Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 700 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a Safety Specialist to be based in Chernihiv or Kyiv with frequent field travels (50% of working time) to Kyiv and Chernihiv regions.

Overall purpose of the role

In close collaboration with the Country Safety Manager, advise DRC safety risk management systems (SRMS) throughout the country program so as to ensure safe and effective programing including a proactive role in ensuring the Area North offices compliance to the Minimum Operating Safety Standards (MOSS). Provide accurate, timely and proactive advice on context updates and access constraints and recommend solutions to problems for the Area North staff, focusing on HDP demining teams based in Ichnia and Ivankiv. Be the main focal point for the safety-related questions and processes in the Area North.

Geographic scope: 

This role will be based in the Chernihiv Area office or Kyiv Country Office but will work to support operations in Kyiv and Chernihiv oblasts, with approximately 50% HDP Bases support, 50% Chernihiv office support.

Main responsibilities

• Assists in the development and oversee the implementation of DRC safety risk management systems (SRMS), including policies, plans and procedures in areas of operation.
• Advise North Area Manager on evolving trends in the conflict and any access constraints
• Support the Safety Officer in providing administrative and technical support to the programs to ensure that project activities are implemented in a secure, safe and effective manner
• Ensure Area North offices compliance to the MOSS
• Collect, verify, analyze and report information that affects, or may affect, DRC operations
• Maintain a network of local contacts
• Monitor movements, report on irregularities, and initiate emergency response if needed, within the North area of responsibility
• Adapt safety risk training to the country context
• Prepare and submit Safety Incident Reports (SIR)
• Conduct site safety assessments and identify new office spaces, guesthouses, warehouses, and other sites as required. This can include regular safety audits, such as checking fire extinguishers, safe room supplies, first aid kits, emergency communication equipment, and physical security elements (MOSS), and so on
• Conduct Safety Risk Assessments (SRAs)
• Ensure that appropriate access controls are in place for all DRC facilities within the North area of operation
• Support the Country Safety Manager in the creation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Contingency Plans (CP), threat assessments, and other documents
• Deliver pre/post arrival briefs to incoming staff
• Update local safety rules, security phone trees, and safety briefs
• Assist in implementing realistic DRC safety policies, protocols, and procedures
• Oversee the procurement / issuing of safety and protective equipment within the duty station and for HDP Bases
• Assist in developing DRC Safety Improvement Plans (SIP) for any safety gaps identified
• Within duty station and for all Area North offices, monitor risks including, but not limited to, the DRC traffic light system and alert relevant parties in case of an emergency with relevant, compassionate and clear advice
• Support incident response
• In collaboration with the Country Safety Manager, regularly review and update the MOSS and Safety Level System (SLS)
• Any other duties related to the nature of the job as directed by the supervisor
• Together with Safety Manager take part in adapting and implementing policies, protocols and procedures
• Maintain relevant safety documentation, data and records for the areas of concern
• Develop the capacity of, and coordinate, relevant Crisis Management Teams (CMTs)
• Provide day-to-day technical support to the North Area Safety team
• Advise and initiate on the procurement of safety-related equipment, facilities and other resources

Training and support

• Support and deliver safety-related training to staff
• Advise and provide technical supervision to Area North Safety staff
• Support IMT in the event of its activation

Information Management

• Support in the maintenance of the structure of the DRC safety information portal (SharePoint) and ensuring information pertinent to the duty station is up to date, relevant and accessible to a range of users

Reports to

• Technical by Country Safety Manager, and Line Management by Area North Manager

Required experience and competencies

• Willing to learn
• Team player
• Emotional intelligence
• Collaborative but with the ability to work independently
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in security operations and management
• Experience working in multicultural work settings
• Experience with information gathering
• Excellent skills in MS Office
• Experience working in hostile or hazardous environments
• Advanced English proficiency

We offer

• Contract length: Open-ended contract upon successful completion of the three-month probation period. 
• Duty Station: Chernihiv or Kyiv
• Start date: As soon as possible.
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national staff.
• Medical and Health Insurance

Closing date for application – April 30, 2024