Security Specialists

Company profile

SoCha LLC (a portmanteau of Social and Change) is an independent company that provides bespoke solutions to social challenges. Working across Asia and Africa, SoCha offers Monitoring, Evaluation, Analysis and Learning solutions to bi-lateral, multilateral, and philanthropic foundation donors. SoCha emphasizes the use of robust and rigorous analytical and data collection methodologies to inform decision making. We work actively with clients to ensure the social and economic consequences of policy making decisions are understood and appreciated in non-technical terms.

Background

SoCha, LLC is preparing a response to the Request for Task Order Proposals for the Monitoring, Reporting, and Capacity Strengthening Contract for the Sahel (MRCS). This award will mainly support USAID/Sahel Regional Office (SRO) in Niger and Burkina Faso, and provide limited assistance to Mauritania, Chad, and The Gambia.

This mechanism will advance USAID/SRO’s commitment to program effectiveness across all sectors, and to make informed strategic and management decisions. The MRCS will primarily work in Burkina Faso and Niger to carry out third party monitoring (TPM) in predominantly insecure areas and provide outputs and outcomes verification, conduct  evaluations/studies/ assessments, support stakeholders to have functioning M&E working groups at country level and capacity strengthening specifically in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of appropriate offices/structures of the Governments of Niger and Burkina Faso (GoN and GoBF), as well as sub-national state institutions, local civil society organizations, community-based organizations, and implementing partners.

SoCha seeks a Senior Security Specialist for the Ouagadougou office, and a Security Specialist for the Niamey Office.

*** This is a designated local hire position – Suitably skilled and qualified Burkina Faso and Niger Citizens and residents are encouraged to apply. *** 

Scope of Work

Senior Security Specialist (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso):

The primary responsibility of the Specialist is to review all operations, prepare security plans, and to provide reporting to support the project’s activities. The Security Specialist will also ensure appropriate security protocols are in place and maintained throughout all operations. Secondary responsibilities include management support tasks such as inventory control and security aspects of all trips to the field.

The Security Specialist will:

• Implement and/or develop and manage security protocols and procedures in correspondence with SoCha HQ.
• Maintain awareness of the security situation at all times. Conduct research and outreach required to complete all project-based security planning, including:
• All trips out to the field, with analysis of security environment in the areas to be covered, identification of local security contacts in the field, coordination with security personnel on the implementing partners’ facilities.
• Arrangements to be made for every public event hosted by the project, including analysis of the venue and local security contacts.
• Arrival of incoming short-term consultants and home office staff.
• Complete security reporting.
• Review all project activities to ensure that the appropriate security protocols are carried out for public events conducted in Burkina Faso and Niger.
• Maintain real-time monitoring of all ongoing activities in Burkina Faso and Niger, as well as other project’s activities interventions areas.
• Ensure that long-term expatriate staff reside in secure accommodations.
• Ensure that incoming home office staff or short-term consultants are greeted upon arrival with adequate security detail and are provided specific security guidance, as required under the current situation.
• Conduct security survey/assessment for all in-country new lease for the project.
• Manage and provide quality control of the services rendered by our external security providers under the supervision of the Line Manager.
• Conduct trainings and/or briefings, including systematic checklist-based reviews (particularly in terms of field activities) with project staff regarding security procedures.
• Provide in-country security briefings for all including personnel arriving in Burkina Faso and Niger to conduct fieldwork.
• Maintain and develop a network of individuals involved in security in Burkina Faso and Niger. Represent the project in security work groups and coordinating committees as decided by project management.
• Maintain the project inventory, make periodic audits to ensure all items are accounted for and probably branded and marked.
• Go to official government offices as required to complete tasks needed by the project. Examples included arrange visas, getting permits, submitting official documentation.

Security Specialist (Niamey, Niger):

• Maintain awareness of the security situation at all times. 
• Complete security reporting:
• Ensure appropriate security protocols are carried out for public events conducted in Burkina Faso and Niger.
• Ensure that long-term expatriate staff reside in secure accommodations.
• Ensure that incoming home office staff or short-term consultants are greeted upon arrival with adequate security detail and are provided specific security guidance, as required under the current situation.
• Conduct security survey/assessment for all in-country new lease for the project.
• Manage and provide quality control of the services rendered by our external security providers under the supervision of the Line Manager.
• Conduct trainings and/or briefings, including systematic checklist-based with project staff regarding security procedures.
• Provide in-country security briefings for all including personnel to conduct fieldwork.
• Maintain and develop a network of individuals involved in security. 
• Maintain the project inventory, make periodic audits to ensure all items are accounted for.
• Go to official government offices as required to complete tasks needed by the project. Examples included arrange visas, getting permits, submitting official documentation.

Qualifications

• University degree with 3-8 years practical experiences in relevant field with a proven ability/record in drafting/delivering critical information that effectively supports timely decision making.
• Practical experience in risk assessment, mitigation and management is preferred.
• Practical experience in monitoring potential threats from crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and terrorism.
• Proven knowledge of and access to official security structures in place in Burkina Faso and/or Niger, and persons in key positions.
• Must be fluent in both English and French, both oral and written, have good liaison skills and excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
• Full proficiency in MS Office suite including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Driving license.
• CPR certification (preferable).

Location
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, or Niamey, Niger.

How to apply
Suitably skilled and qualified applicants should upload their CV via https://jobs.socha.net/security-specialists-burkina-faso-and-niger-2022-03-15/. Applications close on March 15, 2022. Candidates will be reviewed on rolling basis and may be selected before the closing date.