Job Description

Chemonics seeks an Operations and Security Manager for the USAID Empower Southern Africa (ESA) project. ESA is a 5-year regional program that covers South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros and Sao Tome and Principe. The primary purpose of ESA is to increase the availability of, access to, and use of affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy in Southern Africa in order to reach measurable development outcomes. Measurable development outcomes include economic growth, reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, and increasing inclusive access to electricity-enabled services in such areas as health, education, sanitation, and food security. A robust and effective security management platform is a key priority for ESA given the regional nature of the program and varying security environments in each country of operation. This position is responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the projectxe2x80x99s security and operations platform, assessing specific security measures required dependent on the context, threats, project vulnerabilities, and identified risk. The Operations and Security Manager should possess superior networking and diplomacy skills, risk assessment capabilities, and an expansive understanding of the regional context. This position will report to the Director of Finance and Operations and be based in Pretoria, South Africa. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people and communities around the world. Responsibilities include: Operations

• Oversee project procurement and procedures for developing and releasing tenders, evaluating, and selecting vendors, overseeing contract performance and maintaining control of project inventory
• Supervise and lead project human resources management, including the recruitment, hiring, training, and termination (as necessary) of personnel
• Support the achievement of the overall project goals as required to ensure project performance
• Facilitate the use of tools and systems required for the planning, implementation, tracking, reporting and quality control of the programxe2x80x99s operational and administrative activities.
• Coordinate with the Home Office on all compliance issues
• Analyze and streamline processes in the field office, provide training and capacity-building to project staff on an ongoing basis on project administration and implementation
• Coordinate employeesxe2x80x99 performance management, assessment, and improvement initiatives
• Coordinate various employee relations initiatives, including new employeesxe2x80x99 orientation, exit interviews, staff morale events, etc.
• Coordinate training and other staff development initiatives when needed
• Liaise with regional offices and home office on HR related issues
• Provide guidance and counseling to staff on HR related issues

Security

• Provide leadership, strategic guidance, and management for special security requirements. These include but are not limited to: general and facility security assessments; event security; security for staff traveling in and around South Africa; support for regional assessments and/or project movements in risk areas; and any potential direct or indirect threats to the safety of staff and operations
• Relationship Management and Information Gathering/Dissemination
  • Provide timely and accurate security information and recommendations to Chief of Party (COP), Team Leader, Chemonics Home Office Project Management Unit (PMU) and the Security Management Unit (SMU). Inform staff, as necessary, of emerging security situations and the recommended response
  • Brief staff on all safety and security considerations for Chemonics personnel arriving in country from overseas and when traveling to regional locations, including information on security risks, security guidelines, communication procedures, travel precautions, emergency procedures, and movement restrictions (as needed)
  • Establish relationships, as appropriate, with local law enforcement, civil authorities, USAID/PLSO, and other organizations to obtain current information affecting the security of the activity and develop security risk assessments, journey-management protocols, and emergency-action procedures
• Threat and Risk Assessment
  • Monitor in-country security environments and actively assess for implementation risks complying with national and local government measures and provide security assessment inputs during the activity design cycle
  • Conduct threat and risk assessments of current and proposed program activities and geographic areas. This will include written security assessments with verbal debriefs that analyze the country context, evaluate risk, and provide specific recommendations
  • Conduct physical security assessments for the office premises and international staff residences
• Implementation of and Updates to the Safety and Security Plan
  • Ensure compliance with Chemonicsxe2x80x99 safety and security policies and create tailored processes and procedures to protect activity staff and assets across the region
  • Develop and maintain the security handbook, emergency action plan, emergency contact list, and phone tree, providing updates to required security documentation monthly
  • Lead Chemonics incident management response and prepare project security incident reports in accordance with company policies on an ad-hoc basis
• Provide all staff with safety and security training on first aid, security awareness, and hostile-environment awareness training and training on staff responsibilities under the security platform. Develop training materials for individuals to reference. Manage security subcontractors and optimize the subcontractorxe2x80x99s performance with actions that include inspections and audits, ensuring compliance with requirements defined in the subcontract SOW, and oversight to ensure effective and efficient use of resources
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Finance and Operations and/or Home Office SMU

Qualifications

• Bachelorxe2x80x99s degree in public administration, international relations, management, business, finance, or relevant field is required. Masterxe2x80x99s degree preferred.

• Minimum 8 years of experience in security, risk management, and project management, with a demonstrated ability to implement security platforms on a regional basis.
• Strong contextual knowledge of the security environment in South Africa. Experience working on security issues in multiple countries under the regional program is preferred.

• Minimum three yearsxe2x80x99 experience with a USAID-funded project is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to establish and develop working relationships and a high level of trust with public/private organizations to promote an accurate understanding of risk, strengthen knowledge of individual country contexts, and bolster project planning abilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with culturally diverse staff

• Proven effectiveness implementing security protocols and operational procedures to maintain staff safety and emergency preparedness.
• Experience in crisis management and training civilians on safety and security measures.
• Advanced IT capabilities and experience in Word, Excel, PowerPoint required. Experience with mapping programs, alternative communication platforms, or information security requirements is beneficial.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English

Application instructions: xe2x80x93 https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5a445372e6d741f5807e79aa288bbc3f. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists. Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors. Chemonics values the protection of your personal data. If you are in the European Union, please read our EU Recruiting Data Privacy Notice to learn how we process personal data.