Mercy Corps Vacancy - Safety and Security Officer
Mercy Corps
Woldia
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. Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas in eight regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara, Gambella, Tigray, Sidama, Central Ethiopia - and the capital city of Addis Ababa. Mercy Corps engages in both development and humanitarian works and seeks to integrate approaches, programs, and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include the government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies, and communities.
The Operations Department provides key support to the entire country program in procurement, asset management, warehouse management, fleet management, IT Management, Safety and Security Management, and facilities & and office management for successful program implementation.
The Safety and Security Officer is a member of the Safety and Security Department and is responsible for supporting operational security and information management related to safety, access, and security analysis. The primary objective of the Safety and Security Officer is to cultivate a culture of heightened security awareness that enables the successful implementation of programs and daily operations. The SFP assumes the role of a proficient team leader, adept at developing and guiding team members, and an exceptional communicator who collaborates with both internal and external stakeholders to accomplish common safety and security goals.
The Safety and Security Officer will follow directives given by the Safety and Security Manager for security support, access needs and acceptance related strategies in challenging operational environments.
Security Management and coordination
Security and Contextual Information Analysis
Security Planning and Preparedness:
Incident Response and Management:
Staff Capacity Building and Training:
Ensure that new field staff receive comprehensive orientation on their first day of arrival.
Identify security training needs and facilitate capacity-building sessions for staff members, ensuring they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to operate in high-risk environments.
Foster a culture of security awareness and accountability among staff, promoting adherence to security protocols and reporting mechanisms.
Provide guidance and support to staff on security-related matters, conducting periodic security briefings and debriefings.
Coordination and Partnerships:
Reports Directly To: Safety and Security Manager
Location: Weldiya, Amhara
Position Status: Full-time
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
The successful Safety and Security Officer will be good at problem solving and have the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. S/he will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity, while demonstrating the ability to multitask, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
How to Apply
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications must be submitted electronically including a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents.
Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.
“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”
Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper.
Our mission: to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. In more than 40+ countries around the world, over 6,000+ team members work side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, violent conflict, and the acute impacts of climate change. We’re committed to creating global change through local impact — 95% of our team members are from the countries where they work.
We bring a comprehensive approach to every challenge, addressing problems from multiple angles. And we go beyond emergency aid, partnering with local governments, forward-thinking corporations, social entrepreneurs, and people living in fragile communities to develop bold solutions that make lasting change possible.
We invite you to watch the short video below, learn more about our work, and join us on our journey to change the world for good.