Access Officer

Daring to love like Jesus, we boldly break barriers to health and restore wholeness in a hurting world.

JOB SUMMERY                                                                                                                                                      

The Access Officer (AO) will assist in the development and application of access, safety and security management policies and procedures in Medical Teams’ operations. The AO is responsible for interacting with the relevant authorities and stakeholders in office and project locations on a day-to-day basis in order to gain and maintain community acceptance. Work will include Risk Assessments, liaison with community/government stakeholders, and ensuring that all staff are trained in access, safety and security standard operating procedures. The AO will report to Access and Safety Manager and will work closely with other team members to cultivate a good safety culture. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES                                                                                                                                                             

• Develop good professional relationships with relevant authorities, community leaders, project communities and stakeholders. 

• Ensure that Medical Teams has a wide network of security contacts and sources of information for triangulation and maintain these relationships. 

• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of government requirements and processes for travel and project implementation.  

• Administer and coordinate access, registration, or movement permission requests as needed. Ensure staff have necessary letters for movements and that these are renewed on time. 

• Promote positive perceptions of Medical Teams’ work by highlighting the value, standards and result of Medical Teams work when liaison with external stakeholder. 

INTER-AGENCY REPRESENTATION 

• Build positive working relationships with sector-related personnel of other NGOs/UN. 

• Attend relevant inter-agency security coordination meetings. 

RISK ASSESSMENTS 

• Conduct desktop and on-ground Risk Assessments for all new locations, helping to evaluate risks to staff, beneficiaries or Medical Teams assets. 

• Assess all potential facilities as it relates to safety and security, making recommendations on safety of location and security additions needed. 

• Identify, map and assess all program sites prior to use and when needed, manage security at site. 

• Ensure and regularly reassess that vehicles, facilities and equipment are compliant with Medical Teams’ standards. Advise and where necessary implement improvements. 

• Co-ordinate with program staff in implementation of project plans and how these relate to security.

 POLICIES, MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES 

• Uphold the Field Operations Safety and Security Policy. 
• Make recommendations on SOPs, protocols and practices to reduce staff risk and vulnerability.  
• Regularly review the safety and security SOPs (on offices, accommodation, warehouses and the personal security of staff etc). Ensure revised Safety and Security Instructions, policies and procedures are approved, publicized and implemented across the team.  
• Ensure that contingency plans for Crisis Management, Evacuation, Relocation, Hibernation, and Medical Evacuation are in place, disseminated and adopted among staff, including regular simulations. 
• Ensure that security procedures are understood and respected at all times and support the Head of Base in taking the right steps in case of non-compliance to rectify the situation. 

ACCESS INFORMATION COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION 

• Research and analyse security dynamics in project areas from a variety of local and national sources in order to produce weekly access and security updates.  
• Lead regular and ad-hoc security meetings/briefings. 
• Maintain a clear centralized filing system of access and security-related documents. 
• Systematically map all incidents and provide timely analysis to identify emerging trends and inform future security management.  
• Lead on movement tracking, ensuring staff are checking in and information is recorded. 
• Ensure all new staff have thorough briefing on SOPs and areas of operation, and existing staff have refresher briefing on new incidents before travel. 
• Ensure learning from reviews, evaluations and audits are understood and disseminated to field and senior managers. 

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and reaches their potential as individuals and teams and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to adhere to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies.

• Safeguarding & Code of Conduct

• Medical Teams International is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Medical Teams International Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Children and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy Training upon hire and on an annual basis.

• NOTE:  The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by staff assigned to this job.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of staff in this position.  Duties, responsibilities, and skills are also subject to change based on the changing needs of the job, department, or organization. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned; The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by Medical Teams International as the requirements of the job change.

• Employee Signature: _________________________                 Date: ________________

• Supervisor Signature: _________________________              Date: ________________

For more information You can rifer the following link https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KrkSrAyp-1BabF8R-PM1VzNvSmiASK_T/edit

• Perform other duties as assigned

EDUCATION, LICENSES, & CERTIFICATION                                                                                           

• Bachelor's degree in security management, Political/Social Science, Military Studies, Management, Law Enforcement or in a relevant field is desirable.  
• Completed Personal Security or Risk Management Training 
• Completed First Aid Training 
• Valid driving licence. 

EXPERIENCE                                       

• Previous experience in a similar role 
• Experience liaising with government authorities 
• Experience of gaining access/project permissions or experience in a relevant government department 
• Understanding of the regional security context 
• Experience of working in insecure environments 
• Experience working in a humanitarian context 
• Experience in conducting security risk assessments 
• Experience in gathering and analyzing security information and recommending appropriate actions 

Desirable:

• Experience in civilian-military coordination 
• Experience in delivering security training  
• Experience in handling security incidents 
• Experience of management / supervisory responsibilities. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES                                                             

KNOWLEDGE

• In-depth knowledge of the local security context 
• In-depth knowledge of Ethiopian laws and local customs
• In-depth knowledge of local government systems and key stakeholders
• Knowledge of humanitarian operations; knowledge of emergency operations is an added advantage

SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Knowledge of current government procedures applicable to INGOs working on humanitarian responses 
• Report writing & presentation skills  
• Good administration skills  
• Excellent Training skills 
• Excellent organizational abilities 

PERSONAL QUALTIES                                                                                                                                           

• Humanitarian motivation 
• Emotionally and spiritually mature  
• Team player – practical, desire to support the field teams.    
• Willingness to pitch in and get the job done  
• Understanding and sensitivity to cross cultural issues  
• Flexible and adaptable to ever changing environments  

How To Apply

Interested And Qualified Applicants Apply using the link: Access Officer_ Abala, Afar