Job Title : Senior Security Officer – Rome, Italy
ID : 13354
Location : ROME
Date of issue : 08/18/2023
Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 09/11/2023
Organizational Unit : Administrative Services Div.
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Regular
Assignment Duration : 2 Years
Grade : P-4
Organizational Setting
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.
The Corporate Services Department (CSD), led by the Associate Vice-President, CSD, provides IFAD with the human resources, administrative services, safety and security and information technology resources required to allow IFAD to meet its objectives of enabling rural people overcome poverty. The work of the CSD is undertaken by three divisions (i) Human Resources Division (HRD) (ii) Administrative Services Division (ADM) and (iii) Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT) and three units: (a) Front Office CSD (b) Field Support Unit and (c) Medical Services Unit.
The Administrative Services Division (ADM) provides a series of high-quality critical customer-oriented, sustainable, timely and efficient operational support and administrative services to clients worldwide to satisfy current and future corporate needs in support of IFAD’s mandate and mission and in close collaboration with our internal and external partners. The division supports the Organization’s core activities at HQ and IFAD Country Offices (ICOs) and facilitates day-to-day business operations in line with internationally accepted best practices. This includes the provision of sustainable, customer-oriented, cost-effective and efficient administrative services. ADM’s services encompass Security and Business Continuity, Facilities Management, Travel and Visa, Privileges and Immunities, Procurement, Insurance, Shipping, Asset and Inventory Management, Records Management and Archives, Mail Distribution, s well as greening activities.
The incumbent works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance of the Director, Administrative Services Division (ADM) and under the direct supervision of the Director ADM.
Job Role
The Senior Security Officer is a seasoned professional in their field of work with extensive, in-depth experience in IFAD or similar UN and/or IFIs or relevant Police/Military. The Senior Security Officer, as an experienced professional, has a complete understanding of the subject-matter area in the context of the Fund’s programmes and has the capacity to adapt policies, approaches, models and methodologies to meet emerging needs and to establish the continuing relevance of the team’s capacity to provide technically competent administrative services support to client departments across the Fund.
The Senior Security Officer works independently in the performance of the full range of complex security activities which involves planning, developing and implementing activities related to worldwide security.
Position Specific:
- Coordinates IFAD security operations globally
- Develops and adapts existing security policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures
- Represents IFAD on security issues as necessary, participating in joint activities with other UN and/or IFIs agencies as required.
Key Functions and Results
1. SECURITY ADVICE: The Senior Security Officer advises the Director, ADM and Senior Management on all aspects related to the safety and security of IFAD personnel, their eligible family members as well as premises, assets and operations and supports Director ADM in worldwide security operations. Within delegated authority advises and assists the Regional Division Directors, IFAD Representatives, Country Directors and Heads of Multi-Country Offices and IFAD business units on all safety and security matters, including, but not limited to response to critical security incidents and emergencies as required.
2. SECURITY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, ADVISORIES AND ALERTS: The Senior Security Officer ensures that the Director, ADM and IFAD Management are kept regularly updated in a timely manner on security developments, providing briefings and reports when required; ensures that all IFAD personnel have access to and receive timely security training and updates, alerts and warnings when the security situation warrants it.
3. SECURITY RISK MANAGEMENT/REPORTING: The Senior Security Officer:
- monitors the implementation of IFAD and the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) policies and procedures on safety and security in all locations worldwide where IFAD has staff and property; oversee adherence of IFAD personnel to all applicable security training requirements, policies and procedures, including but not limited to Security Risk Management and emergency security plans, promoting understanding and support for security requirements;
- conducts and/or oversees regular missions to ICOs and IFAD project areas to assess prevailing local security conditions, conducts Security Risk Assessments and makes recommendations aimed at improving the safety and security of staff and assets; assists programme managers to, inter alia, ensures compliance with security standards and requirements, reviews and revises IFAD operational plans vis-à-vis security;
- introduces analytical reports on changes in the security environment and threat level, drafts situation reports, maintains statistics of security incidents to staff and property and ensures proper follow-up to security incidents to staff and property;
- supports IFAD Management on their participation in the Security Management Team and UNCT, as applicable;
- monitors Local Cost Shared Security Budgets (LCSSBs) worldwide and the Joint Funded Activity (JFA) budget to ensure IFAD’s contribution is in accordance with IFAD personnel figures and expenses;
- serves as a member or alternate member, as applicable, of the relevant Security Management networks.
4. BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT PLAN COORDINATION: The Senior Security Officer coordinates Business Continuity activities in support of Business Continuity Management in order to ensure the preparedness of all elements of the emergency procedures in IFAD and raising staff awareness in accordance with the IFAD Business Continuity Management System. This includes monitoring, evaluating, reporting, testing, exercising and enhancing BC Plans. The Senior Security Officer supports the maintenance of IFAD security compliance standards, emergency communications system and provision of advice to Country Directors for the selection of appropriate equipment for security (vehicles, telecommunications equipment, PPE, etc.).
5. SECURITY ADVOCATE: The Senior Security Officer;
- provides operational and strategic analyses related to safety and security threats/ risks posed to IFAD personnel, operations, premises and field assets, providing management and personnel with the necessary guidance and mitigation measures;
- coordinates and leads the implementation of safety/ security policy/procedures in accordance with IFAD Security Management Principles;
- liaises and coordinates security and safety operations with UNSMS and IFIs Security personnel and host country agencies worldwide. Develops, negotiates and implements safe and secure access strategies to enable IFAD teams to perform their mission(s);
- conducts and/or oversees safety/security assessments of IFAD operations in high-risk environments to ensure compliance with relevant policies and procedures;
- makes appropriate recommendations to strengthen IFAD Safety and Security procedures and address non-compliance issues;
- supports incidents involving IFAD personnel and/or the Fund’s assets and provide the necessary recommendations.
6. SECURITY MANAGEMENT: The Senior Security Officer implements the development of a staff security training strategy that increases skills, security awareness and security knowledge of all IFAD personnel across the organization. Ensures that all IFAD personnel are aware of the training requirements and facilitates the provision of security training, such as security induction programme (SIP), SSAFE, WSAT, SAT, etc. and briefings to all personnel of the Fund.
7. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Senior Security is an Officer Team Leader with accountability for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes:
- People Management through recruitment, performance and career management of staff as well as learning management establishing learning plans and ensuring staff supervised meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD;
- Resource Management by providing strategic and data inputs into the divisional budget preparation exercises and execution, development of long-term and annual work plans, and overseeing accountability of material resources assigned to the Division;
- Knowledge and Content Management by ensuring (1) general administration knowledge content is continuously updated and available, (2) best practices are continuously identified, documented and distributed and (3) appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available to the Fund’s managers, supervisors and staff;
- Information Technology Management through leveraging ERP functionality for improved business results, simplification of transaction and reporting processes and improved client services.
Key Performance Indicators
Recognized in the field of work internal and external to the Fund, the impact of work performed by the Senior Security Officer at this level is innovative and the incumbent of the post is the originator of new ideas and new approaches that impact directly on the field of work within the Fund as well as indirectly on the profession within the greater scope of external partnerships.
Senior Security Officers at this level perform work that can be characterized as authoritative and requiring expertise in their field of work; they typically function as a Team Leader or Unit Head and supervise a team of specialists and analysts in the provision of corporate level services considered as intricate in terms of the policies, rules and regulations applied. They lead one occupational specialization at the corporate level with accountability for policy, procedures and administration or for managing a range of occupations within the field of work in “one-stop” service to assigned client base.
Position specific: Staff engagement and client satisfaction with services provided by the section as documented by relevant surveys.
Working Relationships
Representational functions of the Senior Security Officer primarily concern the provision of authoritative advice to IFAD’s Management in the development of new or modified policies and practices within their area of specialization. Recommendations for solutions to problems involve discussion with management, staff and other specialists. The advice and recommendations provided are normally considered technically accurate and are provided to senior managers inside and outside the Division or Unit.
External contacts include: counterparts in Host Country Security apparatus, other United Nations organizations in order to exchange information on approaches to security services problems, etc. and inter-agency groups such as UNDSS to provide information on the Fund’s security policies and practices and negotiate the adoption of common system practices. Work relationships are established and maintained with security counterparts including senior government, UN and IFI security officials. The outside interaction is significant but typically limited to the area of expertise.
Position Specific:
- Within delegated authority maintain continuous liaison with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), other Agencies Funds Programmes and Organizations security actors to promote UN Security Management System policies and procedures in all IFAD operations.
- Act as Alternate Security Focal Point and attend meetings of the IASMN, UNSSSNET, SAG for Italy, and other security networks, as and when required
Job Profile Requirements
Organizational Competencies:
Level 2:
- Building relationships and partnerships – Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
- Communicating and negotiating – Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
- Demonstrating leadership – Leads by example; initiates and supports change
- Focusing on clients – Contributes to a client-focused culture
- Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating – Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
- Managing performance and developing staff – Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
- Managing time, resources and information – Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
- Problem-solving and decision-making – Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
- Strategic thinking and organizational development – Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
- Team working – Fosters a cohesive team environment
Education:
- Level – Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in security management, military science, law enforcement, disaster or emergency management, public administration, social/political science or related area. A first level university degree or degree from a police or military academy with a combination of two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php
The following certifications are an asset:
- Security Certification Programme (SCP)
- Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environment (SSAFE) Trainer
- Women Security Awareness Training (WSAT) Trainer
- Hostage incident Management (HIM)
- Security Analysis Process and Practice (SAPP)
- Security Sector Internationally recognized certifications in the areas of:
- Business Continuity Management e.g. CBCI/DBCI
- Physical Security e.g. ASIS Physical Security Professional (PSP)
- Enterprise Risk Management
Experience:
- At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in corporate security management, preferably in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing security services management and support on a global scale.
- Position-specific experience: Professional Security Management experience and training certification in the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) as well as field experience in developing countries are assets. Ability to research and apply best practices/lessons learned and develop regulations, rules and standard operating procedures to meet evolving Fund security requirements.
Languages:
- Required English (4 – Excellent)
- Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 – Good)
- Position-specific requirement: Working knowledge of Italian is an asset.
Skills:
- Budgeting, resource management: Know-how in budget administration and accounting, resource allocation and planning at divisional level
- Security: Know-how in security management and measures
- Risk management (e.g. reputational): Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD’s activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies
- Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.)
- Time management: Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g. to deliver governing body documents on time); ability to coordinate and manage complex workflows and in-house and external teams
- Performance management: Know-how in managing performance so that staff supervised deliver on the agreed objectives and meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD. Is proficient in establishing clear performance goals (operational and behavioural) and learning plans as well as in evaluating the performance of staff against the set goals.
- Planning: Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources.
- Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks & conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented.
- Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD’s core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD’s goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.
- Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice.
Other Information
Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD’s Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.
In accordance with IFAD’s provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD’s remuneration package, please visit IFAD’s compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements. See here.
In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful. Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.
IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation.
Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org.
