About the Organization
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Job Summary
UNICEF Ethiopia works to advance the rights and well-being of every child, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations. Operating in a dynamic and complex environment, the Country Office delivers life-saving and developmental programmes across the country. The Security Manager plays a critical role in enabling safe and effective programme implementation by leading security risk management, advising senior management, and supporting personnel, assets, and operations throughout Ethiopia.
The Security Manager reports to the Country Representative and maintains a direct technical reporting line to the Regional Security Adviser under UNICEF's matrix-management arrangements. The Security Manager advises and supports the Representative in discharging their security responsibilities in accordance with the United Nations Security Management System and the UNICEF Security Framework of Accountability. On behalf of the Representative, the Security Manager leads and manages security activities in support of UNICEF personnel and eligible family members, premises, assets, programmes and operations throughout Ethiopia, while providing independent security advice to the Representative and Country Management Team. The Representative retains accountability for security matters within the Country Office.
Key Responsibilities
- Security Risk Management and Planning
Serve as the principal security adviser to the Representative and provide strategic advice to Country Management Team (CMT) on security risks and responsibilities.
Support and review Security Risk Management (SRM) processes, including specific ad hoc assessments where required; advise the Representative on UNICEF's position regarding proposed security risk-management measures; and manage the implementation and monitoring of measures approved through the applicable UNSMS decision-making arrangements.
Assist UNDSS as appropriate, participate as a member of the Security Cell, and attend Security Management Team and Area Security Management Team meetings as an observer, as applicable. Ensure that UNICEF-specific operational and programme considerations are appropriately presented, while recognizing that the Representative remains UNICEF's member of the Security Management Team.
Lead the implementation and monitoring of approved security risk management measures (SRMM), UNICEF Security plans including other security related preparedness and contingency arrangements across the Country Office and field locations.
Maintain required security documentation, incident reporting, and compliance monitoring.
- Security Services
Monitor and analyze security risks affecting personnel, assets, and programmes.
Oversee security operations and risk management across duty stations.
Ensure personnel receive security updates, training, and emergency guidance.
Manage security communications and emergency response systems.
Conduct residential security assessments and oversee security contractors.
Lead and manage the Country Office security function including the supervision, performance management, development and technical oversight of security personnel supporting the main office and field locations.
- Programmatic Security Information and Analysis
Provide forward looking security analysis and advice to enable programme implementation, humanitarian access and informed management decision-making.
Ensure that security risk considerations are integrated into programme strategy, planning, field delivery, emergency preparedness, business continuity and operational decision-making.
Advise programme and operations teams on practical risk management options that support principled presence, access and delivery in high-risk as well as hard-to-reach locations.
- Security Networking and Partnership Building
Maintain partnerships with UN, NGO, diplomatic, and local security counterparts.
Represent UNICEF in relevant inter-agency security forums and maintain effective coordination with UNDSS, members of the security cell, United Nations Entities and other security counterparts.
Maintain a direct technical reporting line to the Regional Security Adviser, regular technical coordination with the Office of Security Coordination (OSC) and timely operational reporting to OPSCEN on significant incidents and developments in accordance with applicable reporting requirements.
Strengthen security collaboration with implementing partners under the Saving Lives Together (SLT) framework.
- Security Compliance Monitoring
Monitor compliance with security policies, procedures, and risk mitigation measures. Review security proposals, budgets, and documentation, providing technical advice as needed.
Advise the Representative on identified security compliance gaps, residual risks, required corrective measures and any matters requiring management decision and/or escalation.
Monitor the implementation of agreed corrective actions and provide periodic compliance updates to the Representative and RSA.
- Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
Promote innovative security systems and practices.
Capture and share lessons learned and best practices.
Lead security training and capacity-building initiatives.
Brief managers on UN security policies, tools, and guidelines.
Ensure inclusive, gender- and disability-sensitive training programmes.
Required Qualifications
Minimum requirements
Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in security risk management, International Studies, Political Science, international relations, intelligence studies, peace and conflict studies, diplomatic studies, counterterrorism and any other related fields is required. A first-level university degree in a relevant field, in combination with ten years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience: At least eight (08) years of progressively responsible professional experience in security risk management, security analysis, is required. Demonstrated international security-management experience in emergency and/or conflict affected contexts and an understanding of the United Nations Security Management System is required.
Skills: Demonstrated ability to provide strategic security advice, lead security risk management processes, produce high quality security analysis and reporting, coordinate with inter-agency security arrangements, manage emergency preparedness and response and lead security personnel in complex operational environments is required.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
Desirables
Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
Experience in developing country and emergency operations settings, including conflict zones, with a strong track record of interagency security coordination to support safe and effective humanitarian and development programmes are considered an asset.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
Required Skills and Competencies
UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it.
UNICEF competencies required for this post are:
Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (Level 2)
Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (Level 2)
Works Collaboratively with others (Level 2)
Builds and Maintains Partnerships (Level 2)
Innovates and Embraces Change (Level 2)
Thinks and Acts Strategically (Level 2)
Drive to achieve impactful results (Level 2)
Manages ambiguity and complexity (Level 2)