Security Advisor (Focal Point)

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Firmly committed to safeguarding patients, community members, staff, and all those in contact with the organization from all forms of abuse, including sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH), we will take all necessary steps, through rigorous vetting processes, to ensure that confirmed perpetrators of abuse do not join the organization.

For this position, contact level with patients and children is categorized as Medium risk and will be monitored with this in regard.

Introduction

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organisation that provides assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, and natural or human-made disasters and excluded from healthcare. We provide this assistance without discrimination, irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. 

About MSF Ubuntu

MSF Ubuntu is the newest Operational Directorate of Médecins Sans Frontières, grounded in the philosophy of Ubuntu – “I am because we are”. With a strong emphasis on interdependence, interoperability, and locally grounded action, MSF Ubuntu aims to strengthen medical humanitarian response by placing communities at the centre of decision-making.

Rationale/Objective for Position

Description:

The Security Advisor is responsible for enhancing security risk management by supporting operations through developing guidelines, conducting training, and supporting analysis of contextual risks to ensure the safety of staff and continuity of operations.

The role promotes and supports community-based security approach: prioritizing acceptance, trust, and support engagement with local communities to inform security strategies and enhance early warning, mitigation, and response mechanisms.

Unusually, this role will also be embedded into the MSF OCA Security Focal Point Unit for the first 18 months at least, in order to “learn by doing” and to link MSF Ubuntu to the tools, methodologies and protocols to OCA, ensuring interdependence and a high quality security management system is developed for MSF Ubuntu. 

As such, the role is initially positioned within the MSF Ubuntu and MSF OCA Operational Departments, and the role operates under the guidance of the respective Ubuntu Director and OCA Deputy Director of Operations (DirOps) to support both programme and HQ operations in security management and in the preparation and response to security incidents.

Due to the low volume start up nature of MSF Ubuntu, the SFP will be part of the MSF OCA Security team, with a proportion of time allocated to “learning by doing” and support OCA.  It is envisioned in the 2026-2027 that circa 90% of the time will be spent working on OCA activities, reducing to 60% in 2028, 20% in 2029 and 0% by 2030.

The role also represents MSF-Ubuntu in intersectional security platforms such as Security Focal Points Cafeteria and maintains close collaboration with relevant intersectional units (ISA, SIMM, ILD) to contribute to coherent, principled, and effective security and incident reporting and management frameworks.

This position will be hierarchically accountable to the Director of Operations (DirOps) and functionally accountable to the MSF Ubuntu Deputy Director of Operations MSF OCA.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategic Responsibilities

• Strengthen security risk management & operational continuity: Lead and support the integration of security risk management into operations by developing, updating and reviewed security tools.
• Promote community-based security & acceptance approaches: Advance a security approach centred on acceptance, trust, and engagement with local communities to enhance access, early warning systems, and effective mitigation and response strategies.
• Provide strategic security support to operations (HQ & field): Support operations and coordination teams by advising on security management, contributing to incident preparedness and response, and ensuring alignment between field realities and organizational security priorities.
• Foster collaboration & intersectional alignment: Represent MSF Ubuntu in intersectional security platforms and collaborate with key units (e.g., ISA, SIMM, ILD) and support OCA to ensure coherent, principled, and effective security frameworks, reporting, and practices.

Technical and Operational Responsibilities

• Security Strategy, Frameworks & Reference Documents
• • Briefing and debriefing coordinators:  Strengthen security management capacity among HQ and field leadership through structured knowledge exchange with briefing/debriefing sessions before, during, and after deployment.
  • Security Research and Innovation Lead: Participation or initiation of transversal security related research topics in line with MSF Ubuntu and/or OCA interests.
  • Develop, update, and promote the use of security reference documents, SOPs, contingency plans, and mission security documentation.
  • Monitor adherence to security frameworks and provide corrective recommendations where gaps are identified.
• Security Risk Analysis & Operational Advisory
• • Advise operational line management on security risk analysis and management in alignment with operational and security strategies and framework.
  • Support missions in insecure and high-risk contexts with in-depth analysis of context-specific risk drivers and appropriate security mitigation measures.
  • Provide strategic recommendations to the coordination teams following debriefings of key field staff including identification of transversal risks.
  • Follow up on updates of mission risk analyses, critical incident preparedness, simulations, and implementation of HQ recommendations.
  • Provide specific security inputs to operational strategies, project openings, scale-ups, suspensions, or relocations.
• Security Information Systems, Data Management & Reporting:
• • Ensure systematic recording, documentation, and classification of all security incidents affecting MSF staff, assets, and operations, including oversight of Sindy use and reporting standards.
  • Lead the deployment, maintenance, and continuous improvement of security information systems and IT tools for incident data collection and analysis.
  • Coordinate post-incident reviews, lessons learned processes, and structured sharing of insights internally and internationally, contributing to dashboards, annual security assessments, and reports such as the RIOD International Security Report.
• Critical Incident Preparedness & Crisis Management:
• • Lead headquarters-level critical incident preparedness, including development, regular maintenance, trainings, simulations, and preparedness sessions for HQ and field staff.
  • Identify, propose, and maintain the crisis management pool (CMP) in coordination with the Director of Operations.
  • Act as regulator to all CI structures to ensure smooth working relations, provide and outsource resources and support where needed.
  • Contribute to post-crisis evaluations and follow-up actions to strengthen organisational preparedness and response capacity.
• Security Capacity Building & Training:
• • Design, develop, deliver and review security training modules and workshops based on documented operational experience and incident analysis.
  • Contribute to onboarding and preparation of newcomers (PPD) on MSF security principles, responsibilities, and informed consent.
  • Provide security inputs to learning pathways for key field-based positions and applied security courses.
  • Support learning departments in reviewing existing tools and identifying gaps in security capacity development.
• Coordination & Representation
• • Represent MSF Ubuntu in intersectional security platforms, ISA-related fora, SIMM exchanges, and external humanitarian security networks.

Other Responsibilities

• Budgeting & Resource Management: Prepare and monitor the budget related to security activities, tools, trainings, and missions; contribute to financial reviews and ensure efficient use of resources in line with operational priorities.
• Monitoring, Reporting & Accountability: Ensure timely provision of information required for management oversight, including activity reports, dashboards, and analytical notes; flag emerging issues and systemic gaps to relevant departments and management.
• Policy Compliance & Quality Assurance: Support and monitor compliance with MSF Ubuntu Security Policy, internal procedures, and minimum standards; contribute to audits, internal reviews, and quality improvement initiatives related to security risk management.
• Ad Hoc Operational Support & Representation: Provide ad hoc security advice, field support missions, briefings, or representation as requested by the Director of Operations, including participation in strategic discussions, emergency responses, or special projects.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in security management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political Science, Conflict Studies, or related studies.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and 1 additional language (Arabic/ French) is required. Local languages in Eastern and Southern Africa is a plus.

Experience

• Professional Experience
• • Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in security advisory, risk management, or operational security in complex humanitarian, conflict, or high-risk environments.
  • Demonstrated experience in field security operations, incident reporting, and crisis management within NGOs, UN agencies, or international organisations.
• Security Management Knowledge and analytical skills
• • Worked as Country Director or Project/Emergency Coordinator in MSF with demonstrated experience in integrating security expertise with operational realities, ensuring that security guidance is practical, context-sensitive, and aligned with field implementation.
  • Understanding of risk assessment methodologies, critical incident preparedness, and mitigation strategies in insecure contexts.
  • Practical experience in data management, analysis and reporting.
• Humanitarian & Organisational Awareness
• • Knowledge of humanitarian principles, MSF operational contexts, and the dynamics of working in multicultural, multidisciplinary teams.
  • Awareness of ethical, legal, and organisational responsibilities related to staff safety, confidentiality, and informed consent in humanitarian operations

Competencies

• Technical Competencies
• • Experience in staff coaching and training: Ability to provide team building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation.
  • Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively represent MSF at forums and with external stakeholders.
  • Good oral and written communication skills, with the ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to design and lead training engagements with staff and partners to enhance skills and adapt to changing program demands.
  • Stress resistance and resilience/flexibility.
• Behavioural/General Competencies
• • Commitment to MSF’s mission, principles, and humanitarian values.
  • Excellent planner, organizer, coordinator and administrator.
  • Excellent computer skills.
  • Affinity and experience with Information Management.
  • Punctual, pro-active and stress resistant.
  • Very good communication and representation/ networking abilities.
  • High level of integrity and sound judgement.
  • Interest in the humanitarian sector.
  • Understanding of the MSF working environment is an asset.
  • Commitment to MSF values and Principles.
  • Cross cultural awareness.
  • Networking and building relationships capacities.
  • Result and Quality Orientation.