Background
The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) plays a central role in managing the security of the UN system. It provides leadership, operational support, and oversight of the security management system to enable all UN entities to carry out their activities and programs in a safe, effective, and efficient environment—even in the most complex contexts.
UNDSS works closely with UN agencies, funds, and programs to provide strategic and technical security advice, coordinate with local authorities, and support the creation of conditions that enable UN personnel, assets, and operations to function in the safest and most secure manner possible.
Based in Paramaribo and operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Local Security Associate (LSA) plays a vital role in enabling UN personnel in Suriname to operate in the safest possible environment. Under the overall direction of the UN Multi-country Security Adviser (SA), who is based remotely in Panama, the LSA is expected to be proactive, self-reliant, and capable of managing responsibilities independently.
The LSA supports the implementation of security risk management measures by collecting and analyzing security information, liaising with local authorities, contributing to incident response, supporting updates to security plans, and promoting staff awareness. The LSA also provides essential administrative support and fosters a client-oriented approach within UNDSS. Given the remote supervision, the role demands initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to act decisively to support UNDSS’s mission of enabling safe and effective UN operations.
Scope of Work
Under the supervision and guidance of the Multi Country Office SA, and in close cooperation with the Designated Official (DO), the LSA:
1. Assists and advices the DO in carrying out the security obligations of the UNSMS;
• Provide support to the Designated Official (DO) with the implementation of her or his duties as a DO.
• Assists the Designated Official with ad-hoc threat and risk assessments of particular events, premises or persons.
2. Collects, updates and disseminates information regarding the security situation in Suriname and the wider region if applicable;
• Liaise and coordinate, as directed by the SA, with host government security agencies, including national, provincial, and local authorities, military forces, police, NGOs, and other non-state actors in Suriname;
• Assess the security situation on the ground and ensures adequate collection, verification, and collation of security information that may be required for a proper analysis of the situation
• Assists the SA with the analysis of the collected information to provide useful Security Threat Information (STI) to the UN system in Suriname;
• Communicates information on security to the Designated Official, and if necessary to other heads of United Nations agencies, and provides host country security advice to UNDSS as required;
• Maintains regular contacts with Security Focal Points of UN agencies;
• Provide technical assistance at Security Management Team meetings.
3. Contributes to updating, maintaining and monitoring the Security Plan.
• Prepares and compiles data needed for the development and updating of the UN Security Plan
• Coordinates within Suriname the yearly review of the UN Security Plan;
• Supports actions during the implementation of the Security Plan, as required;
• Assists the Agencies, Funds and Programs (AFPs) with keeping updates staff lists.
4. Coordinates at the national level the process of the Security Risk Assessment;
• Reviews the threat events and risks for the UNSMS as contained in the SRM;
• Organizes review meetings with the Security Cell at least once per year;
• Controls if measures are still up to date and feasible.
5. Participates in security incident management;
• Notes incidents affecting UN personnel, offices, or assets in the SSIRS system;
• Promotes among UN agencies the reporting of incidents;
• Drafts security reports, including incident reports, security assessments, and quarterly reports.
6. Organizes and delivers training courses on security awareness and preparedness;
• Organize courses with external facilitators;
• Conducts training courses on security awareness and preparedness;
• Provides security orientation to newly assigned staff members;
• Conducts security briefings, as required.
7. Supports compliance with Security Risk Management Measures (SRMM);
• Monitors compliance with SRMMs in the assigned area;
• Helps UN agencies to implement SRMMs;
• Identifies new SRMMs for the SRM;
• Identifies which SRMMs are obsolete and should be replaced.
8. Assists in the preparation of UNDSS security reports;
• Compiles and prepares data needed for the development and updating of several mandatory UNDSS documents, such as the Country Briefing Notes, the Quarterly Activity reports and the Aide Memoire;
• Develops ad-hoc SRMs where needed;
• Develops any other necessary reports, such as security assessment during elections.
9. Performs other security-related tasks assigned by the SA;
• Provides support in conducting security evaluations and provides advice on security measures for the residences (Residential Security Measures - RSM) of UN staff, as well as on latest trends and threats to staff safety and security;
• Establishes and maintains warden system/calling trees and keeps update of information related to UN offices and residences;
• Administers a pass and ID system;
• Maintains liaison with commercial companies used for UN security at offices and residences, in order to ensure the effective and efficient use of the guard force;
• Assists with assessments and measures in relation to SUNO visits and special UN events.
10. Provides general administrative assistance to the MCO SA;
• Maintains routine and confidential correspondence files/documents;
• Maintains a database on contact details in relation to host country security authorities;
• Arranges appointments, receives visitors and answers queries with discretion, and takes minutes and/or notes at meetings.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement:
The Local Security Associate works under the general supervision of the Multi-country Office Security Advisor and her/his deputy based in Panama and collaborates closely with the Designated Official (DO) of Suriname.
Competencies
Core competencies
Achieve results LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think innovatively LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn continuously LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, ask for feedback.
Adapt with agility LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
Act with determination LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and partner LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
Enable diversity and inclusion LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-functional & Technical competencies
Administration and operations - Documents and record management: Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving.
Ethics - Legal Analysis and Report Writing: Ability to apply legal analysis to a diverse range of complex issues, and express themselves clearly; ability to communicate well, to all levels of staff and contractors/consultants, governments et.al.
Business Management - Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Operations: Administration, Finance, HR, Procurement, IT, Security - Physical/premises security design, implementation and management : Ability to conduct accurate premises assessments on UN facilities to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are in place. Ability to design, support the implementation and test physical security systems for UNDP premises.
Ethics - UN policy knowledge - Ethics: Knowledge and understanding of the UN staff regulations and rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity
External relations and advocacy - Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.
Legal - Managing client relations: The ability to interact with different levels of management and across different agencies and offices to obtain information, develop legal approaches and resolve issues, this skill includes liaison with counterparts and determining the best sequence in which to pursue an issue, where information, particularly for UNDP, may be across different independent UN agencies.
Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA
Minimum Education requirements
Secondary education is required ;
A university degree (Bachelor's degree) from an accredited (applied) university in Security Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, or a related field relevant to safety and security operations will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.
Applicable security, police and/or military training is desirable.
Minimum years of relevant work experience
Minimum of 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in the field of security is required.
Required skills
Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and medium knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
Possession of a valid driver’s license
Must legally be allowed to work in Suriname
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
• Experience in military or police services, private security firms, consulting companies, or corporate security departments
• Experience in risk management, crisis response, or security coordination in either public or private sector settings
• Prior experience with the UN system or an international NGO.
• Knowledge of local security context and measures in the region.
• Experience in diplomatic security and protection ;
• Knowledge of HF and VHF radio systems;
• Solid computers skills (MS Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint);
Required Language(s)
• Fluency in English and Dutch is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset, particularly Spanish.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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