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Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Safety

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Ethiopia works to advance the rights and well-being of every child, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations. Operating in a dynamic and complex environment, the Country Office delivers life-saving and developmental programmes across the country. The Security Manager plays a critical role in enabling safe and effective programme implementation by leading security risk management, advising senior management, and supporting personnel, assets, and operations throughout Ethiopia

Purpose of the Job

The Security Manager reports to the Country Representative and maintains a direct technical reporting line to the Regional Security Adviser under UNICEF’s matrix-management arrangements. The Security Manager advises and supports the Representative in discharging their security responsibilities in accordance with the United Nations Security Management System and the UNICEF Security Framework of Accountability. On behalf of the Representative, the Security Manager leads and manages security activities in support of UNICEF personnel and eligible family members, premises, assets, programmes and operations throughout Ethiopia, while providing independent security advice to the Representative and Country Management Team. The Representative retains accountability for security matters within the Country Office.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Security Risk Management and Planning

Serve as the principal security adviser to the Representative and provide strategic advice to Country Management Team (CMT) on security risks and responsibilities.
Support and review Security Risk Management (SRM) processes, including specific ad hoc assessments where required; advise the Representative on UNICEF’s position regarding proposed security risk-management measures; and manage the implementation and monitoring of measures approved through the applicable UNSMS decision-making arrangements.
Assist UNDSS as appropriate, participate as a member of the Security Cell, and attend Security Management Team and Area Security Management Team meetings as an observer, as applicable. Ensure that UNICEF-specific operational and programme considerations are appropriately presented, while recognizing that the Representative remains UNICEF’s member of the Security Management Team.
Lead the implementation and monitoring of approved security risk management measures (SRMM), UNICEF Security plans including other security related preparedness and contingency arrangements across the Country Office and field locations.
Maintain required security documentation, incident reporting, and compliance monitoring.

2. Security Services

Monitor and analyze security risks affecting personnel, assets, and programmes.
Oversee security operations and risk management across duty stations.
Ensure personnel receive security updates, training, and emergency guidance.
Manage security communications and emergency response systems.
Conduct residential security assessments and oversee security contractors.
Lead and manage the Country Office security function including the supervision, performance management, development and technical oversight of security personnel supporting the main office and field locations.

3. Programmatic Security Information and Analysis

Provide forward looking security analysis and advice to enable programme implementation, humanitarian access and informed management decision-making.
Ensure that security risk considerations are integrated into programme strategy, planning, field delivery, emergency preparedness, business continuity and operational decision-making.
Advise programme and operations teams on practical risk management options that support principled presence, access and delivery in high-risk as well as hard-to-reach locations.

4. Security Networking and Partnership Building

Maintain partnerships with UN, NGO, diplomatic, and local security counterparts.
. Represent UNICEF in relevant inter-agency security forums and maintain effective coordination with UNDSS, members of the security cell, United Nations Entities and other security counterparts.
Maintain a direct technical reporting line to the Regional Security Adviser, regular technical coordination with the Office of Security Coordination (OSC) and timely operational reporting to OPSCEN on significant incidents and developments in accordance with applicable reporting requirements.
Strengthen security collaboration with implementing partners under the Saving Lives Together (SLT) framework.

5. Security Compliance Monitoring

Monitor compliance with security policies, procedures, and risk mitigation measures. Review security proposals, budgets, and documentation, providing technical advice as needed.
Advise the Representative on identified security compliance gaps, residual risks, required corrective measures and any matters requiring management decision and/or escalation.
Monitor the implementation of agreed corrective actions and provide periodic compliance updates to the Representative and RSA

6. Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

Promote innovative security systems and practices.
Capture and share lessons learned and best practices.
Lead security training and capacity-building initiatives.
Brief managers on UN security policies, tools, and guidelines.
Ensure inclusive, gender- and disability-sensitive training programmes.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File GJP - Security Manager Level 4.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements

Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in security risk management, International Studies, Political Science, international relations, intelligence studies, peace and conflict studies, diplomatic studies, counterterrorism and any other related fields is required. A first-level university degree in a relevant field, in combination with ten years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience: At least eight (08) years of progressively responsible professional experience in security risk management, security analysis, is required. Demonstrated international security-management experience in emergency and/or conflict affected contexts and an understanding of the United Nations Security Management System is required.
Skills: Demonstrated ability to provide strategic security advice, lead security risk management processes, produce high quality security analysis and reporting, coordinate with inter-agency security arrangements, manage emergency preparedness and response and lead security personnel in complex operational environments is required.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
Experience in developing country and emergency operations settings, including conflict zones, with a strong track record of interagency security coordination to support safe and effective humanitarian and development programmes are considered an asset.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (Level 2)
Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (Level 2)
Works Collaboratively with others (Level 2)
Builds and Maintains Partnerships (Level 2)
Innovates and Embraces Change (Level 2)
Thinks and Acts Strategically (Level 2)
Drive to achieve impactful results (Level 2)
Manages ambiguity and complexity (Level 2)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and their different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable. Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable Females are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Security Manager, (P-4), FT, #107113, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ESAR, (For Non-Ethiopian Nationals only)