Frequent travel to all Plan International Program Areas
Effective Date:
1st Oct 2026
Grade:
E
Role PURPOSE
Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice. We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.
This position exists to lead and support the design and implementation of safety and security policies, procedures, and preventive measures, and effective management of related incidents by ensuring tools and resources are available to support staff, associates, and programme participants. The realisation of our global strategy 2023-2027 “All girls standing strong creating global change” requires the accurate identification, analysis, and mitigation of safety and security risks in order to facilitate access and safety for development and humanitarian programming and influencing in Sudan. Therefore, this role has oversight for Plan International Sudan’s Office safety and security and ensures operations are within acceptable risk levels. The incumbent manages security focal point persons in all operational locations, whose role encompasses both traditional INGO safety and security management as well as various liaison and negotiation tasks that are critical to operating in Sudan.
Dimensions of Role
This role is line managed by the Country Director (CD), and supervises all staff designated with security and liaison responsibilities, some of whom are stationed in programme areas. The incumbent is a budget holder for all security plans, and is a member of the extended Country Leadership Team (eCLT) will work with the mission to ensure that organizational security and access policies and procedures are responsive to the context, adequate and known to staff and advise on humanitarian access processes and approaches in close coordination with program teams.
Duties and responsibilities:
Accountabilities:
Safety and Security Management
Develop, update, and maintain a security management plan, Standard operating Procedures (SoPs), tools, and resources for effective management of safety, security and access risks
In line with risk assessment guidelines, lead regular strategic and operational security risk assessments, evaluations, and analysis with CLT and relevant teams, and advise contextual factors
Provide proactive advice, guidance, and support to the CD and CLT on safety and security mitigation measures and their implementation, in line with local and federal laws and regulations
Lead the development of the safety and security section of the fiscal annual plan and budget
Develop safety and security scenario plans for risk management and propose risk reduction measures
Ensuring that all Plan International Sudan offices are meeting minimum standards of compliance with the security policy and procedures e.g. to safeguard lives, premises, and assets
Foster a ‘security culture’ among staff to prioritise safety and ensure that they are working within an environment consistent with accepted minimum safety and security standards
Develop office site selection criteria, protocols and a system to document, to ensure that all sites are properly evaluated
Regularly visits sites with conspicuous safety and security concerns as needed and recommend continuous security improvement measures
Compile documentation on disaster-prone areas and ensure that programming staff are aware of necessary security mitigation measures
Analyse working environments by assessing the nature of the threats (UXOs, landmines) and vulnerabilities in relation to emergencies, programming, advocacy, and communication
Regularly test security equipment such as satellite phones, radios and other emergency devices
Ensure that security planning becomes an integral part of project design and delivery, and that project budgets include safety and security plans
Ensure that all incoming visitors to all operational offices receive a security information and briefing within 24 to 48 hours
Reporting and response
Report and implement recommendations and mitigation measures within agreed timelines
Establish and monitor a system to collect and update information as needed
Ensure that reportable incidents are reported and reviewed in CAMMS timely & accurately, and communicated to the CD and CLT in accordance with policies and procedures
Serve as the point person for completing incident reports if necessary
Collaborate with the CD and CLT to develop response and follow-up measures
Provide timely and appropriate support to staff in the event of an incident or security situation
Refer staff to necessary medical and emotional support
Assist staff to file a police complaint and attend investigative meetings, court hearings or trials
Participate in the security and access surveys and advise the CD and CLT when security incidents occur
Conduct regular security trends analysis, monitor the environment continuously and share trends results and changes in risk assessments with staff and associates
Share alerts and notices e.g. travel warnings, about site-specific security concerns
Prepare and share weekly and monthly updates and reviews of incidents, trends and risk mitigation with CLT, staff and the regional security advisor
Monitor political, social, economic and military situation and identify trends relevant to security situation
Learning, Knowledge Management, Capacity Building
Develop and deliver capacity building safety and security training plans for all staff consistent with the assessed needs in their location and role, including on the application of SOPs, putting in place contingency measures etc, to ensure that they are aware of their personal and collective responsibilities
Makes recommendations to the CD for changes in training based on changes to the security environment
Ensure that all safety and security learning objectives are integrated in annual plans, and successful completion is documented, ensuring to provide CLT with figures per KPI reporting
Conduct frequent orientation or briefing sessions for staff, including on emergency preparedness
Undertake assessments of partner security management capacity and develop capacity building plans and proposals with them
Lead on lessons learned exercises following incidents or near misses, and ensure incorporation into future operations
Trains staff on the use of security and safety emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers, GPS equipment etc, to ensure proper handling
Ensure that office emergency drills are conducted regularly
Develop and organise safety and security resources such as manuals, handbooks, leaflets, pamphlets, slides, videos, and memos and share with staff
Contribute to Plan International’s global understanding and learning from practical and effective management
Review periodically experiences and practices and propose improvements based on analytical judgments
Managing Staff
Participate in hiring the right people with the right skills sets with responsibilities on Government liaison, and security and access
Ensure the team is correctly resourced and staffed, with clear professional development
Oversee objective setting, mentoring and performance management for the team
Train a back-up to assist with safety and security responsibilities during a crisis or when unavailable
Train the team on their roles and responsibilities for responding to and reporting of incidents
Crisis Management
Develop contingency plans and protocols for crisis response and management, and ensure routine testing and evaluation, e.g. drills and other measures
Develop and maintain plans for hibernation, suspension, and evacuation, and ensure service providers and critical resources are in place
Assist the People and Culture team in developing a medical evacuation plan, and to maintain staff emergency data, and proof of life forms
Ensure CLT is formed and trained in crisis management, and conduct regular refresher sessions
In the event of a critical incident, constitute the crisis management team
Ensure that an emergency communication system is in place to enable staff to communicate in a timely and effective manner in cases of emergency
Ensures GPS coordinates are maintained and kept up-to-date for all expatriate staff home locations
In a crisis, ensure staff are safe from imminent or serious threat, and take immediate action to remove them from danger
Ensure that plans are in place to enable post incident counselling to be offered to staff confronted to traumatic events
Maintain regular communication with the regional and global hub security teams for guidance when required
Conduct post-incident assessments to identify any ongoing threats or security concerns and mitigation strategies, and ensure recovery and operation continuity, e.g. alternate worksites
Representation, Stakeholder Engagement and Networking
Coordinate and share knowledge with the MEESA regional security advisor and peer security network including the global safety and security
Represent Plan International and serve as its primary safety and security contact with other actors in Sudan
Identify, analyse and manage key external relationships to facilitate access for Plan International’s programming
Foster relationships, and develop and maintain a contact list of key external security staff and local law enforcement that can be leveraged to obtain updates and information
Coordinate and maintain networks with the INGO Forum Security Sub-committee, UNDSS, and local security institutions
Participate in any inter-agency coordinated incident response system and contribute relevant security related information
Safeguarding and PSHEA
Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for (Safeguarding Children and Young People), Prevention, Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse (PSHEA) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy, including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures. Ensure staff understand Plan International’s commitment to driving a feminist agenda within the organisation and that the ambition for gender equality and gender transformative leadership is embedded in our value-based leadership framework
Key relationships
Internal
Liaison and Security Focal Point Persons
Regional Security Specialist
CLT members
Staff at all levels
Global Hub Security team
External
Embassy security officials, and local law enforcement agencies
Non-state actors (including combatants)
UN agency security focal points (i.e. WFP, UNICEF, UNOCHA, UNHCR)
Diplomatic corps and their security personnel
Local authorities and community leaders
Minimum Qualification, Skills and Experience Required:
Technical expertise, Knowledge, and Skills
Expertise
Five (5) years’ deep experience in a similar job/ position such as humanitarian aid/ NGO Security Adviser/ Manager, including internationally, military, police or other background
Professional qualification in a security related field - university degree is strongly preferred
Demonstrable experience of leading a crisis management process, and localising safety and security plans
Experience in designing and delivering training for staff
Experience of working in hostile or disaster affected environments managing security
Experience in other areas of NGO operations, i.e. logistics, operations, technical sectors
Proven ability to undertake security risk assessments
Experience working in a cross-cultural environment
Experience in conducting participatory risk assessments and preparing situational context analysis
Knowledge
Clear understanding of security issues and trends in the humanitarian sector
Practical knowledge of tools, mechanisms, and procedures for personal and organisational security
Understanding of and commitment to the purpose and values of Plan International
In depth knowledge of security risk management and associated principles is essential
Knowledge of Humanitarian/ Human rights/ Refugee Law
Knowledge of the INGO sector and humanitarian codes of conduct e.g. Sphere, HAP and UN Sec General statement on Sexual Exploitation
Thorough understanding of the implementation of a security management framework
Understanding of major incident response mechanisms during crises
Skills
Stakeholder engagement within the humanitarian sector, or a clear network of personal contacts
Teamwork and strong influencing, negotiation, and representation skills
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate clearly and sensitively at all levels
Self-motivated and able to work autonomously in a highly stressful and challenging environment, balancing between multiple competing priorities
Strong analytical skills in a changing security environment
Proven skills in concise and succinct report writing
Strong leadership and decision-making skills while working under pressure and with limited information
Proven skills to use technology and strong IT literacy
