Security Manager

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover — providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again.

Іn March 2022, ZOA started an emergency program in Ukraine for Internally Displaced Persons, in Zakarpattia Oblast, providing Multi-Purpose Cash assistance. Currently, ZOA operates in northern Ukraine (Chernihiv and Sumy regions) and southern Ukraine (Mykolaiv and Kherson regions), providing cash assistance to affected and vulnerable populations in the Shelter and Livelihood Sectors, as well as Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance.

You can learn more about us on our website https://www.zoa-international.com/ukraine

Objective of the position

To support the Country Director and wider Country Management Team to effectively manage the security of ZOA staff, assets and reputation.

Main activities

Assessments

• Conduct security risk assessments of all ZOA locations in country
• Work closely with the CD/PGMs in assessments of new areas of operation
• Regular update local security plans based on proactive assessments

Management

• Manage technical resources available and maintain communication (HF/VHF radios, Thuraya’s) and security equipment in good functioning condition
• Set up and managing of security budget
• Managing security focal points in field offices

Implementation

• Ensure appropriate security awareness is maintained throughout the Country Programme
• Support the day to day implementation of Security Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Ensure all bases have the necessary safety equipment and supplies, including travel safety items.
• Responsible for ensuring staff tracking during travels

Information & Communication

• Maintain high level of contextual awareness in the areas of operations and support programme teams in coordination at the community level.
• Gather information, follow up, report and analyse security-related issues
• Inform country management team on areas of security concern and suggestions for improvement and mitigating measures
• Support management team with writing of security updates, revisions of security documents, the ZOA Local Security Plan and the security risk assessment tool
• Provide cultural and security briefings and debriefings to ZOA staff visiting the country programme
• Actively propagates the neutrality of the organisation and advices on improving the reputation of ZOA.

Coordination

• Develop/ maintain relationships with information sources, authorities and other necessary stakeholders while maintaining neutrality
• Participate in interagency networking around security
• Share information with staff
• Support the country management in identifying security learning and development needs of staff
• Support the country management team during security incidents

Geographical Focus and Contextualised Expertise

• The Security Manager will ensure that all security plans and policies are built on in-depth knowledge of the local context, and will ensure that her/his team is divided by geographical expertise

Knowledge, competencies, and skills

Competencies

• Ability to analyse security reports in order to inform the management and guide security decision processes
• Ability to influence behaviour of staff members in making the right security decisions
• Communicating and enforcing security protocols within the teams
• Ability to maintain neutrality when dealing with different stakeholders

Knowledge and experience

• Senior field-based experience in security management in complex and insecure settings required, preferably a conflict environment
• Experience in security management with or for humanitarian NGOs in Ukraine required
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian (with an understanding of Russian) required

Relevant educational background

• An understanding of the philosophy and mode of operation of NGOs

Skills

Good verbal and written communication skills

• Experience with incident reporting, incident mapping, information collection, collation and analysis functions, compilation of security reports and assessments
• Experience in liaising with civilian, police and military, government and non-State authorities, as well as with regional, national and international institutions
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Capacity to effectively provide trainings to national staff

Attitude

• The candidate is expected to fully support the vision and mission of ZOA
• Flexible attitude, yet result oriented
• Ability to cope with stress

Please submit your CV and motivation letter in English before the 13th of February 2026.