Job Summary

The Safety and Security Officer (SSO) is responsible for maintaining oversight of the implementation of CARE safety protocols and procedures across CARE’s Syrian refugee programs inside Turkey. This position is based in Gaziantep, with a significant period of time spent visiting field locations and providing support to other members of CARE’s Refugee Response Team.

The SSO will be the first responder to security incidents in operational areas, notifying the Safety and Security Manager (SSM), other staff members, Regional Security Manager (RSM) and Country Director (CD) of security incidents and initiating local contingency plans.

The SSO is expected to be fully committed to CARE’s mission, vision, and values, particularly to its focus on gender equality. 

Responsibilities and Tasks

2.1. Job Responsibility 1: Planning and Preparation 25% of the time

• Monitoring the security environment in operational areas, updating risk assessments as required,

• Assisting in the creation and implementation of the Safety and Security Management Plan (SSMP),

• Providing routine and incident reports either through regular reporting lines to the SSM and the CD or directly to the RSM where required,  

• Supporting the development of a safety and security culture that is enhanced by sound procedures and practices,

• Accompanying staff on field missions on an as-needed basis,

• Liaising with key stakeholders to ensure that CARE staff can maintain access to program areas,

• Conducting security assessments of offices, residents of expatriates, venues, and hotels in collaboration with the related staff.  

2.2. Job Responsibility 2: Procedures and Protocols 25% of the time

The SSO will manage the implementation of country office Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and provide the following services:

• Maintaining high levels of oversight for physical security issues at offices and guest houses,

• Maintaining local security information trees and disseminate security flash alerts and advisories to staff as and when required,

• Acting as the focal point of all Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) tasks,

• Monitoring SOPs, supporting the development of new procedures to match security challenges and operational realities as they present, 

• Attending local security network meetings,

• Reporting non-compliance of procedures or security breaches to the SSM and CD,

• Preparing briefing materials in local languages,

• Providing SITREPs to SSM,

• Supporting applications for mission clearance from program staff.

2.3. Job Responsibility 3: Act in Crisis 20% of the time

The SSO is required to be the first responder for any safety or security incident involving CARE staff or assets in their operational areas.  The SSO’s responsibilities include:

• Supporting the SSM with the preparation of situational analysis, briefing materials, and contingency response advice,

• Investigating and following up on security incidents where CARE staff or assets are involved,

• Being deployed on short notice to support operations in any CARE program area,

• Preparing internal reports.

2.4. Job Responsibility 4: Administration and Support 25% of the time

The SSO will also responsible for the following:

• Briefing all new staff and visitors on local security conditions and protocols,

• Providing weekly security update reports for the SSM,

• Developing and enabling local level liaison in the responsible areas of operation,

• Preparing immediate incident reports to the SSM and/or Regional Management Unit.

2.5. Job Responsibility 5: Other Tasks 5% of the time

• The role of the SSO is not restricted to the above provisions and may be asked to perform other duties as directed by the SSM.

3. Problem Solving

The SSO is expected to contribute to problem-solving efforts, particularly in such situations where how to apply existing procedures pose some challenges. The SSO must support the SSM to pick and choose the right strategy to address a given problem.

Qualifications

 Education/Training

Required:

• Undergraduate diploma (or equivalent); or
• Five-year experience in the Police Department or the Military Forces
• Minimum five-year experience of working and living in Middle East countries
• Previous experience in conflict environments
• Previous experience in government liaison at different levels

Desired:

• Degree in policing, security management, international studies or related fields
• Trained in safety and security regulations, including OHS
• Proven experience in complex environments in a similar position with an INGO or development context
• Journalist fixer and/or any other experience as a translator

Technical Skills

Required:

• Excellent knowledge of both verbal and written English and Turkish, with a sound knowledge of technical expressions
• Ability to work effectively with others at all levels
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Basic IT literacy
• Demonstrated ability to manage under stressful conditions
• Demonstrated knowledge of the historical and socio-political context of the Middle East
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues with discretion, to respond positively to challenges, and to find creative and innovative solutions to problems
• Ability to work effectively in cross-cultural settings with people from diverse backgrounds

Desired:

• Working knowledge of Arabic, both spoken and written
• Interpersonal communication and proven written/presentation skills
• Understanding and appreciation of the local and western culture and security challenges

Child Protection Policy

Child abuse in all forms is unacceptable to CARE Turkey, which recognizes its responsibility to protect children from harm in all areas of its work. CARE Turkey is committed to ensuring a child-safe environment and is applying a zero-tolerance approach towards any kind of child abuse and exploitation.

Discrimination, Abuse and Harassment Policy

 CARE Turkey expressly prohibits and will not tolerate any form of discrimination, abuse, harassment (sexual or otherwise), based upon race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship status, disability, or military status. CARE employees and related personnel must under no circumstances take part in any form of discrimination, harassment, or abuse (physical, sexual or verbal), intimidation or exploitation, or in any other way infringe the rights of others inside or outside CARE.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Employment is subject to the possession of valid identification documents (passport, residency card, temporary protection card etc.) and successfully obtaining permission to work by the Government of Turkey (work permit). CARE will submit the work permit application on behalf of the selected candidate after the job offer accepted. Candidate can start to work for CARE only after work permit is received. Failure to provide the required documents or rejection of a work permit application by the Government of Turkey will result in your employment offer being rescinded.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates, please send a Curriculum Vitae in English and a Cover letter (in a separate file of no more than one A4 page) describing how your skills and experience match the requirements of this post, following to the e-mail address provided when you click the apply button.

following the below email address:

TUR.HumanResources@care.org

Applications in languages other than English will not be reviewed.

 “Applications are strongly encouraged from female candidates“

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

** CARE International is an Equal Opportunity Employer**