Regional Safety & Security Director (Asia)

Regional Safety & Security Director (Asia) | IRC - International Rescue Committee

Regional Safety & Security Director (Asia)

IRC - International Rescue Committee Nairobi, Bangkok International Senior level Speaks English

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Summary by Impactpool

The Regional Safety and Security Director (RSSD) for Asia provides strategic leadership for safety, security, and humanitarian access across the region. They implement a comprehensive strategy to mitigate risks, safeguard staff, and ensure continuity of operations in high-risk environments. The RSSD serves as a principal advisor, integrating gender-inclusive security risk analysis into all aspects of IRC’s work. They also mentor IRC staff and leaders to enhance operational effectiveness and reach underserved populations.

Candidate Requirements:

10 years' experience in international humanitarian assistance

Prior experience in Asia preferred

Fluency in English

Grounding in humanitarian principles and gender-sensitive security management

Skilled at influencing and building relationships

Ability to transfer knowledge through mentoring

Strong analytical skills for security dynamics

Willingness to travel up to 40%

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future. The Asia Region supports effective, efficient, and high-quality programming by strengthening capacity around client outcomes, program quality, strategic positioning, and business development. It addresses overlapping humanitarian and development challenges – conflict, governance, and environmental issues – through integrated, impactful approaches.   The region prioritizes cross-learning, innovation, and harmonized technical strategies, especially in high-need areas. It ensures continuity of care and coordinated service delivery for clients on the move and the host population, while advancing strategic donor engagement through cohesive fundraising and regional collaboration.   The region responds swiftly to country program needs, filling critical gaps and navigating access constraints, emergencies, and security shifts. It amplifies client and frontline voices to inform global advocacy and fosters strong team cohesion to enhance program delivery. Asia focuses on cost-efficient and adaptive approaches to the evolving humanitarian and donor landscape, with a clear focus on resourcing country programs.   The Asia region operates country programs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Myanmar, with a presence in Malaysia. Position Summary The Regional Safety and Security Director (RSSD) for Asia provides strategic leadership for safety, security, and humanitarian access across the region. They set and drive the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to anticipate, analyze, and mitigate risks, safeguard staff and assets, enable principled humanitarian access, and ensure continuity of operations and programs in complex and high-risk environments. Serving as the principal advisor to the Regional Vice President (RVP) and a member of both the regional management team and IRC’s global safety and security (S&S) team, the RSSD brings expertise in geo-political awareness and analyses, security risk management, humanitarian access, and community engagement. They integrate gender-inclusive security risk analysis into strategic, operational, programmatic, and partnership decisions, ensuring that security considerations are embedded in all aspects of IRC’s work. Reporting jointly to the RVP and the Senior Director for Safety and Security (SDSS), the RSSD operates with significant autonomy and influence. They ensure that each country program has robust, context-appropriate protocols, systems, and capacities in place to address unique threats and challenges, while remaining agile to adapt to shifting environments. The RSSD maintains in-depth knowledge of geo-political and security dynamics across all Asia countries, monitors early warning indicators, and deploys regularly, including at short notice, to support teams on the ground. They play a central role in mentoring and building the capabilities of IRC staff and leaders to operate safely and effectively, thereby strengthening IRC’s ability to reach and serve the most affected and underserved populations.

Responsibilities Security Risk Management

• Lead and supervise the identification, analysis, and mitigation of S&S risks across the region, ensuring alignment with IRC’s global standards.

• Guide and support Country Directors and field leaders to adapt and implement context-specific security risk management strategies ensuring proactive risk identification, mitigation, and emergency preparedness.

• Review, monitor, and encourage compliance with the Security Minimum Standards (SMS) in all country programs providing follow-up and technical guidance where gaps are identified.

• Drive and champion the development, adaptation, and roll-out of global and regional initiatives on duty of care and safeguarding, embedding these into operational culture and practice.

• Shape and strengthen safety and security policies, procedures, and practices that fully integrate Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) principles as well as Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) commitments.

• Extend IRC’s security capacity to partners, ensuring they receive tailored risk management support, access to systems, and benefit from IRC’s standards relevant to their operational contexts.

• Build and maintain an active network of IRC security focal points across country programs and cultivate strong external relationships with professional

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