Feb 17, 2018

Chief Security Officer , Cyprus

United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus  Nicosia , Cyprus

Deadline: 01 March 2018
Job Opening Number: 18-Security-UNFICYP-93262-R-Nicosia (M)
This position is located in the Security Section of UNFICYP. The Chief Security Officer reports directly to the Head of Mission, and in his/her capacity as UNDSS Security Advisor to the Designated Official. S/he is the senior UN security professional on the island and as such heads the UN security capacity in Cyprus.


Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief Security Officer is responsible for the following duties:

•Reviews and monitors activities related to preparation and submission of security plans for the mission area including all aspects related to elaboration, development and updating of the plan and, if necessary, its implementation.

•Performs as Chief of the Security Section of the mission and its senior supervisor.

•Advises the Head of Mission and Designated Official with regard to all security-related matters and participates in discussions and development of policies and procedures for security operations, contributing inputs related to assigned areas of responsibility.

•Establishes lines of communication with security focal points and all other agencies involved in peacekeeping and other missions to ensure maximum security coordination.

•Serves as member of the Security Management Team (SMT), the Mission Senior Management Group (SMG) and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) contributing to planning, implementation, evaluation of effectiveness of security and other plans and other aspects of security and mission operations. Serves as Secretariat to the SMT organizing and preparing for the meetings.

•Maintains continuing awareness of prevailing local security conditions, identifying probable threats and advising UN staff, project personnel and dependents to follow appropriate preventative steps.

•Establishes air, land and sea reception and evacuation capability to be used in emergencies, ensuring availability of required assets.

•Monitors and evaluates office physical security measures, such as barriers, issuance of identity cards, background checks, and entry controls, as appropriate, for normal or emergency conditions.

•Evaluates effectiveness of prevailing fire safety measures in effect in assigned areas of responsibility, including fire prevention devices, fire-fighting equipment, and evacuation plans.

•Determines need for, and provides training and advice to UN staff and dependents on residential security measures such as window guards, alarm systems and locks to prevent burglar intrusions.

•Establishes and maintains dialogue with local authorities and international institutions on a broad range of security issues including for coordination of efforts in the event of natural disasters.

•Ensures availability of emergency communications by making periodic checks to determine if system is functioning properly. Arranges for necessary repairs or adjustments.

•Establishes procedures for and supervises investigations and reporting of accidents involving UN vehicles and investigation of security-related incidents involving UN staff members, project personnel or eligible dependents.

•Assumes responsibility for guard force management, as assigned.

•Arranges protection detail for senior personnel or visiting VIP’s as necessary.

•Conducts and supervises security training in such subjects as the security management system, responsibilities of Area Coordinators and Wardens and personal security awareness.

•Undertakes regular contact with DSS and carries out DSS policies at the mission level.

Competencies

•Professionalism: Knowledge of security management combined with solid background of military or other security specialization and some political and social knowledge of country of assignment. Ability to deal effectively with stress factor when encountered in security management. Ability to apply technical skills to understand and consolidate the varying specializations such as electronics, communications, mechanics, explosives and other sophisticated devices encountered in security system management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

•Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

•Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

•Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

•Judgment/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in security management, business administration, political/social science, psychology, international relations or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.Work 

Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in security management is required. Of these, a minimum of 2 years of international experience in security management systems, as well as at least 2 years of international experience in security operations in a UN field mission is required. Experience working with host countries and other authorities on security matters is required. Experience in working with senior UN officials in the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language may be an advantage. Knowledge of a local language would be an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.Special Notice

This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

United Nations Considerations

Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of inspira account-holder homepage.

Applications are pre-screened by the system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience, and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission of incomplete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted. Applications cannot be amended following submission. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

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