Vice President, Global Safety & Security

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS’ Vice President, Global Safety and Security is responsible for safety and security management at HIAS globally, working at both a strategic and operational level. This includes advising HIAS executive on safety and security matters, ensuring consistently strong executive protection measures are in place, strengthening a culture of safety and security risk awareness across the organization, and developing and maintaining policies and procedures for effective safety and security management. It also includes hands-on support, advice, assessments and action planning, in person and virtually, to HIAS offices and affiliated organizations in the US and around the world. The role holder works in lockstep with internal and external partners to ensure a coordinated, informed and proactive approach to safety and security, with the wellbeing of staff and program participants as a constant priority.

Note, this position is based at our headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland or our office in New York, New York, and we will consider a remote option for applicants who live outside of commuting distance to either of our offices and are based in other states in which we are registered (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia).

The salary range for this position is $140,000-150,000.00.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Leadership of Global Safety and Security

• Supervises, mentors and develops HQ and (indirectly) country office-based staff who are responsible for global safety and security best practice and operational support, security analysis, travel management, and physical security.
• Represents HIAS in internal and external forums as a sector expert and advisor.
• Provides ongoing support to focal points, Country Directors and staff based in the US and globally.
• Reports to executive leadership and key stakeholders on safety and security metrics and trends, including updates on incident rates, training completion, security risk assessments and preparedness measures.
• Advises the Crisis Management Team (CMT) and ensures that relevant policies and processes remain ready for activation. Provides the CMT with the training and guidance needed before, during and after a crisis, working with People & Culture colleagues to maintain a strong focus on wellbeing and duty of care for those affected.

Advancing Safety and Security policy and practice

• Works in lockstep with People and Culture and Programs colleagues to ensure that duty of care is at the heart of the way we operate around the world both directly and through affiliated organizations.
• Collaborates with Communications & Cyber Security adhoc & through coordinated teams to enhance threat monitoring & detection, organizational learning, and incident response.
• Provides in person and virtual security advice, assessments and action planning to HIAS offices and affiliated organizations in the US and around the world.
• Provides subject matter expertise in response to threats, safety hazards and humanitarian access matters.
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships across the organization to enhance HIAS’ culture of safety and security risk management.
• Coordinates closely with People Operations and other stakeholders/partners, internally and externally, on health and security of staff related to incidents and other security matters globally
• Collaborates with programs and business development colleagues globally to ensure safety and security considerations are incorporated into program design and implementation, and into grant proposals.
• Ensures that safety and security standards grounded in sector best practice are baked into policies, processes and ways of working.

Technical support to HIAS operations in the US and around the world

• Develops a strong, engaged and informed global community of practice.
• Supports each country office to develop and maintain safety and security management processes, including crisis and incident management arrangements; hibernation, relocation and evacuation plans; and security emergency preparedness processes.
• Maintains knowledge of relevant safety and security regulations, standards and operating contexts across all locations where HIAS works.
• Oversees and conducts ongoing and regular situational analysis of each country in which HIAS operates.
• Establishes and maintains strong networks in the US and in HIAS countries of operation with relevant agencies, Government, NGOs, and security coordination bodies.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Undergraduate degree (or extensive highly relevant work experience) required; graduate degree in relevant field preferred.
• Significant practical experience in security management with strong experience (likely to be at least three years) in a leadership role in a complex global organization in the humanitarian or a closely related sector is required.
• Extensive work experience in complex, insecure and/or hostile environments is preferred, including experience managing security in country offices.
• Experience and understanding of executive protection.
• High degree of empathy and a people-centered approach.
• Strong understanding of the intersection between cyber, online and physical security, with demonstrated experience collaborating effectively with internal and external technical experts.
• Ability to create and maintain strong and trusted relationships internally and externally.
• Ability to proactively manage stakeholders at all levels in the organization, with exceptional judgement and ability to predict needs.
• Comfortable working with an operational hands-on approach as well as in a strategic advisory capacity, as a trusted advisor to the CPCO and other executive leaders.
• Highly organized and accurate, able to deliver multiple projects simultaneously and at pace.
• Able to provide advice and make recommendations quickly and under pressure.
• Formal security qualifications or appropriate security management training.
• Demonstrated ability to lead global safety and security management in a culturally diverse and geographically distributed organization, adapting approaches appropriately to local culture, context and operating conditions.
• Experience of risk assessment, incident reporting, incident mapping, information collation and analysis.
• Ability to balance safety and security requirements with program priorities and operational delivery, while providing contextually appropriate security advice and coordination.
• Sound knowledge of humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality as outlined in the Humanitarian Charter and the International Red Cross Code of Conduct.
• Ability to train and coach national and international staff in safety and security management.
• Strong computer skills in MS Office, internet, and email applications; strong report and presentation writing, analytical and interpersonal skills.
• Fluent in written and spoken English; language skills in Spanish and/or French a plus.
• Ability to travel to country offices including to complex and insecure working environments.