and external stakeholders. Your exceptional communication and negotiation skills will be instrumental in forging partnerships that support our collective mission.  Collaboration and partnership are also the heart of this of your work. You will work in partnership with the units Executive Director and closely with the units functional directors and serve on the teams Senior Leadership Team, to develop comprehensive security strategies and initiatives. Together, you will establish and implement sector best-practice standards, ensuring consistent high-quality programs for all our presences.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Global Technical Leadership and Systems Management

The primary responsibility of the Director of Operational Security is to manage operational security systems and structures across CARE’s global presences.

• Design and maintain consistent global standards for the safe operation of CARE’s programs with the objective of enabling sustainable presences to fulfill CARE’s mission and mandate. 
• Oversee compliance and audits on global standards, and engage with accountable positions on compliance gaps. Solve problems that emerge in the implementation of CARE’s safety and security standards, and find innovative solutions to system and structure issues. 
• Align CARE’s operational security systems and structures with sector best practice, continually striving for improvement and enhancement to the benefit of CARE’s mission.
• Manage the budget for the CARE Security Unit’s operational accounts, including Regional Security Management budgets, in alignment with the CSU’s overall budget envelope. Ensure resourcing is commensurate with the requirements of staff safety globally.
• Further develop the CARE Security Unit’s emergency response protocols, building on lessons learned from previous humanitarian action and emerging sector best practice to ensure CARE’s ability to surge in a safe and effective manner in the event of both slow- and rapid-onset emergencies.
• Maintain the CARE Security Unit’s knowledge management, in coordination with the Security Analysis and Communications Manager, to ensure appropriate record keeping, availability of key information for internal stakeholders, and accountability. 
• Manage the safe and secure conduct of all VIP travel, including high-profile internal personnel, donors, celebrity advocates, political leaders and Learning Tours. Maintain the VIP travel protocol and review all trip planning in coordination with the organizing department.

Talent Management and Leadership

The Director of Operational Security will line manage five CARE staff members and the CARE Security Unit’s operational consultants. Additionally, you will guide the technical management and recruitment of Country Office safety and security personnel.

• Line-manage the five Regional Security Managers and the Global Security Response Advisor, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, coaching, problem solving and objective setting.
• Guide the recruitment and onboarding of Country Office safety and security personnel, including the development of testing and interview standards. Work with the Director of Security Capacity Building & Development to ensure that orientation meet operational requirements and seek innovative solutions to challenges with training Country Office personnel. Support the Regional Security Managers in dealing with performance management issues at the Country Office level.
• Advocate for the professional development of CARE Security Unit personnel, sourcing internal and external professional development opportunities in coordination with the Director of Security Capacity Building & Development to enhance the skillset of the CSU. Ensure that professional development opportunities are budgeted.
• Identify talent and create professional development pathways for up-and-coming CARE staff at the Country Office level, ensuring access to training and coaching opportunities in conjunction with the Director of Security Capacity Building & Development.
• Design a succession management plan to ensure growth opportunities for both CSU and Country Office security personnel and cover for vacancies, with a focus on internal career development and regionalization/localization objectives.
• Lead in developing talent from diverse and non-traditional backgrounds and further improving gender equity within the security sector, both internally and externally. Enhance CARE’s leadership in the diversification of the humanitarian sector.
• Manage the selection and administration of CARE’s network of operational consultants, overseeing vendor management including recruitment of a diverse talent pool, contracting, performance management, invoicing and document management.

Incident management

The Director of Operational Security will support CARE USA’s critical incident management systems, and support crisis management with the Snr Dir CARE Security Operational Access and Risk unit as required. 

• Oversee incident reporting structures and identify improvements to existing systems. Provide quality control over reporting that requires escalation and ensure relevance for leadership. Work with the Security Analysis and Communications Manager and Director of Security Capacity Building & Development to ensure that reporting structures are appropriately supported with training and development.
• Support the ,management of critical incidents through oversight of Regional and Country Office Crisis Management Teams, providing reporting and advice to the Vice President, International Programs and Operations and Sr Dir SOAR. Report in a timely manner to the Snr Dir SOAR on all incidents, discussing the management approach and make recommendations on the activation of crisis management systems should the situation require. 
• Support the Ex Dir in managing Level 3 crisis events as defined by the Business Continuity Management System. Manage tactical elements of the crisis response as directed by the HoS, contributing to a successful outcome. 
• Monitor and report on public health issues, including pandemic preparedness and response, and staff illness issues.
• Oversee post-incident reviews and adapt critical incident structures as required, conducting or managing investigations if the situation warrants. 
• Contribute to the further development of CARE USA’s Business Continuity Management System at the direction of the HoS, including supporting other functions on integration of non-security crisis events into the system and training of senior leadership.
• Guide the Regional Security Managers in the conduct of crisis management training with regional and Country Offices. Collaborate with the Director of Security Capacity Building & Development on the crisis management training curriculum and advise on required adjustments. 
• Manage the quality and consistency of SIMSon reporting, collaborating with the Security Analysis and Communications Manager on any system adjustments and capacity building as required.

Internal Engagement

A wide range of internal engagement across multiple functions is required for the Director of Operational Security.

• Represent the CARE Security Unit when required on the International Programs and Operations Senior Management Team and Enterprise Risk Committee. Ensure that safety and security remain key points of consideration across these group and socialize new approaches or protocols as needed.
• Engage regularly with Regional Directors and ensure open lines of communication. Negotiate conflicts among regional teams and support the resolution of problems and challenges. 
• Enhance existing relationships and develop new connections across key functions in the interests of advancing the CARE Security Unit’s mandate for staff safety. Seek innovative ways to work with cross-function teams and groups to ensure that the CSU’s objective of enabling safe and sustainable programming can be achieved. 
• Represent CARE USA’s operational security position on the CARE International Safety & Security Coordination Group, as directed by the Exec Dir.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in security risk management, international studies or a related field.
• Demonstrated history of progressive vocational training and qualifications.
• 10 years security risk management experience in international roles.
• 5 years security risk management experience in the INGO sector or 5 years +, or evidence of working with or supporting INGO operations globally  for  5 years +
• Demonstrated history of progressively responsible roles in leadership and management of security professionals.
• Experiencing of managing a remote, multi-cultural and diverse team of security professionals
• Experience living and working in complex and fragile environments.
• Demonstrated budget management experience.
• Demonstrable experience of leading during crisis