The Safety and Access Officer, based in Gaza, will provide crucial operational security and humanitarian access support for Relief International's operations across the Gaza Strip. This role entails supporting the respective Area Director and Security and Access Manger in the development, implementation, maintenance, and compliance monitoring of the Security Management Plan, Local Security Rules, Standard Operating Procedures, and Humanitarian Access components. The objective is to ensure safe and sustainable access to Relief International's areas of intervention within the Gaza Strip. This position will directly manage the Safety and Access Assistant in Gaza.
Under the direction of the Country Security and Access Manager and respective Area Director, the Safety and Access Officer will collaborate closely with the Operations Departments to address and mitigate threats to Relief International's activities, thereby reducing the impact or likelihood of these identified threats. This role is integral to maintaining the security and effectiveness of Relief International's programming within the Gaza Strip.
Position Duties and Responsibilities:
· Oversee and ensure the effective implementation of the Relief International’s humanitarian access strategy and tailored approaches within the Gaza Strip.
· Directly manage the Safety and Access Assistant, ensuring responsive and context-specific humanitarian access initiatives.
· Ensure humanitarian access approaches are responsive to the local context and incorporate comprehensive community engagement components throughout all operational phases.
· Ensure field teams and staff conduct principled and sustainable negotiations with relevant actors in all areas of intervention, adhering to humanitarian principles, needs, and the duty of care.
· Work to ensure the mission, mandate, and operations of Relief International are known and accepted within areas of intervention in the Gaza Strip.
· Provide technical input and advice in program assessments for new initiatives in geographic areas within the Gaza Strip and conduct regular assessment reviews for existing locations as directed by the Country Security and Access Manager and Area Director.
· Advise the Area Director and field teams on program activity implementation and review tailored acceptance strategies as directed by the Country Security and Access Manager.
· Maintain a high level of preparedness in response to predicted contextual fluctuations, both operationally and programmatically.
· Provide cover and assistance to other Safety and Access staff in the field during their absence.
· Ensure timely and appropriate follow-up to violations of Relief International's Code of Conduct and operational breaches of humanitarian principles in collaboration with the Gaza Area Director and Country Security and Access Manager.
· Review and action Field Travel Authorization requests at the Gaza level, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and rapid security risk assessments, followed by clear security-related advice and guidance for field teams.
· Ensure the issuance and maintenance of serviceable security, communications, and medical equipment to support all field deployments and program staff, delivering equipment familiarization training to ensure correct usage.
· Coordinate with fleet staff to support field-level movement oversight, ensuring compliance with Staff Movements SOPs and Local Security Rules, and coordinating all movements.
· Deliver pre-departure and post-deployment security briefings to field staff and visitors to ensure understanding of security management policies, plans, SOPs, and protocols.
· Ensure the operational status of physical protection systems (access control, perimeter protection, building protection) at all facilities in the Gaza Strip, maintaining professionalism and readiness of static security guards through training, capacity building, and regular emergency drills.
· In collaboration with the logistics focal point, ensure the current asset register reflects all utilized and stored assets, coordinating with the logistics department to align the overall asset register with the Security and Access Department’s records.
Communication:
· Good verbal and written communication skills
· Problem solving skills
· Ability to work under pressure
· Committed to providing a quality service
· Teamwork
Qualifications & Requirements:
· At least 5 years of experience in direct safety and access position.
· Previous experience working in non-governmental organization
· Strong organizational skills
· High computer skills on MS Office programs
· Demonstrate good presentation and analysis skills.
· A demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action
· Ability to work under pressure and with very short deadlines & strong communications skills.
· Fluent in oral and written Arabic and very good English.
RI Values:
· We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and operational independence.
· We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities.
· We value:
o Inclusiveness
o Transparency and accountability
o Agility and innovation
o Collaboration
o Sustainability