Dec 8, 2017

Security Adviser - Humanitarian & Stabilisation Operations Team

Employer: Palladium International
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Closing date: 15 Dec 2017


Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives.

Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status. The Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT) is contracted through The Palladium Group by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Stabilisation Unit (SU) to provide an operational team delivering humanitarian and stabilisation services worldwide. The core purpose of the HSOT - Operational Security Adviser role is to support, advise and facilitate the deployment of HSOT staff, consultants and partner representatives. This support is achieved via the production of timely and effectively evidenced risk assessments, contextually relevant briefing(s) and the provision of practical and appropriate technical advice. These core responsibilities will be available to and service a large and diverse audience that could include senior decision-makers, rapidly deployed teams and/or HMG staff.

This challenging and diverse role, operates at the forefront of HSOT's support to DFID and HMG's delivery of humanitarian and development efforts often in austere and fragile environs. As such, highly developed and demonstrable skills working within diverse and varied teams will be considered a minimum.

Strong team working skills are essential to work across departmental and cultural boundaries.

Salary: £56,910 per annum The adviser will:
Provide early input in the planning of deployments, ensuring that operational plans remain feasible and that security aspects are considered, represented and effectively addressed at each phase.
Provide relevant, accurate and enabling technical security advice to the HSOT Leadership and Response Managers to support planned and reactive deployments.
Produce accurate and timely risk assessments and Safety and Security Instructions (SSIs) to support deployed staff.
Provide concise verbal and written briefings to support ministerial submissions, estimates and risk registers at that can escalate to the level of the National Security Council (NSC).
Proactively engage and maintain key relationships across HMG and with interlocuters in other organisations in U.K. and worldwide.
Readily engage with non-HMG agencies in the UK and internationally to inform risk assessments and support risk management activities. This can include proposing common assessment(s) and drafting binding MOUs.
Act as the security management focal point for DFID deployed teams when required, to reasonably mitigate foreseeable risks whilst assisting in the successful facilitation of DFID service delivery.
Directly contribute to the advancement and maintenance of Policies, Guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures and Business Processes
Assist in the evolution and thus ensure the practical relevance of HSOT's Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) training.
Manage security and take operational ownership over decisions that affect HSOT managed staff on deployments on behalf of The Palladium Group (as delegated).


Undertake any other duties as appropriate to the position, as required.


At least 10 years demonstrable experience in senior internationally focused security risk management roles that include multiple hostile and fragile environments. Candidates with only military or national service experience will not be considered competitive applicants.


Demonstrable experience that bridges sectors, contexts and operational environments.


Demonstrable experience working alongside a variety of government and non-government actors and an ability to build effective networks.
A demonstrable knowledge of current leading-edge humanitarian security practise, concepts, contemporary challenges and theoretical constructs.
A proven ability to communicate effectively and positively influence superiors, peers and subordinates.
A proven ability to work under limited supervision, demonstrate independent initiative and provide pragmatically succinct solutions.
An ability to deal with ambiguity and provide practical and defensible solutions
A clear understanding of Duty of Care and risk management processes The adviser must be willing to deploy to potentially hostile environments, sometimes at short notice and have the self-reliance to operate successfully in an unknown and challenging context.