Security Officer, Nyala, South Darfur (Sudanese only) Full Time NEW

Job Title: Security Officer

Location: Nyala, South Darfur

Position Status: National position (field-based)

Contract Type and Duration: 12-month renewable fixed-term contract (with a probationary period)

Reporting Lines: Reports to Sudan Country Manager

Salary: $1500 monthly gross of tax. 33 days of annual leave to include all public and religious holidays

Status: The applicant needs to work and live in Nyala, South Darfur. There will be no relocation allowance.

Travel: Extensive travel within Darfur, subject to security assessments and management approval

Job Purpose

The Security Officer is responsible for supporting the safe, secure and conflict-sensitive implementation of Concordis’ programmes in Darfur.

The postholder will maintain situational awareness, conduct security and access analysis, support staff movement and field mission planning, maintain security procedures and documentation, provide timely briefings and alerts, and advise the Sudan Country Manager and programme teams on emerging risks and appropriate mitigation measures.

The Security Officer will work closely with programme, finance, HR, logistics and management teams to ensure that security considerations are integrated into programme planning and implementation without unnecessarily restricting operational delivery.

The Officer will support an acceptance-based and context-informed approach to security, recognising the importance of community relationships, impartiality, staff conduct, local perceptions, conflict sensitivity and reliable information networks.

The Security Officer will not independently determine organisational security policy or make final decisions on programme suspension, relocation or evacuation unless expressly delegated. Final security decisions remain with authorised senior management.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Security Context Monitoring and Analysis

• Continuously monitor political, conflict, humanitarian, criminal, social and access developments that may affect Concordis staff, partners, assets and programme activities.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of conflict dynamics across Concordis programme areas, including changes in armed actor presence, local tensions, intercommunal conflict, displacement, road access, checkpoints, demonstrations, criminality and other relevant threats.
• Produce concise and practical security analysis for management rather than simply circulating raw information.
• Identify emerging threats, trends and early-warning indicators and communicate them promptly to the Sudan Country Manager and relevant managers.
• Distinguish clearly between verified information, credible but unconfirmed reporting, rumours and speculation.
• Maintain a structured security incident and context database.
• Analyse patterns across reported incidents to identify changes in risk levels and programme implications.
• Prepare regular written security updates, including recommendations for operational adaptation.
• Contribute security and access analysis to programme planning, assessments, proposals and management discussions where appropriate.
• Monitor developments along major programme movement routes and areas where Concordis staff conduct community engagements.
• Track seasonal, political, military and community-level developments that may create increased security risks.

2. Security Risk Assessments

• Conduct security risk assessments for Concordis offices, programme locations, travel routes, workshops, field missions and other operational activities.
• Maintain and periodically update location-specific risk assessments.
• Assess threats, vulnerabilities, likelihood, potential impact and existing mitigation measures.
• Recommend proportionate mitigation measures that balance staff safety with programme access and operational needs.
• Conduct pre-mission risk assessments for travel to higher-risk or unfamiliar locations.
• Support programme managers to incorporate security considerations into activity planning.
• Review security implications of major community events, peace conferences, cross-locality engagements and other sensitive programme activities.
• Identify risks arising from political perceptions, community affiliations, armed actor dynamics, staff profiles or programme visibility.
• Ensure assessments consider gender, disability and other factors that may affect staff vulnerability differently.

3. Staff Movement and Field Security

• Maintain an effective staff movement-tracking system for field missions and official travel.
• Review proposed field movements and provide security advice prior to departure.
• Confirm route conditions, relevant checkpoints, access constraints, communications arrangements and contingency options before missions.
• Maintain regular communication with travelling teams according to agreed check-in procedures.
• Immediately escalate missed check-ins or other movement concerns in accordance with established procedures.
• Maintain updated staff movement records.
• Coordinate closely with logistics colleagues on vehicles, drivers, fuel, communications equipment and other field movement requirements.
• Ensure drivers receive appropriate security briefings and understand movement and incident procedures.
• Support route assessments and identify safer alternative routes where necessary.
• Maintain and periodically test emergency communications systems used by field teams.
• Advise management when changing security conditions require movement delays, route changes or cancellation.
• Liaise closely with the Security Tracking Team to ensure all staff movements are properly communicated and monitored, and that Garmin devices and other approved tracking equipment are functional, correctly used, and managed in line with Concordis procedures.

4. Security Briefings and Staff Preparedness

• Deliver mandatory security induction briefings for all newly recruited staff, visitors, consultants and expatriate personnel.
• Provide pre-deployment and pre-travel briefings for staff travelling to programme locations.
• Ensure staff understand relevant security procedures, reporting responsibilities, communication protocols and emergency arrangements.
• Conduct regular refresher briefings based on changing security conditions.
• Develop simple, practical security guidance that field teams can apply during everyday operations.
• Ensure staff understand how their conduct, communications and public behaviour may influence community acceptance and organisational security.
• Provide briefings on checkpoints, detention risks, civil unrest, crossfire, road incidents, criminality and other context-relevant threats.
• Organise security drills and simulations where appropriate.
• Keep records of staff security briefings and trainings.

5. Incident Management and Reporting

• Maintain clear security incident reporting procedures.
• Receive, verify and document security incidents involving staff, programme activities, assets or programme locations.
• Immediately notify the Sudan Country Manager and Operations Manager of serious incidents.
• Support management during security incidents by providing verified information, maintaining communication and coordinating agreed operational actions.
• Maintain detailed incident logs and follow-up actions.
• Support after-action reviews following significant incidents.
• Identify lessons and recommend changes to procedures where necessary.
• Maintain confidentiality and sensitivity when handling security incidents involving staff or communities.
• Support documentation required for insurance, organisational reporting or other formal processes following incidents.

6. Security Management Plans and Procedures

• Support the Sudan Country Manager in maintaining and periodically reviewing the Sudan/Darfur Security Management Plan.
• Ensure office and field security procedures remain practical and appropriate to changing conditions.
• Maintain relevant standard operating procedures, including:
  • staff movement;
  • communications;
  • incident reporting;
  • medical emergencies;
  • relocation;
  • hibernation;
  • evacuation;
  • office access;
  • visitor management;
  • vehicle incidents;
  • detention or arrest;
  • civil unrest;

loss of communications.

• Conduct periodic checks to ensure procedures are understood and implemented.
• Maintain emergency contact lists and security-related documentation.
• Ensure contingency plans remain realistic and actionable.
• Support periodic review of assembly points, relocation options and emergency routes.

7. Access and Acceptance

• Support management to understand how Concordis, its staff and its programmes are perceived by communities, authorities and other relevant actors.
• Identify emerging acceptance risks that may affect staff safety or programme access.
• Work closely with Peacebuilding Managers and programme staff to ensure security decisions are informed by community-level knowledge.
• Support conflict-sensitive engagement with local authorities, community leaders and relevant interlocutors where authorised.
• Maintain appropriate security-related networks without compromising Concordis’ impartiality or independence.
• Ensure programme teams understand potential reputational risks arising from association, language, visibility, transport, venues or engagement with particular actors.
• Advise teams on how programme activities may be perceived in politically or socially sensitive environments.
• Support management to distinguish between genuine security requirements and unnecessary restrictions that could undermine programme access.

8. Security Information Networks

• Build and maintain professional relationships with relevant NGO security platforms, humanitarian coordination mechanisms, community contacts and other reliable information sources.
• Participate in relevant security coordination meetings when authorised.
• Maintain professional working relationships with other organisations operating in Concordis programme locations.
• Cross-check information through multiple sources before recommending major operational decisions.
• Maintain a structured contact network covering relevant programme areas.
• Ensure information-sharing relationships remain consistent with Concordis’ impartiality, confidentiality and safeguarding obligations.

9. Office and Facility Security

• Conduct periodic security assessments of Concordis offices.

Review and maintain physical security arrangements for Concordis offices and facilities, including access control and visitor management procedures (such as visitor registers, verification, sign-in/sign-out and restrictions on access to sensitive areas), perimeter security, lighting, locks and key control, emergency exits and evacuation routes, fire safety equipment and procedures, communications systems, and guard deployment, performance and post instructions, identifying vulnerabilities and recommending practical corrective measures where required.

• Recommend proportionate improvements where vulnerabilities are identified.
• Monitor guard performance in collaboration with the Darfur Finance, HR and Logistics Manager.
• Support development of appropriate guard instructions and post orders.
• Ensure emergency contact and evacuation information is visible and current where appropriate.
• Support periodic fire and emergency preparedness checks.

10. Security and Programme Integration

• Participate in programme planning meetings where security or access considerations are relevant.
• Provide security advice during planning of workshops, conferences, community dialogues and field assessments.
• Support programme managers to identify security risks before activities are approved.
• Avoid treating security as a separate operational function; work with programme teams to identify feasible ways of safely implementing activities.
• Provide security input into new programme locations and geographical expansion.
• Support assessments of whether programme delivery methods need adjustment in response to changing security conditions.
• Advise on safe meeting venues, movement timing, staff composition and communications arrangements where necessary.

11. Conflict Sensitivity and Do-No-Harm

• Apply conflict-sensitive analysis to all security advice and recommendations.
• Avoid security practices that could inadvertently reinforce perceptions of political, military, ethnic or community alignment.
• Work with programme teams to understand how local conflict dynamics affect staff security and access.
• Recognise that security information may itself be politically sensitive and handle it carefully.
• Avoid reproducing unverified allegations concerning communities, armed actors or individuals.
• Analyse how security measures may affect community trust and programme acceptance.
• Promote impartial, respectful and context-sensitive staff behaviour.

12. Security Support to HR and Staff Welfare

• Support HR and management in assessing security considerations during recruitment and deployment.
• Ensure newly recruited staff understand security expectations before field deployment.
• Advise management when individual staff profiles may create particular vulnerabilities during specific assignments.
• Support appropriate security arrangements for expatriate staff and visitors.
• Work sensitively with HR when incidents affect staff wellbeing.
• Maintain confidentiality around staff security concerns.
• Encourage early reporting of threats, harassment, intimidation or other security concerns.

13. Emergency and Contingency Preparedness

• Maintain updated emergency preparedness plans.
• Ensure relevant emergency supplies, communications equipment and contingency resources are regularly checked.
• Support planning for temporary relocation, hibernation or evacuation where necessary.
• Maintain updated staff contact and emergency information in coordination with HR.
• Periodically test communication trees and emergency notification arrangements.
• Maintain awareness of medical referral and evacuation options.
• Support scenario planning for significant deterioration in security or access.

14. Documentation and Reporting

The Officer will be responsible for maintaining:

• daily security monitoring where necessary;
• weekly security update;
• monthly security analysis;
• security incident database;
• movement tracker;
• security briefing records;
• location risk assessments;
• route assessments;
• emergency contact directory;
• security network/contact database;
• security equipment records;
• Security Management Plan and associated SOPs;
• monthly security action tracker.

Essential Qualifications and Competencies

1. Education and Experience
   1. Bachelor’s degree in security management, peace and conflict studies, international relations, political science, risk management, humanitarian studies, or a related discipline, with at least five years’ relevant professional experience in security, access, humanitarian operations, conflict analysis, or a related field in conflict-affected or fragile environments.
2. Context Knowledge
   1. Strong understanding of the political, conflict and security dynamics of Darfur and wider Sudan.
3. Security Analysis and Risk Assessment
   1. Proven ability to gather, verify and analyse security information, conduct risk assessments, and provide clear, practical recommendations.
4. Operational Security Support
   1. Experience supporting field operations, staff movement management and incident response in challenging operating environments.
5. Conflict Sensitivity and Humanitarian Security
   1. Good understanding of conflict sensitivity, do-no-harm principles, and acceptance-based approaches to NGO security management.
6. Networking and Information Management
   1. Ability to develop and maintain professional information networks and manage sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
7. Communication and Training
   1. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare security reports and deliver security briefings and training.
8. Organisation and Record Management
   1. Strong organisational skills with the ability to maintain accurate security records, documentation and reporting systems.
9. Judgement and Personal Effectiveness
   1. Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement, solve problems proactively, and remain calm under pressure.
10. Relationship Building
    1. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues, partners, community representatives and other stakeholders.
11. Technical and Language Skills
    1. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and digital communication tools, with strong Arabic and working English language skills.
12. Values and Commitment
    1. Commitment to Concordis’ principles of impartiality, inclusion, integrity and respect, and willingness to travel regularly within programme areas when security conditions permit.

Tagged as: Concordis International, Sudan