Safety and Security Director, Ukraine Response

Save the Children International

Save the Children International is a leading global humanitarian organization that has been protecting children's rights worldwide for over 100 years. We operate in more than 100 countries, responding to emergencies, implementing innovative development programs, and advocating for children's rights on a global scale.

Our work in Ukraine began in 2014. Since then, we have significantly expanded our presence, providing support to children and families affected by war. Our key areas of focus include education, child protection, food security, social support, and advocacy to drive lasting change in children's lives.

ROLE PURPOSE:

To lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of comprehensive safety and security management frameworks across Ukraine Country Office, ensuring alignment with Save the Children's policies and standards. The role holder provides expert advice, risk assessments, and actionable information to support the safety and security of staff, programmes, assets, and the organisation's reputation, including during SCI declared emergencies.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Lead the overall safety and security strategy for Ukraine, aligned with global Safety and Security frameworks.
• Serve as the primary advisor to the Country Director and SMT on all matters involving risk, access, crisis preparedness, and critical decision-making.
• Champion a risk-managed culture that supports safe programming in frontline and high-impact areas.
• Ensure the country complies with organizational minimum standards, legal requirements, and donor expectations for duty of care.
• Develop the security component of budgets for new programmes and proposals

Context Monitoring, Analysis & Early Warning

• Maintain a real-time situational analysis of evolving military activity, political developments, humanitarian access restrictions, and regional escalation patterns.
• Liaise with Global analyst to ensure real time analysis sharing and analysis.
• Produce high-quality analytical products (weekly briefs, flash updates, advisories) tailored for operational and strategic decision-makers.
• Lead anticipatory risk analysis related to energy outages, winterization impacts, mass displacement, cyber threats, and infrastructure risks.

Safety & Security Risk Management (SSRM)

• Lead the design and update of Security Risk Assessments (SRAs), Area Security Plans, Hibernation, Evacuation & Relocation Plans (HERP).
• Oversee movement control systems, low-profile travel protocols, and robust journey management for all staff.
• Ensure site security assessments and office/residence hardening standards are upheld (safe rooms, alternative power, comms redundancy).
• Embed inclusive risk mitigation measures that account for national staff, partners, and diverse identities.

Crisis Management & Incident Response

• Serve as the technical lead for the Country Incident Management Team (IMT).
• Manage responses to missile alerts, air raids, detentions, serious road incidents, facility strikes, cyber breaches, and medical emergencies.
• Liaise with GSSA, INSO, UNDSS, humanitarian forums, and diplomatic missions during crises.
• Ensure after-action reviews are completed and lessons integrated.
• Ensure all incidents are reported on Datix are timely and high quality.

Access, Liaison & External Coordination

• Maintain strategic-level relationships with national authorities, military actors (where appropriate), local administrations, UNDSS, INSO, OSAC, NGO forums, and community stakeholders.
• Ensure operational access assessments are updated and communicated to relevant teams.
• Support safe expansion into new response areas.

Capacity Building & Staff Engagement

• Lead the professional development of safety and security teams across Ukraine.
• Provide training in:
• HEAT and personal safety (where applicable)
• Risk assessment
• Critical incident management
• Situation awareness
• Fire safety and first aid (as appropriate)
• HERP
• Coach SMT and field leaders on risk acceptance, crisis decision-making, and safe programming design.
• Strengthen a culture of proactive incident reporting and learning.

Operational Support

• Review site selection for offices, warehouses, programme locations, and staff accommodation.
• Oversee security procurement (PPE, radio equipment, tracking tools, safe room supplies).
• Ensure robust contingency and business continuity planning (BCP) aligned with frequent power outages, cyber threats, and communication disruptions.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice )

Accountability:

• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale .

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Security Management, International Relations, Humanitarian Affairs, or related discipline). A Master's degree will be considered an asset. Excellent oral and written English is essential and competency in Ukraine is desirable.
• Formal security qualification or advanced security management training
• Advanced level of understanding with the philosophy and mode of operation of NGOs
• Recommended a minimum of 10 years of progressive field-based experience in complex and insecure settings, preferably in more than one country with large teams of staff.
• Experience of incident reporting, incident mapping, collation and analysis functions, set up and execution of an incident warning system (warden system), compilation of security reports and assessments
• Exceptional proficiency in crisis leadership and decision-making under high-stress, rapidly evolving conditions.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching

Desirable :

• Knowledge of Ukraine context
• Operational experience in war / post war/ disaster affected environments with humanitarian organization
• Operational programming experience.
• Fluent in English/ basic in Ukrainian would be a plus
• Commitment to Save the Children values

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Child Safeguarding Policy:

We are committed to ensuring children's safety. Our recruitment process includes strict background checks and reflects our commitment to protecting children from harm.

Equal Opportunities

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Health and Safety:

All employees are expected to perform their duties in accordance with our global policy on harassment prevention.

In your cover letter, indicate your expected salary and English proficiency level.