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Operational Security Advisor

Our business
The Conflict, Humanitarian & Security Department’s Operations Team (CHASE OT) is contracted through Crown Agents by the Department of International Development (DFID) and the Stabilisation Unit (SU) to provide support services and an operational team delivering advice and assistance on humanitarian disasters and emergencies.
The Stabilisation Unit (SU), established in 2004, is jointly owned by the Department for International Development (DFID)Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Ministry of Defence (MOD). The Unit’s role is to support countries emerging from violent conflict. The SU Deployments Team supports more than 150 concurrent deployments on behalf of HMG to a wide range of conflict affected and potentially hostile environments. The Team is responsible for the rapid deployment of properly prepared civilian experts in support of UK stabilisation efforts overseas.
Recent events and the developing role of the SU in coordinating cross-Whitehall activity in stabilisation contexts have resulted in an increased requirement for timely and appropriate security advice and risk management. The potential deployment of Stabilisation Response Teams (SRTs) places the Stabilisation Unit (SU) at the centre of joint HMG risk-assessment and security management. Advice is required in dynamic security environments to support HMG teams deployed overseas.
Crown Agents, under the provisions of its contract with DFID, provides three full-time security advisers (two primarily to service the needs of SU). The role will include planning and reactive risk management in a wide variety of fluid security environments.
The primary objective of the post is to increase the capacity of the SU Deployments Team to provide appropriate risk assessment and security to deployed staff, consultants, contractors and Deployable Civilian Experts (DCEs). This will include locations where there is no established HMG security architecture.
Role and responsibilities include:
· Provide specialist security support and advice for all Stabilisation Unit activities and deployments to fragile and conflict affected environments, from planning and development through to operational delivery
· Draft and prepare risk assessments that can be used to inform both risk owners and deploying staff on the key risks and mitigations associated with stabilisation work in fragile and hostile environments
· Complete comprehensive written reports with clear recommendations for the mitigation of assessed threats and risks
· Deliver pre-deployment and post-deployment briefs for Stabilisation Unit staff
· Provide security support as necessary to deployed staff (including the provision of additional advice for high risk travel)
· Initiate and manage information and threat warnings to deployed Stabilisation Unit staff, potentially within compressed timelines
· Provide out of hours security advice and support to the Senior Management Team
· Be prepared to deploy at short notice in a crisis response deployment that requires integrated security advice / management
· Be prepared to work across parent department (MOD, FCO and DFID) country teams as necessary to promote effective security and duty of care awareness during the development of policy objectives for potential high risk deployments
· Maintain high levels of awareness of the political and security situation in the priority countries identified in the Stabilisation Unit’s business plan
· Draft and maintain the Stabilisation Unit’s safety and security standard operating procedures and policies
· Be prepared to assist in the development, delivery and subsequent monitoring of the Stabilisation Unit’s high risk training programmes, including hostile awareness training and hostile driving courses
Qualifications, skills and experience
· Extensive experience of operating in hostile environments, and recent and sustained track record of providing security and safety advice for personnel and infrastructure against a spectrum of threats
· A broad understanding of international security issues, current affairs and a working knowledge of relevant Health and Safety legislation
· A proven track record of support to deployed staff in a dynamic, operationally focused environment
· The intellectual rigour and proven ability to synthesise information from multiple sources to provide effective security advice and assessments
· Experience in the preparation and delivery of security & safety training that includes senior management briefings
· Experience in producing written risk assessments under time pressure that reflect the realities faced by deployed staff
· A proven track record in briefing policy requirements to senior management, staff, and other parties concisely and effectively
· Ability to be authoritative when necessary and able to withstand challenge yet sustain effective working
How to apply:
Application process
Please send your CV and covering letter outlining how you meet the requirements for this role to c-lo@dfid.gov.ukby Tuesday 6th May
Please include in the subject line: Operational Security Advisor