The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees delivers lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
The IRC began planning to reopen an oPt country program in mid-2022 and launched an emergency response in Gaza in October 2023. The organization is currently supporting a network of local partners in both Gaza and the West Bank to sustain critical health, protection, food security, cash, education, and early childhood development interventions. The IRC is also deploying emergency medical teams to provide surge clinical capacity in hospitals and other health facilities.
The IRC is working to scale its emergency response while building a longer-term oPt country program in parallel. This effort is being jointly managed by the Emergencies and Humanitarian Action Unit (EHAU) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a view to eventually transition the country program fully under the MENA region.
Scope of work
The Humanitarian Access & Security Coordinator (HAS Co) reports directly to the Country Director – oPt, has a technical reporting line to the Emergency Safety & Security Senior Coordinator (ESSS Co – ERT), and manages the Humanitarian Access & Security Department for the oPt Response. They are fully part of the SMT (Senior Management Team) as per protocol for the country at or above level 3. In collaboration with key programs and operations colleagues in oPt, they will strive to safely enable the delivery of essential services to clients in oPt. They will implement humanitarian access and security management systems and protocols in line with humanitarian principles, IRC Standards and Requirements, humanitarian needs, duty of care principles, and IRC’s strategy.
Major Responsibilities
Safety & Security Management
• Provide technical support to country management on all policies, procedures, guidelines, strategies, and planning for staff safety, operational security, and program continuity.
• Evaluate, review, and update security management plans regularly. Reference and ensure compliance with the IRC Security Management Framework within the SMP and all annexes.
• Work with key stakeholders to develop, consolidate, and implement operating procedures and contingency plans.
• Conduct risk assessments of contracted and prospective offices and residences. Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards.
• Undertake continual assessments of equipment and the protocols by which that equipment is used to ensure that minimal conditions for security are being met.
• Provide and implement the best possible solutions for using communications equipment, including proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment.
• Develop and maintain a network of IRC Security Focal Points at each field office and program site, enhancing gender balance.
• Follow up on actions to be taken to ensure compliance with safety and security standards.
• Ensure safety and security protocols, reporting mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives account for gender-specific risks, staff profiles, and background and are sensitive to local contexts.
• Work closely with IRC field management teams to ensure all incidents and accidents are followed up with an official written report, which is then shared with relevant stakeholders and filed appropriately. Ensure that final incident reports are provided when IRC is closing the case.
• Monitor the operating environment in the areas of intervention, identify new threats, assess IRC vulnerabilities and recommend possible responses.
• Review the annual S&S Strategy in coordination with the ESSS Co and the SMT.
• As a key Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) member, provide sustained support to operational teams and management during an incident.
Humanitarian Access Management
• Develop and implement humanitarian access strategies and approaches tailored to local contexts in field sites and include overarching community engagement components.
• In line with humanitarian principles, develop ongoing relationships with appropriate local authorities and other key stakeholders, encouraging collaboration with IRC to ensure that staff and programs are safe and with permission to continue humanitarian activities.
• Work to ensure that IRC, its mission, and work in all areas of operation are known and accepted.
• Provide technical input and advice on assessments to consider IRC programming in new geographic locations.
• Liaise and coordinate with relevant security actors, e.g., NGO security staff, security forces, local community stakeholders, and local authorities.
Training and Capacity Building
• Develop, review and deliver appropriate training and capacity-strengthening opportunities to IRC and IRC partners.
• Work with relevant internal focal points to develop, review, and deliver onboarding packages and briefings for new hires and visitors.
Program Development
• Participate in program design in close cooperation with program staff, supporting the development of conflict-sensitive and contextually appropriate approaches.
• Participate in program review meetings and contribute to implementation plans to ensure the timely, safe, and secure delivery of IRC service to beneficiaries.
• Advise program and field management teams on context-specific risks about Safety & Security and Humanitarian Access and contribute to developing and implementing mitigation measures and plans.
Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development
• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Coach, train, supervise, and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to perform in their positions successfully.
• Approve and manage all time, attendance, and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these following the IRC Staff Employment Policies
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of all staff
Requirements
• At least 5 years experience in High-Risk and Complex environments, with at least 2 years experience working with NGOs in international humanitarian programs – all as Security or Humanitarian Access staff. Experience in delivering training; ability to develop, implement, facilitate, and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.
• Proven management experience, including people and projects.
• Highly skilled in organizing and coordinating large-scale, fast-paced, responsive field programs.
• Solid ability to provide team-building, coaching, and development for staff and encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation.
• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with external stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation and mediation skills essential with experience in conflict resolution essential
• Superior oral and written communication skills, with the ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Fluency in English. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Working knowledge of Arabic is strongly preferred.
• Digital literacy: MS Word, Excel & email applications required; MS Access, Project & GIS preferred.
Reporting relationships and coordination:
Reports to: Country Director – oPt
Technical supervision by: Emergency Safety & Security Senior Coordinator (ESSS Co – ERT)
Technically Supervises: Humanitarian Access & Security Manager – Gaza, Humanitarian Access & Security Officer – West Bank. Provides support to Humanitarian Access & Security Focal Points in field offices that are directly supervised by the Head of Offices/Field Coordinators.
Key Interfaces: SMT, Technical Coordinators, Head of Offices/Field Coordinators and other relevant staff as necessary with program expansion.
**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.