Job Description
The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is responsible for providing leadership, operational support, and oversight of the security management system, ensuring maximum security for staff and eligible dependents, as well as enabling the safest and most efficient conduct of the programs and activities of the United Nations System.
The Security Operations Centre (SOC) is an essential component to support security management in any elevated-risk environment. The Security Management Team (SMT) in Afghanistan, based on the respective Area SRM, has approved the establishment of Security Operation Centers with appropriate Security Communication Systems as a risk mitigation tool in all security areas of Afghanistan.
The Security Communications Associate operates under the direction of the Security Communications Center Supervisor and collaborates closely with the Country SOC Supervisor. This role involves providing coordinated and supportive services to all UNSMS organizations/field missions and ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel and dependents by efficiently utilizing all means of communication, including GSM, satellite-based, and radio communications systems.
The Security Communication Associates shall also demonstrate a professional client-oriented approach, courtesy, tact, and ability to work with people and clients from diverse backgrounds.
In addition to communication matters, he/she will also be available to support the Duty Security Operations Officers of CSOC in their operational function with information and clarifications on local security issues in Afghanistan.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
The Security Communication Associate is primarily responsible for professional client-oriented approach, main contact of the communication for all UN agencies and deliver professional and technical communication within CSOC in Kabul.
- Communicating security advisories to UN agencies and staff members.
- Responding to Emergencies reported by UN agencies in the region.
- Tracking of all UN road missions coming to and going from the region.
- Conducting Security radio check for UN international staff.
- Prepare/update UN staff tracking list within Afghanistan.
- Provide support to the international Security Officer within CSOC.
- Ensure normal operation of the radio room in General and of UN compound after office hours and on holidays.
Ensure in communicating Security Advisories to UN agencies and staff members
- Broadcasts all security related information to the mission staff members via the various radio channels as directed by CSOC Supervisor/Security Duty Officer.
- Prepare security message and send it to relevant security group through bulk SMS (AWCC, Etisalat and Roshan)
- Maintains the telephone numbers and call signs of all senior security personnel, International and national Staff including UN Agencies and visitors.
- Maintains all security communication equipment assigned to the radio room.
- Ensure the radios (HF/UHV and VHF) radios are functional while broadcasting security advisory to UNSMS.
- Coordinate with regions and other UNSMS Organizations or UNAMA/UNDP sections to support SOC when required.
- Advises all radio users who stray to the security channel with matters not related to security to switch to the proper channel.
- Ensure the confidentiality of information handled by the radio room, as per the UN procedures at all times.
Responding to Emergencies reported by UN agencies in the region according to the instructions received from UNDSS/UN Security office.
- Communicate from UN CSOC with all UNSMS during emergency including security drill,
- Communicate with Security Warden during any security emergency for sending security related message to the UN staff under the area of responsibility of Warden.
- Provides necessary assistance to all UN staff and staff of other affiliated organizations who may need security assistance through radio channels or telephone.
- Maintains an updated list of all emergency contact numbers.
- Conduct head count during the emergency security situation.
- Provides communication services to all UN agencies that do not have their own radio room or operate only during office hours.
- Effectively monitor all UN networks, including TETRA HF/VHF security channels.
- Ensure that the alternate CSOC and Security Communication Center are functional, and all equipment is serviceable.
Effectively tracking of all UN field road mission coming to and going from the region
- Track UN Field Road Mission coming to and or going out from Kabul
- Communicate with regional SOCs field road mission and provide support when required.
- Report any incident occur to the field road missions, to the CSOC Supervisor or on Duty Security Operation Officer, urgently.
- Communicate with Aviation Unite movement of the UN staff and include it in the Daily Security Communication Check Report.
- Report to on Duty Security Operation Officer in case the road missions fail to repot and or face any problems on priority basis.
Conducting security radio check for UN international staff
- Conducting security radio checks for UN Agencies such as UNAMA, UNDSS
- Coordinate radio check with other UN Agencies such as, UNESCO, FAO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, UNWOMEN, UNOPS, WHO, ILO and other UN Agencies as specified by UNDSS, and prepare Staff Check Report of all UN Agencies in Afghanistan for staff accountability.
- Conducts radio checks with all Security Guards of UNOCA on duty daily.
- Monitors the various radio channels and reports all security incidents to the Security Duty Officer.
- Communicate with the Regional SOCs through HF/UHF and ensure the communication equipment are functional.
- Communicate with the UN Agencies Radio Room through Vocality and UHF channel and ensure the communication equipment are functional.
- Conduct Security Radio Check with the MOI and Police HQ on daily basis and ensure the communication equipment are functional.
Ensure normal operation of UN compound after office hour and on holiday
- Responds to all telephone calls coming into the radio room and directs the person to the appropriate section.
- Record and maintain all activities occurring during his/her shifts.
- Create and maintain familiarity with the weekly/monthly duty rosters for the various sections within the mission.
- Report any damages to any equipment assigned to the radio room and arranges for the repairs of such equipment.
- Arrange field trips to support Regional SOCs within Afghanistan.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core:
| 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, asks 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
| Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
| Security Services | Security policy awareness &
implementation |
Knowledge of security policy concepts and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations |
| Security Services | Security incident management & monitoring | Ability to provide adequate response to security incidents/events |
| Security Services | Security information management | Analytical capabilities to process diverse security information and develop recommendations |
| Business Management | Working with Evidence and Data | Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. |
| Business Management | Communication | Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. |
| Business Management | Monitoring | Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and organization performance and results. |
| Communications | Media Relations | Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages. |
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary education is required.
- University degree (bachelor’s degree) in Political Science, Military Studies, Security Management, Management, Communication or a relevant field will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.
- Applicable security, police and/or military training as well as communication training is desirable.
Experience:
- Minimum 6 years (with Secondary Education) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of substantive working experience in communications and/or security operations is required.
- Work experience with the UN or other international organizations is an added advantage.
- Demonstrated experience in operating communication equipment available in the COMSCEN, such as, HF/VHF radios, Fax machines, digital sender/scanner and Sat-phones is required.
- Solid computer skills with all MS Office applications (MS Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, etc.), as well as Adobe Photoshop is required.
- Experience in database management is highly desirable.
- Experience in diplomatic security and protection is desirable.
Language:
- Fluency in English is required,
- Fluency in Pashto and or Dari is required.