Safety and Security Officer - CARE International

CARE began operations in Ghana in 1994 by working to educate mining areas about sexual health and the prevention of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. CARE Ghana now works with more than 40 partner organizations to implement a portfolio of projects worth about US$9 million annually in 150 districts across the country, from our main office in Accra and sub-offices in Kumasi, Sunyani and Tamale.

For 30 years, CARE has been working in Ghana to improve livelihoods and achieve social justice through interventions that address the underlying causes of poverty. Our programming focuses on food and nutrition security and social and economic empowerment, with women and youth as our impact group.

Job Description

CARE Ghana is excited to invite your applications for new job openings in our programs and operations. Not only do we offer exceptional opportunities for career growth for Ghanaians, especially women and young people, but we are also proud to welcome talented people such as yourself into the global CARE community where our core values of Transformation, Integrity, Diversity, Equality and Excellence are the benchmarks against which we measure ourselves as leaders and employees

If you share these values and our passion for saving lives, defeating poverty, and achieving social justice, then CARE Ghana is the place for you. We hire and nurture great people from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and identities, striving every day and at all levels to build and sustain an inclusive workplace and a sense of belonging for our teams. Your well-being and satisfaction with your job in CARE Ghana matter as much to us as your performance.  Our compensation and benefits package are generous, and we offer flexible working conditions to enable you to enjoy life outside of work, and as part of our commitment to equity.

At CARE, we recognize that skills and expertise can come from a range of experiences from work and life, in addition to education or past job titles. As such, we welcome applications from dynamic, curious, and creative Ghanaians with a passion for learning and problem-solving.

The role of the Safety and Security Officer (SSO) is focused on the continuous implementation of safety and Security strategies and protocols to ensure a high level of safety and well-being for all CARE Ghana staff based in the Northern Sector Sub-Office, Tamale.  The SSO will maintain a high level of contextual awareness of her/his operating area and strong coordination with Program and Program support teams at the field level. 

S/he will promote a strong Safety and Security culture at her/his field office(s) through continuous trainings and collaborative security assessments with all field-based staff.  The SSO will serve as the Safety and Security unit representative at field level and also serve, when required as the Safety unit representative on the Field Crisis Management Team.

The SSO will report directly to the Safety and Security Manager. The incumbent will be based in the Northern Sector Sub-Office, Tamale.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning and Preparation

• Continuously monitoring the environment in the operational areas for which s/he is responsible.  As required, and at a minimum of once per quarter, support the Safety and Security Manager in updating the Safety and Security strategies for CARE Ghana.
• Based on current context make recommendations to the Safety and Security Manager for updates to Field Level Standard Operating Procedures and Safety Risk Management Plans.
• Ensure that the Field Level Security Plans and associated documents are kept up to date and reviewed regularly.
• Ensure the safety readiness of all CARE staff at the Field level through regular integration of safety and security management priorities and objectives into Field Office planning.
• Brief, manage and liaise daily with the contracted guarding services to ensure the guard force is aware of CARE standards and can effectively provide for the safety of CARE compound/staff and assets.
• Accompany staff on field missions on a need basis in order to better develop an awareness of the challenges faced by CARE staff in the field.
• Liaise with government, Army, Police and other key external stakeholders to ensure that CARE staff can maintain regular and safe access to program areas.
• Regularly coordinate with peer organization safety staff/focal points to get the current contextual information.
• Prepare Hibernation, Relocation and Evacuation plan for the area of responsibility with the support of Safety and Security Manager.
• Prepare office Emergency procedures with the support of Safety and Security Manager.

Implementation of established Procedures and Protocols

• Maintaining physical safety standards as established by the Country Office.
• Per established movement protocols, provide movement tracking oversight and support in coordination with Logistics team.
• Ensuring that all CARE Field based staff are aware of established Safety and Security strategies and have the means to follow established protocols on a continuous basis.
• Ensuring that the contracted guard force maintains a high standard of guarding for CARE office and residence, and when required take corrective action in coordination with the Guard force management.
• Ensuring that required relationships with local police and other security agencies are maintained to assist (when required) with ensuring the safety of CARE staff, facilities and assets.

Training

• In coordination with the Safety and Security Manager, develop and implement quarterly training plans for all CARE Field level staff focused on safety awareness and skill sets.
• Ensure that all CARE Field level drivers receive annual driver training as well as First Aid training.
• In coordination with the Safety and Security Manager, ensure bi-quarterly orientation on Hibernation, relocation and evacuation plan with all field staff.
• In coordination with the Safety and Security Manager ensure that an annual Crisis management training session is completed with all relevant Field level staff.

Crisis Management

• During any critical incident or crises serve as the Safety and Security unit representation on the Field level Crisis Management Team (F-CMT).
• Ensure that all Field Level Crisis management plans are kept up to date and reviewed regularly.
• Ensure that the necessary external relationships are maintained at Field level in order to facilitate a quick response and assistance to CARE during any critical incident or crises.

Support to International Visitors or CARE’s International staff

• For any International visitor or CARE Ghana staff, provide a current Security briefing prior to any movements to field locations or within 24 hours of arrival to the Field office.
• Accompany any International visitor or CARE International staff to field locations when directed by Safety and Security Manager.
• When required liaise and coordinate with local authorities in order to ensure that necessary protocols for movements of international visitors or staff are adhered to in specific locations.

Required Skills or Experience

Knowledge

• Sound judgment and the ability to work effectively with others at all levels.
• Strong assessment, evaluation, analysis and strategic planning skills.
• IT literate, MS – Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience in developing safety related technical tools guidelines and systems.
• Interpersonal communication and proven written / presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage under stressful conditions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the historical and socio-political context of Northern Ghana.

Experience

• 5 years of demonstrative experience in INGO/NGO or UN field (operations) with at least 2 years of field safety management experience

Skills

• Sound judgment and the ability to work effectively with others at all levels.
• Strong assessment, evaluation, analysis and strategic planning skills.
• IT literate, MS – Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience in developing safety-related technical tools guidelines and systems.
• Interpersonal communication and proven written / presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage under stressful conditions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the historical and socio-political context of Northern Ghana.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in a field related to humanitarian work or security risk management, or security analysis.