Position Description
Location Borno and Yobe State.
Risk Level: ☐ Level 3 ☐Level 2 ☐Level 1
(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.
Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.
Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps has worked since 2012 by focusing its programming on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic development, conflict mitigation, and humanitarian response.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps Nigeria implements a variety of programs with the ultimate goal of building productive, secure and just communities. The organization’s programs are implemented in many states, mainly in north and north-east Nigeria. Our work covers the following sectors: economic development, livelihoods/food security, adolescent girls & boys empowerment, financial resilience, conflict mitigation and humanitarian response. Common themes include community engagement, inclusive development, gender, and working in partnership with local government, the private sector and civil society actors.
General Position Summary
The Safety & Security Manager (SSM) is responsible for managing all safety & security systems in country, but with a majority focus on the humanitarian response in Northeast Nigeria. The SSM will work closely with the Country Director and Senior Management Team (SMT) in developing and implementing procedures and policies specific to each situation including security management plans. The SSM will provide support and advice to the Country Director, relevant program directors, including the Director of Humanitarian Programs, on safety and security issues and is a member of the Senior Management Team and Security Management Team. The SSM will provide training, mentoring, support and guidance to security focal points (SFPs) appointed in each field office and Security Officer (SO) for humanitarian team based in Gombe/Biu. g. Moreover, the SSM will provide (or arrange for) necessary training of all Mercy Corps staff and partners, as needed. He/she is expected to assist program teams in incorporating security planning and awareness into program planning. It is expected that SSM will provide extensive support with frequent dialogue and field visits. Reporting instruments and tactical guidance will be standard with the Nigeria team. In addition, the SSM will work closely with the Global Director of Field Security and Regional Security Adviser.The SSM will also coordinate with the Nigeria Security forums including UNDSS, other INGOs, embassies, etc. This engagement will be of particular importance as the UN scales up its humanitarian response/security infrastructure.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Security information & analysis:
- Work with SFPs, SO, Heads of Office and the SMT to monitor the security environment in the designated areas of Nigeria, with particular focus on the Northeast.
- Prepare analytical reports, based on information from internal and external sources, to support policy and procedure reviews as well as to mitigate risks to programming.
- Prepare weekly security brief and share with all relevant staff, including program managers, SFPs and security management team.
- Be readily available at all times to the Country Director and field staff to advise on security developments.
Security System Management:
- Develop, review and ensure effective implementation of the MC Nigeria Security Management Plans including a security plan in assigned offices, together with key actors.
- Develop, review and ensure the effective implementation of hibernation and evacuation SOPs.
- Actively participate in SMT meetings and support members in sharpening their skills in risk and vulnerability assessments, evaluating information and developing security protocols and strategies that work for the team and allow to progress safely and with the lowest risk possible.
- Conduct security assessments in all offices and international staff residences, with recommendations to the Country Director for any necessary improvements.
- Ensure adequate supply of necessary safety and security-related equipment at all offices and international staff residences.
- Ensure that relevant staff members understand and are able to use this equipment, including radios, satellite phones, fire extinguishers, etc.
- Conduct comprehensive security/risk assessment in potential new program/field sites, as necessary.
- Implement and ensure effective monitoring of a vehicle tracking system in each office.
- Ensure implementation of incident tracking and reporting protocols, with key stakeholders.
- Prepare and update as necessary the “constant companion”, both full and pocket-sized versions.
- Review and revise security telephone tree for all locations as necessary, with key stakeholders.
- Conduct routine crisis management exercises for all staff and management.
- Conduct mock drills in all MC offices (e.g. fire drill, evacuation drill etc.).
- Promote and support efforts by field offices to meet the Inter Action Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) through effective planning and budgeting for security.
- Work with SFPs, Program Managers, Heads of Offices, Directors of Programs and CD on community acceptance messaging and other operational strategies.
Staff management and technical support:
- Participate in the identification of SFPs and recruitment of Security Officers as necessary. Lead the onboarding and training of these staff.
- Supervise the SO in NE Nigeria, including setting objectives, developing quarterly work plans, performance evaluation, etc. Assist SFPs in developing a monthly/quarterly work plan that can be monitored by the Head of Office, and remotely by SSM and Country Director.
- Mentor the SFPs to fulfill their safety and security responsibilities at the field-level.
- Work with CD to include necessary safety and security information in pre-departure information packages for new international staff and visitors.
- Work with the Human Resources Officer (HRO) to develop and implement security orientation for new staff (international and national) and visitors.
- Work with the HRO to identify security training needs of team members and include security awareness as an essential part of program trainings and refresher workshops.
- Assess the training needs of drivers and guards in consultation with SFPs and Logistics staff.
- Significant technical support provided to partner agencies – particularly in tactical skills and them defining their own risk thresholds.
Coordination:
- Place high value on inter-agency coordination in security. Actively participate in security coordination activities in the Northeast and encourage SFP and Heads of Office to participate in coordination activities at the field-level.
- Daily check-ins with humanitarian teams posted in the Northeast.
- Actively seek opportunities for formal and informal cooperation in security.
- Develop a network of relationships with peers in the humanitarian community (UN, NGO, ICRC, appropriate governmental offices, etc.).
- Develop and engage Mercy Corps’ internal network of SFPs, SO and Heads of Office, and encourage inter-communications between them.
- Pursue opportunities to engage others in our community in creative solutions to our security challenges through collaborative efforts.
- Any other duties which are not listed but are essential to the safety and security for MC staff members and properties.
Organizational Learning:
- As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries:
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Knowledge and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline.
- 3-5 years field experience in safety and security with a humanitarian or development non-governmental organization.
- Extensive experience in setting up and managing safety and security systems and protocols and provide training to staff and partners.
- Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies. Good context analysis skills.
- Excellent negotiation and representation skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
- Effective skills in coordination, organization and prioritization as well as in Microsoft Office applications.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively with team members.
- Proven ability to work and solve problems independently without direct supervision.
- Experience living and working in Nigeria and experience in the Northeast preferred.
- Knowledge of Mercy Corps systems and procedures highly desirable.
- English proficiency required: excellent written and oral skills.
- Excellent negotiation and representation skills.
- Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.
- Excellent oral and written English skills required.
- Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
Supervisory Responsibility
Directly: Senior Safety and Security Officer
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Operations Director, Country Director.
Works Directly With:
- SFPs, Director of Humanitarian Programs, Team Leader of Humanitarian Programs, Directors of Conflict Management and Gender Programs, Operations Manager, Head of Offices, Program Managers, and Finance Manager.
- S/He will work very closely with Mercy Corps’ Regional Security Advisor.
Success Factors
The Safety and Security Manager ensure effective implementation of security policies and systems tailored to Nigeria’s context, aligned with regional practices. The role requires strong problem-solving skills to support safe program delivery while ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. It involves close collaboration across departments, the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment, and effective engagement with diverse teams. The position demands high professionalism, adaptability, and adherence to organizational values, policies, and local laws always.
