Chief, Security and Safety/Global Security and Safety Advisor
Organizational Context
UN Women is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. The Division of Finance and Administration (DFA) manages essential administrative functions. This role, Chief, Security and Safety/Global Security and Safety Advisor, provides leadership for UN Women's global security, safety, business continuity, and crisis management. Based in Nairobi, the position shapes policies and standards to ensure personnel safety, asset protection, and operational continuity across all UN Women offices worldwide.
Job Purpose
The Chief, Security and Safety/Global Security and Safety Advisor provides authoritative professional leadership for UN Women’s global security, safety, business continuity, and crisis management functions. This role is responsible for shaping organizational policy, frameworks, and professional standards to ensure the safety and security of personnel, the protection of assets, and the continuity of operations across all UN Women offices. The incumbent provides advice and operational oversight, focusing on risk management, industry standards, business continuity, and crisis management to ensure the effective delivery of UN Women's mandate and programmes. The position exercises substantial autonomy in developing global frameworks and directing the implementation of these critical systems organization-wide, ensuring professional soundness and effectiveness.
Responsibilities
The role directs the development, implementation, and refinement of UN Women's global security, safety, business continuity, crisis management, and occupational health and safety policies and standards, ensuring alignment with UN System requirements. It provides authoritative advice to senior management on risks and mitigation measures, and oversees the formulation and execution of the annual work plan for Security and Safety Services. The incumbent leads security and safety assessment missions, ensures compliance with UN Security Risk Management standards, and advises on the procurement of related equipment. Key responsibilities include strategically integrating security considerations into programme planning and budgeting, championing gender-responsive perspectives, and managing the Global Security and Safety Services function, including staff and budgets. The role also involves representing UN Women in inter-agency forums, cultivating strategic partnerships, and directing the development and testing of crisis management and business continuity frameworks to ensure organizational resilience.
Work Experience
A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in security and safety management, with at least 5 years at a senior professional or management level, is required. This includes a minimum of 5 years of field experience managing complex programmes in development or humanitarian contexts, particularly in conflict/post-conflict scenarios. Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams internationally, managing organizational business continuity programmes, and within the UN System is highly desirable. Experience in managing Occupational Health and Safety programmes, training, digital transformation, and change management processes is also beneficial.
Skills
Security and Safety Management, Business Continuity, Crisis Management, Risk Management, Policy Development, Strategic Planning, Inter-Agency Coordination, Stakeholder Engagement, Leadership, Budget Management, Change Management, Gender-Responsive Programming.