Job offer : Safety and Security Assistant

Statement of Work

Position Title: Safety and Security Assistant (SSA) 

Supervisor: Safety and Security Manager (SSM)

Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon

About Peace Corps Cameroon

Peace Corps is an autonomous, international agency of the United States Government with operations in more than 60 countries. The mission of Peace Corps is to promote international peace, friendship, and sustainable development by providing trained men and women, Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), to serve in countries that have requested assistance. Peace Corps started operating in Cameroon by the invitation of the Government of Cameroon in 1962. Peace Corps/Cameroon has a memoranda of understanding with the Ministries of Health, Education and Agriculture that outlines broad areas of agreement of cooperation regarding the work of PCVs in the country. Volunteers are assigned to government and non-government agencies and organizations, community-based organizations, health institutions, and schools who partner to enable Volunteers to provide capacity building in education and community health while building cultural understanding between Americans and Cameroonians.

Objective of the Position

The role of the Safety and Security Assistant is to provide support to staff post to ensure the safety and security of Peace Corps Cameroon Volunteers. A key component of ensuring Volunteer safety and security is coordinating the implementation.

The primary responsibilities of this position are ensuring security-related files are kept up-to-date; maintaining the whereabouts reporting system; assisting in the analysis and reporting of security incidents; preparing reports, training materials, and other resource materials; coordinating the implementation of the “Site Management Standards and Guidelines for the Africa Region”; and maintaining up-to-date contact information for local and national police, transportation, and consolidation points.

In addition, the SSA will act as the back-up to the Safety and Security Manager (SSM). The Office of Safety and Security provides technical oversight of security related. The SSA reports to the SSM who manages day to day workload. When the SSM is unavailable, the SSA may also be the contact point with the Peace Corps Safety and Security Officer (PCSSO), Regional Security Advisor (RSA), Embassy security officials, and local law enforcement agencies in carrying out the responsibilities designated below or as directed by the Country Director (CD). Technical review, evaluation and training can be conducted by the SSM and the PCSSO.

Salary: Range 10,276,584 - 17,984,019 CFA basic salary.

Application opens: December 12, 2023 Application closes: January 01, 2024

Supervisory role: No

Major Duties and Responsibilities (Critical Job Elements)

1- Supports and Verifies Safety and Security Policy Implementation: In coordination with the SSM, provides administrative support and verification that adequate systems are functioning to support Volunteer safety and security in accordance with Peace Corps Manual Section (MS) 270, Volunteer/Trainee Safety and Security. This should include, but is not limited to:

• Edits and updates safety and security information in the Volunteer Information Database (VIDA) and generates reports upon request.
• Collaborates with the SSM to monitor and update site history data. Assists in ensuring prompt recording of security-related data in site history files.
• Verifies that all site locator forms are accurate and documented in VIDA.
• Ensures that all Volunteer sites and houses have been properly evaluated for safety and security criteria and documentation is on file.
• Understands Volunteer whereabouts system and assists with maintaining information as needed.
• Assists SSM and CD to ensure critical PCSSO recommendations are implemented appropriately and deadlines are met. Works with the SSM to provide regular updates on implementation progress and/or challenges to the CD and the PCSSO.

2. Safety and Security Training:

• Assists with the development of training materials for safety and security related sessions during events such as Pre-Service Training (PST), In-Service Trainings (IST), Close of Service (COS) conferences and Warden Trainings. b. Co-facilitates training sessions with the SSM as directed by the SSM or the CD. May be required to facilitate training sessions in lieu of the SSM if he/she is unavailable.

3. Assists with the Support of Homestays and Site Identification:

•  Participates in the delivery of safety information to home-stay families during their pre-PST orientation. b. Accompanies the SSM on site visits as needed.
• As requested, assists with Volunteer housing inspections and approvals prior to occupancy as per Post’s policies and procedures.
• Ensures that GPS coordinates are maintained in VIDA for Volunteer sites, consolidation points, and other relevant locations.
• Supports the SSM in mapping Volunteer sites and consolidation points.

4. Incident Reporting and Response:

• Upon SSM’s request, provides Volunteer support after crime incidents, such as police follow-up, preparation of reports, accompanying Volunteers to their sites, etc.
• For sexual assaults – May serve as part of the designated staff at Post in the absence of the SSM. In that role, manages the security and non-medical follow-up for Volunteer incidents of sexual assault, including but not limited to:
• Assuring that the Volunteer or other Volunteers are safe from imminent or serious threat and taking immediate action to remove victim or others if a serious or imminent threat exists.

ii. Communicating with the Assigned Security Specialist for guidance when required and according to the notification protocol. iii. Protecting the confidentiality of information surrounding the sexual assault. iv. Coordinates with the Office of General Counsel on the hiring of an attorney to advise a Volunteer on the legal process (when necessary).

v. Conduct post-incident assessment to identify any ongoing threats or security concerns and mitigation strategies. vi. Participates in agency Coordinated Incident Response System (CARS) calls when needed. vii. Makes logistical arrangements for Volunteers (e.g. hotel or travel arrangements). viii. Assists in developing a safety plan in collaboration with the Assigned Security Specialist and the Victim Advocate.

c. For all incidents – Assists the SSM to ensure that reportable incidents are communicated to the CD in accordance with policies and procedures; assists the SSM in completing incident reports in the Consolidated Incident Reporting System (CIRS) per the Consolidated Incident Reporting Guidelines. d. Supports the SSM by entering information as needed in site history files.

5. Emergency Preparedness:

•  In collaboration with the SSM, assists the CD and senior staff at Post during an emergency situation.
• Assists the SSM in the training and testing of Post’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
• Reviews Post specific office emergency and security plan.
• Assists SSM on developing and revising policy documents, such as EAPs and Transportation Policies.
• Has a working knowledge of security equipment such as satellite phones, radios and other emergency devices and assists the SSM in periodic tests of those devices.

6. Analysis, Reports and Other Communication:

• Assists the SSM in maintaining post-crime statistics and analyzing trends.
• Prepares reports and resource materials for SSM.
• Becomes familiar with and assists the PCSSO and the SSM with updates to the Legal Environment Survey.
• Organizes safety and security resources such as manuals, handbooks, leaflets, pamphlets, slides, videos, and memos and makes their contents and Peace Corps policies known to staff and Volunteers.
• Helps maintain legible and orderly system for collecting, compiling, filing and disseminating pertinent safety and security information to be made accessible to appropriate Post staff and Volunteers as required, including, but not limited to:
• Travel warnings and policies (including Post travel/transportation policies) ii. Safety and security information for visiting PCVs iii. Notices to staff and Volunteers about security concerns

7. Represents the Safety and Security Program:

• Participates in staff meetings (both general staff meetings and senior staff meetings at the discretion of the CD), discussions and activities, and makes recommendations for changes in program policy and procedures as they relate to Volunteer safety and security.
• Has knowledge of Embassy security staff and local law enforcement resources in order to obtain updates and information on emergency/security issues at Post. Represents the Post at regularly scheduled safety and security external meetings as needed.
• Acts as a Duty Officer: Performs the responsibilities of a duty officer when scheduled as a part of the Post’s duty officer program rotation. Maintains and updates the duty officer binder as needed.
• Provides Back-Up Coverage for the SSM: Stands in as the Acting SSM when the SSM is out of the office and unavailable (i.e. on annual leave, sick leave or official travel) or there is a vacancy in the SSM position.
• Other Duties as Assigned: May perform other safety and security duties as assigned by the CD.

 COVID-19 and Other Flexibilities: If there is a time at post, due to the COVID-19 pandemic or for any other reason, when there are limited or no Peace Corps Trainees and/or Volunteers (jointly referred to as “Volunteers”) at Peace Corps/Cameroon, the PSC may be temporarily assigned during that period, as determined by the Peace Corps Country Director, to carry out additional duties and responsibilities in furtherance of the goals of the Peace Corps in order to enhance the ability of Peace Corps Volunteers to perform functions under the Peace Corps Act, including facilitating a safe environment in order for the successful return or increase of Volunteers.

This temporary assignment may require the PSC to provide services and/or support beyond what is listed in their current Statement of Work (SOW). The services and/or support may take many forms, examples of which may include but are not limited to, training, providing administrative, technical, medical, and/or operational assistance, building on host country programs, etc. This temporary assignment also may require the PSC to provide these services and/or support to individuals/organizations other than those listed in their current SOW such as host country government, partner organization(s), community member(s), staff, and/or contractors.

Occasional Money Holder

The PSC may be required to courier cash and/or purchase orders to various vendors who furnish supplies and/or services to PST/IST training site, or other locations as directed by the Contracting Officer. The PSC may also be required to courier cash to PC trainees or volunteers. The PSC will not be functioning as a procurement or disbursing official but will only be acting as an intermediary between the Contracting or Disbursing Officer and the recipient. In the case of dealing with vendors, the PSC will not exercise any procurement discretion concerning the supplies or services to be purchased or the cost limits of these purchases; these will be determined by the Contracting Officer.

 Other Duties as Assigned: May perform other safety and security duties as assigned by the SSM or CD.

Minimum Requirements

In order to be selected for this position, the applicant must be legally eligible to work in Cameroon, must not have been employed in intelligence-related activities and must submit an application that clearly documents how they meet each of the following requirements:

• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with other organizations, including local law enforcement, criminal justice, emergency management and other NGO/development agencies;
• Ability to analyze crime trends and other risks and propose mitigation strategies;
• Demonstrated organizational and communication skills;
• Demonstrated English and French proficiency, both written and oral;
• Ability to work with Microsoft Office Suite, and other basic computer knowledge; Ability to conduct training and give presentations, in both English and French;
• University degree, preferably in law, forensic investigation or relevant field. Proven quality of 3 years of relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of education.
• Additional preferred qualifications such as experience with Peace Corps, safety and security programs or law enforcement.

Application instructions

Submit the following in MS Word or PDF:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Three professional references
• Telephone number where you can be reached.

Peace Corps Cameroon does not accept documents saved on any cloud format including Google. The file size should not exceed 8MB.

Submit your application to the following email address: CM-HR@peacecorps.gov and include Safety and Security Assistant in the subject line.

No telephone calls or personal visits please. Only the documents listed in the application instructions should be submitted including your telephone number by January 1, 2024. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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