Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under International Law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM) located in Geneva, Switzerland. Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Mechanism, the Security Coordination Officer is responsible for the coordination and management of security and safety for IIIM staff, offices and its field operations. The incumbent will provide the required security presence across all areas of IIIM in a cost effective and efficient manner. The incumbent is responsible for analysis of security threats, development of risk management strategies, coordination of security operations, investigation of incidents, and delivery of training to ensure the safety of IIIM personnel and assets, liaison with local authorities and other agencies to implement security plans and advise on security in all programme areas.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Security Coordination Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Serves as Adviser to the Head of the Mechanism on all security risk management matters, security policy and procedures.
• Serves as a member of the Security Management Team.
• Ensures forecasting of the evolving security environment and the UN’s security and operational responses.
• Using analytical techniques and collaborative team research, supports planning and ensures awareness of the current trends to enhance or adjust security programmes.
• Ensures the development of inclusive risk management strategies and drives planning using situational awareness, critical thinking, and logic to detect and interpret early signals, emerging trends and analysis of multi-dimensional threats that may impact security.
• Identifies the strengths and weaknesses of different solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Ensures the preparation, review and implementation of security planning, security risk management documents and risk management-based security solutions through innovation and creativity.
• Provides written analysis of security trends and reporting of incidents.
• Participates in meetings, committees, and task forces, prepares papers on security issues, delivers briefings and provides responses, as needed.
• Advises on the inclusion of security in all stages of United Nations activities and programmes.
• Provides advice and support to line managers responsible for security.
• Enables the delivery of mandates and programmes through direct operational assistance.
• Oversees security-related projects, prioritizing work to meet deadlines and following defined processes, policies, procedures and guidance, fostering alignment with colleagues and across organizations.
• Monitors and contributes to activities that relate to the implementation and evaluation of preparedness and compliance; drives results that help support operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Enhances communication and trust through active collaboration, consultation and exchanges with UN system organizations and other stakeholders, for information sharing, coordination of responses, provision of security briefings, taking into account operational activities and risks.
• Collaborates closely with peers and colleagues, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, and Host Government representatives.
• Strengthens awareness and capacity of personnel by supporting the development, updates and delivery of contextually relevant security training and advice.
• Ensures the conduct of security surveys and assessments, creatively leveraging tools and processes, identifying and recommending simple, reasonable, inclusive, effective and efficient security measures, including when there is incomplete, contradictory and/or fluid information.
• Ensures implementation and maintenance of a functioning Security Communication System.
• Ensures conduct of budget, finance and logistical planning for the security office and participation in relevant United Nations administration, finance, and logistics forums.
• Leads and manages the security team, anticipates human resources needs through workforce planning, assesses performance, and supports the development security personnel under his/her supervision.
• Ensures implementation of departmental approaches to mainstreaming gender, diversity and inclusion into all aspects of the work as well as ensuring the implementation of people-centred security risk management approaches considering specific threats or vulnerabilities of personnel and adapting practices and measures in support of diversity and inclusion.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Performs other functions as directed.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of security management combined with solid background of military, law enforcement or other security specialization and political and cultural knowledge of the Middle Eastern region. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Ability to deal effectively with stress factors when encountered in security management. Demonstrates respect and sensitivity towards diversity in all its forms, in all cultural, gender and religious settings. Contributes to an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; places confidence in and builds trust with colleagues and stakeholders. Takes ownership of accountability and supports strategies to ensure compliance with all security risk management decisions and regulations. Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, including self-awareness and contextual intelligence. Shows openness to learning and commitment to self-development. Identifies issues, conducts research, collects data, demonstrates situational awareness, conceptual analytical and evaluative skills and participates in the resolution of issues/problems demonstrating critical thinking, perceptiveness, judgement and decision-making. Demonstrates an ability to implement policies. Ability to make quick decisions in emergencies or when rapid response is needed. Communicates complex concepts effectively both verbally and in writing. Shows ability to prioritize, manage, and implement multiple high-level projects in a timely manner, even in fast-changing contexts. 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 different perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• 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.
• JUDGEMENT/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 business or public administration, political/social science, psychology, criminal justice, law, international relations, security management or a related field is required. A relevant first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A first-level university degree may be substituted with a diploma from a police or military education institution, college or academy obtained over a minimum of a three-year period.

Job - Specific Qualification

Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in security, conflict resolution, crime or terrorism prevention, risk or disaster or emergency management and preparedness in the public or private sector areas responsible for responding to emergency situations that directly impact security is required. At least 2 years of experience in field operations is required. Relevant work experience in the Middle East is required. Security related experience in tribunals, justice or accountability mechanisms, or related area is required. Experience with security frameworks in the context of evidence collection work is desirable. Experience with contingency planning and crisis management is desirable. 2 years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and Arabic are required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

Language	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
English	UN Level III	UN Level III	UN Level III	UN Level III
Arabic	UN Level III	UN Level II	UN Level III	UN Level III

Desirable Languages

Language	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
French	UN Level I	UN Level I	UN Level I	UN Level I

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. Fulfillment of the responsibilities of this position may necessitate engagement with material and/or information that may be distressing. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.