Chief of Service, Security and Safety, D-1

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Department of Safety and Security is responsible for providing leadership, operational support and oversight of the security management system to enable the safest and most efficient conduct of the programmes and activities of the United Nations System. Reporting to the Director, Division of Headquarters Security and Safety Services, this position is located in the Security and Safety Service (SSS) of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Security and Safety Service is responsible for protecting staff, delegates, visiting dignitaries and other visitors, for preventing damage to property and for ensuring the continuous provision of emergency response mechanisms at the United Nations Headquarters premises. This is a unique opportunity to join a diverse, dynamic and exciting organization gaining unique and valuable experience where security provides great value. Besides the opportunity to gain new skills and further advance security expertise, this position offers a fulfilling environment that gives you satisfaction by contributing directly or indirectly to peace and security, human rights, and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Service, Security and Safety will be responsible for the following duties:

• Leads, supervises and carries out the work programme of the Security and Safety Services at the UNHQ.
• Formulates and implements the substantive work programme of the Security and Safety Service at the UNHQ using a results-based approach.
• Provides strategic and executive direction for the results-based optimization of the Division’s NYHQ security assets, determining priorities and allocating resources to improve safety and security standards, systems, emergency preparedness and crisis management plans.
• Coordinates work in the different areas both within the Division and Department, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate.
• Co-ordinates the work carried out by different work units under the Security and Safety Services with other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system.
• Provides programmatic/substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by others.
• Has overall responsibility for the security and safety of delegates, staff, visiting dignitaries and other visitors within the UN complex including all UN leased properties and the Secretary-General’s residence, through the implementation of defensive measures and forestalling all possible breaches of security, taking into account the threat assessment of the United Nations Headquarters district conducted by the host city authorities.
• Manages the executive protection of the most senior leaders of the organization: the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly.
• Manages the UNHQ crisis management plan and implementation, and the implementation of safety and fire safety measures at UN premises in New York.
• Ensures that the outputs produced by the Security and Safety Services maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data.
• Ensures that all outputs produced by the Sections under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
• Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Security and Safety Services, including preparation of budgets; reporting on budget/programme performance; evaluation of staff performance (PAS); using recruitment processes and selections to further implementation of the Department’s People Strategy and approaches to gender, diversity, and inclusivity; interviews of candidates for job openings; evaluation of candidates; and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
• Manages, guides, develops and coordinates the basic and specialist training for staff under his/her supervision.
• Fosters teamwork and communication among staff within the Security and Safety Services and across organizational boundaries.
• Leads on implementing Departmental strategies and action plans including on disability inclusion, anti-racism, and gender/diversity, in relation to the Service’s mandate and programme of work.
• Liaises with host country law enforcement agencies, international criminal police organizations, in exchanging critical security information.
• Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Professionalism: Knowledge of the United Nations and its subsidiary organs, as well as the Application of security risk management policies and procedures to achieve results. Demonstrates effective interpersonal and diplomatic communication skills and creates an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; places confidence in and builds trust with colleagues, staff members and stakeholders. Demonstrates networking skills and an ability to build and maintain good relations with all stakeholders; shows excellent negotiating skills and is able to influence others to reach agreements. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Managerial Competencies:

• Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
• Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent degree) in law, criminal justice, criminology or equivalent specialization in security or police management or in security related fields. A first-level university degree in any of these fields in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of fifteen (15) years progressively responsible experience in security, international relations, disarmament affairs, conflict resolution, crime or terrorism prevention, risk or disaster or emergency management and preparedness, in public or private sector areas responsible for responding to emergency situations that directly impact security is required. At least five years of experience in management roles of a large complex security service with multidimensional responsibilities is required. At least five years of experience in crisis management and/or emergency management is required. Experience in coordinating security operations and planning for large intergovernmental events involving multiple military, intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies is required. Experience in managing executive/close protection operations is required. Security management experience in the UN Security Management System or equivalent international or multilateral setting is desirable. Experience in leading, managing, and motivating multicultural teams, or teams working in a multicultural context, is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either French or Arabic or Chinese (Mandarin) or Russian or Spanish is desirable.

Application instructions

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