Stretch Assignment – Security Manager, P-3/P4

Level: P-3/P-4

Reports to: Representative

Duration: 2 months

Section: Security Section

Location: Abuja/Nigeria

Dates/Duration: Stretch assignment from 05 October 2026 to 05 December 2026

Eligibility: All Fixed-Term, Permanent or continuing appointment UNICEF staff members currently working in UNICEF worldwide.

Purpose of the Position

The Security Manager reports to the Representative and maintains a direct technical reporting line with the Regional Security Adviser (RSA) (Matrix Management). The Security Manager is responsible for advising the Representative and Country Office management on their security duties and responsibilities in accordance with the UN and the UNICEF Security Framework of Accountability. The Security Manager contributes to the UNICEF mandate and security strategy through the effective implementation of a strong security risk management process. The Security Manager manages, on behalf of the Representative, all security activities in support of the country.

The Security Manager implements and manages security activities at the duty station in close coordination with all members of the UN Security Management System (UNSMS) including the UN Department of Safety and Security and UN Agencies, Funds, Programmes and Organizations (AFPO) as well as INGO partners in line with the Saving Lives Together policy. As a member of the UN Security Cell, s/he contributes to the development of assessments, procedures and guidelines including Security Risk Management (SRMs), Country Security Risk Management Measures (SRM-M) and the relevant Security Plan(s).

Duration

This stretch assignment will be for a period of two (2) months.

Key expected results

KEY DELIVERABLES

The successful candidate will be expected to achieve the following key deliverables at the end of the 2 months stretch assignment:

• Security Risk Management and Planning
• Security Services
• Programmatic Security Information and Analysis
• Security Networking and Partnerships
• Security Compliance Monitoring
• Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

1. Security Risk Management and Planning

• Advise the Representative in the execution of her/his duties with regards to the security of UNICEF personnel and eligible family members, premises, and in accordance with UN and UNICEF Security Management Systems.
• Assist CO Representative and Heads of Offices, as appropriate, to review Security Risk Management processes (SRMs) and undertake specific or ad-hoc Security Risk Management processes as required; work closely with UNDSS C/SAs and other agency security professionals to ensure security documents are gender and disability inclusive.
• Collaborate with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) as appropriate and participate as a member of the Security Cell established by UNDSS. Attends as an observer, all SMT/ASMT meetings.
• Provide advice and recommendations on all security documentation, including SRMs and security plans, and manages the implementation of SRM-measures, Residential Security Measures (RSM), provisions of the relevant security plans and other relevant policies, guidelines, and assessments within UNICEF.
• Prepares, maintains, and updates UNICEF security documentation including security contingency plans and provides the Representative, the RSA and the Office of the Security Coordination (OSC) with mandatory reports in accordance with UNICEF security reporting guidelines. This includes the monitoring/reporting on security compliance and the submission of all Security Incident Reports (SIRs).

2. Security Services

• Monitors the security situation and provides independent and comprehensive analysis with the goal of identifying trends and predicting the specific conditions that would impact on the security of UNICEF personnel and eligible family members, premises, assets and programmes to inform decision making.
• Supervises, evaluates, and reviews security activities in support of UNICEF operations and participates, coordinates and/or undertakes security risk management processes for all locations where UNICEF personnel and eligible family members are present.
• Ensures that UNICEF personnel are kept informed of matters affecting their security and the actions to take in the event of an emergency including those identified in the area Security Plans as it relates to UNICEF.
• Oversees the establishment of an effective and functioning communications system for security management within UNICEF that is fully integrated into the UN Emergency Communications System.
• Coordinates with UNDSS to ensure all UNICEF personnel undertake all mandatory security training/briefings and participate in all security related contingency exercises.
• Develop and conduct security training for UNICEF personnel as required.
• Ensures security surveys of international personnel residences are completed in accordance with the Residential Security Measures (RSM).
• Provide technical oversight for UNICEF contracted security providers such as guards service.
• Supervise and mentor UNICEF Security professionals in the country.
• Oversee the recruitment of additional UNICEF Security personnel, if required.

3. Programmatic Security Information and Analysis

• Provides analysis to understand security dynamics. Ensure the analysis addresses environmental, socio-economic and political factors that make geographical areas difficult to access and have an impact on the delivery of UNICEF programmes.
• Works closely with the UNICEF personnel in country to ensure security considerations are mainstreamed into programmes, and integrate all relevant analysis and security measures into the planning and implementation of UNICEF activities.
• Support UNICEF management in the development and implementation of access strategies, preparedness plans, and programme contingency plans as required.

4. Security Networking and Partnership Building

• Establishes contact and maintains networks with UNSMS, I/NGO, diplomatic, and international community security advisors and relevant local authorities as appropriate.
• Collaborate and coordinate with UNDSS and the Security Cell to enable UNICEF activities.
• Ensures that security collaboration with NGOs working as UNICEF implementing partners is undertaken, in coordination with UNDSS, and consistent with the SLT framework.

5. Security Compliance Monitoring

• Monitor that the Country Offices complies with and periodically exercise security procedures/protocols and guidelines including Security Risk Management Measures (SRM-M) and UNICEF’s Global Security Compliance platform.
• Review proposals for country and area Security Risk Management measures (SRM-M), Residential Security Measures (RSMs), Local cost shared security budget (LCCSB), and other relevant security documents and provide advice when warranted.

6. Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Introduces technological innovations and approaches to security procedures and systems.
• Institutionalizes and shares best practices and knowledge learned.
• Organizes, plans and/or implements capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders on security related preparedness and operations.
• Provide briefings and presentations to UNICEF senior managers with security responsibilities on current and new UN security policies, guidelines and tools;
• Ensure training provided is gender and disability inclusive.

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies

Education

Required qualification:

• An advanced university degree is required.
• A university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work experience

Required experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional experience within global security risk management and/or security analysis is required.
• Demonstrated international security management experience and understanding of the United Nations Security Management System is highly desirable.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience with UNICEF.
• Currently holding a UNICEF Security P3/P4 position.

Desired experience:

• Experience working in emergency/crisis or high-risk settings.
• Experience in design, planning and implementation of security interventions.

Language

Required competencies:

• Fluency in English (verbal and written).

Technical skills

Required skills:

• Solid experience in donor report, proposal, concept notes and brief writing.
• Proficiency in conducting financial analysis based on reports generated from UNICEF Insight/Vision system.
• Excellent understanding of financial management with solid experience in grants and funds management.
• Computer literacy and the ability to effectively use standard office software tools (Word, Excel, PPT, Teams, SharePoint) and other office technologies including Zoom and Mentimeters.

Desired skills:

• Strong information management and data analytical skills to summarize trends and findings and transform complex information into crisp visual presentations.
• Ability to work productively, independently and to handle requests or issues as they arise.

Behavioural skills

Desired skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent collaboration with colleagues and partners.
• Fast learner and adapt to changing environment.
• Attentive and open to feedback and new ideas.
• Effective planning and problem-solving skills.

Funding arrangement

Once the selection process has been completed, the two offices will communicate to reach an agreement on the start date for the recommended staff member, with an anticipated start on 05 October.

Since the staff member retains his/her current position and no changes will be made to the staff member’s employment status (post level, post number, remuneration etc.), the releasing office will continue to cover his/her full salary.

Security Manager will receive 100% DSA for two weeks and 50% DSA for the remainder of the stretch assignment while in Abuja and full DSA for field travel at the applicable rates.

HOW TO APPLY

If interested, please discuss the assignment with your supervisor and obtain your supervisor’s agreement before applying:

Upload the following to your application:

• A Cover Letter and your up-to-date P-11 or e-recruitment profile
• Your two latest PERs
• An approval from your supervisor

Candidates who are considered potentially well-matched for the stretch assignment may be contacted for an informal interview. Supervisors may also be contacted for references.