UN Women: Security and Safety Specialist, Nairobi, Kenya, P3 TA

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Division of Finance and Administration (DFA) is responsible for the planning, allocation and management of financial, human and administrative resources including information communications and technology, the effective and efficient delivery of essential operations services in UN Women, continuous development and improvement in operations, policies and methods to align with UN Women and stakeholders’ evolving business needs and advisory support to the Executive Director in the formulation and implementation of the UN Women overall mission, strategy and plans of actions.

Under the guidance and supervision of the acting Deputy Global Security Advisor, the Security and Safety Specialist is responsible for backstopping coverage of Africa. The UN Women Security and Safety Specialist is to advise, assist and support UN Women Headquarters, Regional, Multi-Country, Country Offices, and UN Women Security Field personnel with regard to their security and safety responsibilities with primary focus on Africa. The responsibilities are aligned to UN & UN Women security policies, procedures and guidelines to minimize the risk to UN Women personnel, property, and operations in the field while at the same time enable UN Women programme delivery throughout the organization.

This is a temporary appointment position through 30 November 2026. The incumbent will be located in Nairobi, Kenya, and may be expected to complete mission travel as required within the regions covered and internationally.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Provide technical support, guidance, and advice to Country, Multi-Country and Regional Offices

• Provide timely and accurate security and safety advice and recommendations to the CO/MCO/RO; and approve organizational missions;
• Clarify, interpret, and implement existing UN and UN Women security and safety policy as applicable;
• Oversee security evaluations and provide advice on security measures for the residences (Residential Security Measures - RSM) of UN Women personnel, as well as on latest trends and threats to personnel safety and security;
• Track developing threats and related risks, reviewing the impact of security and safety factors and risk on UN Women personnel, premises, assets, programme design and delivery;
• Provide recommendations regarding effective risk prevention and mitigation measures, including recommendations for possible UN Women support needs and improvements;
• Provide security surge support outside of the designated ‘Duty Station’ as required;
• Provide remote security support to identified UN Women personnel, offices, programmes and projects;
• Advise and support UN Women Security Focal Points with regard UN Women online security assessments and compliance systems.

Oversee security assessments and take necessary action

• Oversee substantive assessment of the security situation at duty stations and ensure adequate collation and verification of security information;
• Conduct security assessments of UN Women premises and equipment and provide recommendations on risk management.

Liaise with and participate in the local and regional security community

• Liaise and coordinate with the host government security organizations and/or personnel, including national and local provincial authorities, military, and police officers, as well as non-governmental organizations, UN entities, and other non-State actors;
• Participate as a member of security groups, particularly IASMN Working Groups as directed by the UN Women Global Security Adviser;
• Provide an advisory presence at UN security management meetings such as the country SMT, UNCT, and OMT
• Maintain a security network of international and national security personnel;
• Represent UN Women on behalf of the Global Security Adviser at security meetings, and attends security workshops/training sessions, working groups and conferences as directed.

Collect, update, and communicate security information

• Provide updates and information to HQ in relation to the security intranet portal and documentation;
• Disseminate security information and measures to personnel;
• Disseminate analytical products and outputs of the Security and Safety Services to stakeholders;
• Conduct regular communications with UN Women Security Focal Points;
• Establish a UN Women Warden Systems/Communication Trees where applicable.

Develop, maintain, manage and implement the UN Women Security Plan, including updating personnel lists

• Oversee the development and implementation the UN Women Security Plan in accordance with the UN Security Plan; maintain the plan;
• Manage the preparation and review of the UN Security Plan and provide technical support in its implementation;
• Provide advice and recommendations in the selection and purchasing of security and safety equipment;
• Prepare and submit security clearance/movement of personnel requests;
• Provides oversight and coordinates the implementation of UN Women Warden Systems;
• Keep and update of information related to UN Women offices and residences including Global Premises Directory.

Monitor, manage and implement UN Women compliance of the Security Risk Management Measures (SRMM) established for the duty station/s

• Compile data required for the SRMM Self-Assessment of the UN Women and UN Security and Safety Compliance Survey (SSCS) Programme;
• Provide technical support to and advise the UN Women Security Focal Points in the completion and updating of the SSCS;
• Provide technical support to and advise the UN Women Security Focal Points in the evaluation and implementation of the UN Women Security and Safety Compliance Action Plan (SSCAP);
• Provide technical advisory support to the Security Focal Points for the UN Women Security Compliance Enhancement Funding (SSCEF);
• Implement SRMM for UN Women personnel, premises and assets, and systems and protocols, in accordance with organizational risk acceptance, ensuring the mainstreaming of security;
• Provide UN Women managers with prescriptive content such as policy, risk management methodology, SRMM and RSM;
• Provide technical support to security compliance input of all UN Women offices within AOR;
• Provide technical support to the Programme team in completing and submitting the UN Women online Programme Assessment format.

Report security and safety incidents affecting UN Women personnel, programmes, offices and assets

• Collate information and provide inputs to security reports, such as the Security & Safety Incident Reporting System (SSIRS), Security Risk Management (SRM) Assessments and other ad-hoc incident reports;
• Oversee security and safety evaluations and surveys of RO/MCO/CO/PPOs;
• Develop accurate and timely written country briefings; add inputs to position papers from a field perspective;
• Provide information to the country UN Security Management System (UNSMS) as required.

Develop and conduct training courses on security and safety awareness, preparedness, mainstreaming, BCP and specialized functions

• Participate in the development and delivery of UNSMS training;
• Develop and deliver UN Women specific security and safety training;
• Provide security and safety orientation to newly assigned personnel members and briefings;
• Provide security and safety mainstreaming sessions as required;
• Provide BCP training sessions as required and under the guidance of the UN Women Business Continuity Coordinator;
• Provide Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training sessions as required and under the guidance of the UN Women Occupational Health and Safety Specialist;
• Coordinate with Human Resources to provide UN Women Representatives and Heads of Offices security and safety briefings.
• Identify, develop and deliver specialized security and safety training under the guidance of the Global Security Adviser.

Oversee the Budget and Finances

• Oversee the security and safety bi-annual work plan and related budget; initiate budget revisions for approval;
• Prepare security budgets as well as completion of UN Women SSCEF funding requests;
• Provide substantive security inputs to UN Women BWP/SN, programme appraisal bodies, and related budgets;
• Monitor and support allotted UN Women Security and Safety Compliance funds to budget and utilize them in a timely manner;
• Monitor that costs and expenditures remain within budget and approved limits through the monitoring of monthly budget reports;
• Keep the Global Security Adviser updated on expenditures in the operational budget and follow closely remaining expenditure;
• Oversee budget closures and reports as per HQ processes;
• Ensure that all projects and programmes contribute resources to implementation of security and safety measures.

Perform other security-related tasks including but not limited to:

• Provide Air Travel Focal Point services to UN Women as per CATSU requirements;
• Maintain liaison with commercial companies used for UN Women security at offices and residences, in order to ensure the effective and efficient use of the guard force.

The incumbent will perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent will work closely with the region’s Security Specialist, Local Security Associates, and country offices in line with the above accountabilities.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of security and risk management;
• Excellent knowledge of country's security situation/ laws;
• Ability to be client focused;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Ability to create, edit and present information in clear, presentable and concise formats;
• Ability to build effective client relationships and partnerships;
• Ability to interact at all levels of staff/organization;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Ability to provide guidance and support to others;
• Ability to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time;
• Ability to develop creative solutions;
• Ability to function effectively in crisis and stressful circumstances.

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• Master's degree or equivalent in security management, business administration, leadership, 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. UN, military or police senior Command and Staff College qualification with command experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in security of which at least 2 years at the international level in country, regional or global context.

• Experience of conducting security and/or safety risk assessments as integral part of operational planning and the enabling of operations is required.

• Experience of disaster and/or conflict operations is desirable.

• Experience in implementation of business continuity programme is desirable.

• Experience in a regional or global security role is desirable.

• Experience in United Nations Security Management System is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.

• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.