Safety, Security and Access Director – DRC Full Time NEW

Location : Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Position Status: Full Time, Regular

Salary Level: Field Level 6 (MCG) or equivalent on national scale, Congolese nationals strongly preferred

ABOUT MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.

In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions

into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Now, and for the future.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

Mercy Corps is present in the DRC since August 2007 with a current workforce of more than 300 national and expatriate employees and operational presence in Goma and Beni (North Kivu Province), in Bunia (Ituri Province), and in Tshikapa, Kalonda West and Ndjoko Punda (Kasai Province). As a leading NGO in DRC working with more than 40 partners in 2024, Mercy Corps reached 2.12 million people in North Kivu, South Kivu and Kasai with integrated programs that ensured equitable access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in humanitarian and development settings; economic and livelihood development to strengthen food security and resilience; as well as institutional capacity strengthening and social cohesion to foster peace and good governance.

The Position (General Position Summary)

Reporting to the Country Director and working in close collaboration with all other departments as well as the DRC Crisis Analytics Team (CAT), the Safety,Security and Access Director provides strategic leadership and oversees all aspects of staff safety, organizational security risk management, and humanitarian access across Mercy Corps’ DRC operations. S/he is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive security strategy that facilitates safe, efficient, and principled program delivery to vulnerable communities while ensuring full compliance with Mercy Corps’ global policies, donor requirements, and national regulations.

The role is both strategic and operational requiring the ability to engage at high levels with government, humanitarian, and security stakeholders, while also coordinating critical safety systems and responses at the field level. The incumbent is adept at working in high-risk, volatile and hard-to-reach contexts to facilitate safe and secure delivery of humanitarian and development programming, while maintaining the right balance between program objectives and Mercy Corp’s legal and duty-of-care obligations toward team members and the communities we serve. S/he has proven experience and expertise in NGO risk management, people management, and stakeholder engagement as well as the ability to lead with focus and clarity in high-pressure situations including crises.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

• Lead the development and execution of a country-wide Safety, Security, and Access Strategy that enables safe and principled operations across all areas, including those controlled by non-state armed groups and sanctioned actors.
• Serve as the lead advisor to the Country Director and SMT on navigating access challenges in sensitive regions (e.g., zones controlled by sanctioned parties), ensuring alignment with Mercy Corps’ Prohibited Parties Policy, U.S. and EU sanctions frameworks, and humanitarian principles.
• Maintain close coordination with regional and global security, compliance, and legal teams to ensure access strategies do not create legal or reputational risks.
• Provide strategic analysis and recommendations for humanitarian access in complex political and security environments, identifying potential red lines and mitigation strategies.

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Across all bases

• Lead the design and implementation of safety, security and access protocols (SOPs) and risk mitigation measures for Mercy Corps’ field operations in the DRC including in territories controlled or influenced by sanctioned parties, ensuring strict screening, vetting, and due diligence in line with Mercy Corps’ compliance standards.
• Ensure timely security risk assessments, movement tracking systems, and incident reporting mechanisms are in place and are functioning.
• Establish and monitor community acceptance strategies and negotiation approaches that support principled access while safeguarding Mercy Corps’ neutrality and operational integrity.
• Ensure that the humanitarian principles and Mercy Corps’ Code of Conduct are embedded into all access and security strategies.
• Coordinate closely with Operations, HR, and Program teams to ensure security integration across departments (e.g., site risk audits, safety training, logistics planning).

In areas controlled by non-state armed actors and/or sanctioned parties

• Coordinate with Program and Compliance teams to ensure field-level adherence to Mercy Corps’ counterterrorism, sanctions, and prohibited parties policies, including the establishment of robust documentation and verification systems.
• Conduct access and security risk assessments with a focus on ensuring that staff, partners, and contractors are not knowingly engaging with sanctioned individuals or groups.
• In coordination with Legal and Compliance, manage responses to any access incidents or contact with sanctioned parties, including internal reporting and risk analysis.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

• Ensure Country Office crisis management preparedness including budgeting, planning and provision of essential training and capacity strengthening.
• Serve as the lead advisor to the Country Director and SMT on managing crisis-related security incidents.
• Oversee the establishment and implementation of a security incident management system capable of logging reports and outcomes in real-time to inform analysis, planning and decision-making.

CAPACITY BUILDING AND SUPPORT TO TEAM MEMBERS

• Design and implement security training modules tailored to the country context, including HEAT, conflict sensitivity, and access negotiation.
• Mentor and coach national and expatriate staff on security awareness and risk mitigation strategies.
• Support staff well-being and psychosocial resilience in challenging operational environments.

SAFEGUARDING

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility (see department org chart)

• Direct line management of Safety & Security Managers and Access Officers.
• Oversight of security focal points across all field locations.

Accountability

Reports Directly To:

Country Director

Works Directly With:

Members of the Senior Management Team (operations, finance, P&C, ethics, programs, etc.)

Base operations managers and project managers.

Staff representatives and delegates.

Mercy Corps regional security advisors and global safety and security teams

Local authorities and security personnel of peer organizations, UN agencies and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. INSO).

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Minimum 5 years of experience in safety, security, and humanitarian access management in complex emergency contexts, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role.
• Advanced degree in Security Studies, International Relations, Political Science, or a related field preferred.
• Experience working in high-risk environments with armed conflict, inter-communal violence, or political instability – prior DRC or Great Lakes experience highly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategy and implement access and security frameworks in large, multi-site programs.
• Proven negotiation and liaison skills with non-state armed actors, government authorities, and community leaders.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, INGO standards, and duty of care requirements.
• Excellent communication, writing, and analytical skills in English and French.
• Familiarity with remote management techniques and technology-based security solutions (e.g., GPS tracking, communications systems).
• Demonstrated ability to remain calm and effective under pressure, including in crisis situations.

Success Factors

The incumbent is politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact, and diplomacy. S/he demonstrates strong leadership and interpersonal skills to successfully manage multidisciplinary teams and ability to design and implement context-driven safety, security and access solutions while upholding Mercy Corps’ humanitarian principles, ethical and operational standards and maintaining strict compliance with donor regulations. S/he is skilled at navigating uncertainty and rapidly changing environments based on a deep understanding of the legal, ethical, and reputational risks associated with operating in areas controlled by non-state or sanctioned actors without compromising neutrality, operational integrity, or organizational policies.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The DRC is a complex and volatile environment with pockets of violence and insecurity, disease outbreaks and natural disasters, weak infrastructure, and limited access to quality basic services in most field locations. The position is based in Goma, in the North Kivu province of the DRC. It is a non-family (unaccompanied) posting with group housing, security and transportation provided by Mercy Corps for expatriate team members. The incumbent travels extensively in eastern and western DRC to support operational bases and program interventions in Grand North Kivu, Ituri, Kasai, Kinshasa and other provinces as operations expand.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work. We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]

Tagged as: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mercy Corps