Security Associate (Port Sudan) – UNOPS

Job Description

Organization	United Nations Office for Project Services
Job Title	Security Associate
Vacancy code	VA/2025/B5312/29735
Department/office	AFR, HAMCO, Sudan
Duty station	Port Sudan with regular travel to project areas, Sudan
Contract type	Local ICA Support
Contract level	LICA Specialist-6
Duration	Ongoing Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’
Application period	14-Feb-2025 to 23-Mar-2025

UNOPS HAMCO is recruiting for this position: Security  Associate based in Port Sudan, Sudan with regular travel to project areas.

Established in 2009, Ethiopia Multi-country office, now referred to as the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks within the region. The HAMCO sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Addis Ababa which manages a portfolio of engagements in four (4)  Horn of Africa countries  (Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan and South Sudan). HAMCO focuses on Infrastructure, Procurement, Project Management, HR and Transactional Services, and Fund Management services across a wide range of sectors including Health, Education, Agriculture, Resilient infrastructure, among others. Our goal is to support countries, help people in need and enable our partners through  delivering on our mandate of infrastructure, procurement and project management in the countries in the Horn of Africa. 

The Security Associate  will report to the Support Services Senior Officer and will work primarily in a coordination and support role, ensuring compliance with security policies and acting as the liaison with UNDSS and local security stakeholders. 

 Functional Responsibilities

1. Premises Security Coordination

2. Personnel Safety and Security Support

3. Asset and Property Security Coordination

4. Operational Security Coordination

5. Incident and Emergency Management Liaison

6. Knowledge building/Sharing

Premises Security Coordination

• Serve as the point of contact for UNDSS and local security service providers regarding the safety and security of UNOPS premises.
• Manage access control and monitor security services provided by private security companies.
• Facilitate the communication of premises-related security requirements to UNOPS personnel and coordinate any updates to premises security protocols as directed by UNDSS.
• follow-up implementation of UNOPS premises HSSE action plan
• Ensure UNOPS office premises comply with UNDSS & Security requirements and raise any relevant issue/concern to the office management
• Ensure safe-rooms are identified and equipped with requirement as per DSS guidelines

Personnel Safety and Security Support

• Act as the primary contact for personnel on security matters, providing them with guidance on emergency procedures and contact information for UNDSS.
• Coordinate security briefings and orientations for new staff, as provided by UNDSS, to ensure personnel understand safety procedures, evacuation protocols, and emergency contacts.
• Assist in coordinating and clearing field missions through UNDSS by processing requests and following up on mission status
• Maintain an up to date communication tree and make sure updated versions are timely shared with relevant personnel.
• Prepares documentation for security clearances, organizes airport pickups , hospitality, protocol, customs and immigration support for visiting UNOPS officials as necessary
• Support office to maintain an up–to-date hibernation food stock at guest houses and offices
• Coordinate with UN Psychosocial experts to ensure regular awareness raising and counseling is provided to staff, when necessary

Asset and Property Security Coordination

• Maintain an up-to-date register of security assets in coordination with relevant administrative teams, ensuring alignment with UNOPS asset management guidelines.
• Liaison with UNDSS and private security providers to support the protection of UNOPS assets and property.
• Coordinate UNDSS-led security assessments of office premises and project sites as needed, ensuring relevant teams follow the recommendations.
• Support Offices to ensure proper communication system linked with UNDSS security room

Operational Security Coordination

• Monitor and share relevant updates on the local security environment with UNOPS personnel, drawing on information from UNDSS and local security networks.
• Coordinate with the Regional Security Advisor the development of security plans for operations, ensuring that UNDSS recommendations are integrated into day-to-day activities.
• Facilitate UNDSS-led security awareness sessions for UNOPS personnel, increasing knowledge of local risks and appropriate measures.

Incident and Emergency Management Liaison

• Report any security incidents affecting UNOPS personnel, assets, or premises to UNDSS, the Sudan Country Manager, and the UNOPS Regional Security Advisor, ensuring adherence to reporting protocols.
• Act as a liaison between UNOPS personnel and UNDSS during emergencies, such as evacuations or heightened security events, and provide UNDSS with updated contact information for all personnel as required.
• Coordinate with UNDSS and local authorities on emergency preparedness drills, ensuring UNOPS personnel understand procedures and participate actively.
• Coordinate with UNDSS to ensure UNOPS develops its internal contingency plan following the UN Contingency plans (Hybernation, Evacuation and Relocation)
• Coordinate with the Country manager, RSA and MCO to ensure the office has set an internal SOP for (emergency cash allocation and management process)

Knowledge building/Sharing

• Provides timely support to UNOPS projects and personnel on all security related issues

• Maintains security unit documentation including records and files, ensuring safekeeping of confidential materials.
• Contributes feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively in relation to Security and staff compliance
• Design and conduct regular awareness sessions to personnel, to ensure awareness about UNDSS security protocols and the duty of care vs. individual personnel responsibilities.

Impacts of Results

Ensure that UNOPS staff and premises remain current and in compliance with UNDSS protocols, MOSS standards, advisories, and guidelines.

 Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education	A High School Diploma is required. A Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Business Administration or a relevant field is considered an asset and may substitute for some of the required years of experience.
Experience	At least six (6) years of work experience in security administration roles or related areas is required. This may be reduced based on academic qualifications.
Language	Fluency in written, spoken, and reading English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

 Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

 Contract type, level and duration

1. Contract type: Local Individual Contract (LICA)
2. Contract level: LICA 6
3. Contract duration : Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

 Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
• This is a local position and is open to Sudanese nationals only.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.