LOCATION: Goma, DRC

Reports to: Deputy Country Director, in Charge of Operations

Direct Reports: None

Key Relationships: Regional Security Manager – Africa; Program and Site Leads, APAMU staff, Law Enforcement Advisors within DRC, CWT personnel, and senior programmatic staff

Summary of Position

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on Earth. WCS seeks to conserve the world's largest and most ecologically intact wild places. These places are home to more than 50 per cent of the world's biodiversity and sustain over 300 million of the world's poorest people.

This position is based in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and focuses on the programmatic security needs for WCS operations in DRC. WCS’s work in the DRC comprises some of the largest programs within the WCS Global Portfolio in terms of budget and staffing.

The National Security Coordinator is accountable for developing and implementing procedures, communications, and training to safeguard WCS personnel, assets, and operations within WCS’ Global Conservation Program in the DRC. This position is responsible for improving security readiness, awareness, intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination, and providing the necessary advice and training to enhance the security of our staff, assets, and operations throughout the DRC. The National Security Coordinator will also be responsible for creating, and reviewing existing, risk assessment and mitigation plans, security management plans, and crisis management plans; and providing guidance as needed to make sure all plans are current and effective.

Key Responsibilities

For the first 3-6 months of this assignment, the priority will be to identify, document, analyze and prioritize programmatic threats and risks affecting the safety and security of WCS staff, visitors, and assets within the DRC. Thereafter, the position will continue to monitor, evaluate, support, and respond to the programmatic security needs of WCS programs within DRC.

Work collaboratively with all senior programmatic staff for the purpose of developing and managing a national security strategy and plan.

Enhance WCS’s ability to receive, evaluate and react to threat intelligence and to analyze local, regional, and global trends

Prepare and deliver communication tools and training modules to disseminate regular security briefings and create broader awareness and responsiveness of staff to safety and security

Design, implement and monitor threat mitigation strategies, including personnel risk management, asset management and communications protocols, in cooperation with all country directors

Provide guidance and support to WCS DRC leadership on building a more robust response to program security including guidance on applying for external funding to support near and long-term comprehensive security initiatives

Perform regular onsite audits of all programmatic security infrastructure and procedures

Assist all site and program leads with the recruitment and/or designation of staff best suited to oversee security processes within in each protected area or sub-office.

Coordinate and assist in the investigative responses to security incidents

Actively participate in security networks (such as OSAC and INSO) for the purpose of creating a broader security awareness exchange with other NGO security resources

Provide regular progress reports to the Regional Security Manager – Africa and DRC Country Director on the state of security for each site and program to include all accomplishments, short and long-term security goals, and budget guidance

Conduct security briefings for new national and new international staff arriving in the country.

Conduct mandatory briefings for visitors /delegations to the country office

Update welcome pack and send welcome package to the visitors prior to arrival in the country

Determine training needs for the security field staff

Train national staff to increase their awareness and sense of responsibilities

Conduct any staff security training that is warranted (HEAT, training to drivers and guards, evacuation drills, fire safety etc.).

Draft and regularly update evacuation and contingency plans and support site directors in developing evacuation and contingency plans for civilian personnel.

Ensure preparedness for evacuation and contingencies (check contingency kits, first aid kits etc).

Qualifications required

Committed to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society

A minimum of 5 years of increasing security responsibilities with operations in remote high-risk environments. Thorough knowledge and experience applying security principles and practices in threat identification, management and mitigation, incident response and investigation, facility hardening, hostile environment/wilderness first-aid, kidnapping and hostage survival, site perimeter protection; access and control policy management, transportation security in hostile environments, counter-surveillance techniques, crisis management response, and intelligence collection and dissemination

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with an emphasis on training and public presentation to a very broad range of audiences; apply sound judgment in ambiguous situations; effectively manage change, working effectively with and through others to achieve required results; establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships

Ability to work independently with extensive travel to remote regions

Ability to maintain a thorough awareness of the intent and capabilities of criminal organizations within each region that engage in wildlife poaching and trafficking

Verbal and written fluency in English and French is required, and fluency in Swahili and other local languages is a plus

Strong computer skills (MS Office, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint or similar applications)

Previous law enforcement and/or military experience within central Africa is desired

Previous experience working with an international NGO is desired

A bachelor’s degree in a security or law enforcement-related discipline is desired. Master’s level degree is exceptional. Experience can be considered instead of formal education, on a case-by-case basis.

How to apply

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should apply through this link by November 18, 2023.