Safety and Security Officer

LOCATION: Beirut, Lebanon

REPORTING TO: Global Safety & Security Manager 

ROLE TYPE: Full-time, Fixed Term 

CLOSING DATE: 11th July 2025

ABOUT ARK 

ARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity and hope for the future. 

We believe that strong, resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional and international development and stability – and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change. 
Learn more about our impact here:  https://www.ark.international/impact 

Purpose of the Role

The Safety and Security Officer role is a critical role within ARK’s safety and security team in Lebanon. This role is responsible for supporting the overall safety and security of ARK’s personnel, assets, sites, and project activities. It encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including conducting in-depth safety and security assessments using a gender-transformative approach and ensuring alignment with the Country Security Management Plan and ARK’s global safety and security standards.  

The role requires a strong understanding of the local and regional security context and involves providing actionable recommendations, providing security and safety training to staff, contributing to incident response planning, and supporting proactive risk mitigation. The role plays a key part in external coordination by representing ARK in relevant safety and security forums and INGO security cluster meetings. Additionally, the position involves monitoring and reporting on contextual changes, as well as reviewing existing safety and security resources.  

What you'll be doing

Safety & Security Project Implementation (50%)  

• Work with the project team to ensure coordination and compliance with the country-specific Security Management Plan, policies, and procedures.  
• Advise and oversee the day-to-day conduct of project security, ensuring preparation of adequate responses to security incidents as well as natural and manmade disasters.  
• Devise, advise and implement access procedures for offices and international residences.   
• Review weekly staff travel and movements schedules and projected travel itineraries to identify potential access, security and safety challenges or changes.   
• Send updated pre-arrival security package to visiting staff and partners, conduct on-arrival security briefings and run the dynamic risk assessment for the planned visit schedule.   
• Serve as the in-country emergency point of contact for staff visiting from the ARK regional hub or HQ.  
• Maintain proactive and frequent security and safety alerts/information to project staff in Lebanon. Update and administer the MS Teams/WA security groups and disseminate global security guidance as needed.  
• Prepare and update the evacuation and hibernation plans with the Global Safety and Security Manager.   

Incident and Crisis Management (ad hoc)  

• Initiate emergency response actions in the event of an emergency, direct or indirect threat.  
• Serve as advisor to the Incident Management Team as well as each project office Incident Response Team (IMT). 
• Coordinate all safety and security actions between ARK projects in the event of a major incident or crisis.   
• Assist in the investigation/negotiation of incidents and crisis response.   
• Document and maintain incident reporting and after-action procedures for further analysis and improvement of the security risk mitigation strategies.

Analysis (5%)  

• Regular evaluation of the situation, flag potentially dangerous situations and significant deterioration.  
• Review and advise the levels of security regarding acceptable tensions levels, precautionary measures to be adopted, and restrictions in movement, relocation, or evacuation of personnel.  
• Provide the periodical Sitreps on safety/security related crises or emergencies with impact at the country level and specific focus on ARK project areas.   
• Monitor local mainstream media, online social media platforms, run OSINT triangulation and pinpoint trends, messaging and announcements of security concerns.   
• Help identify misinformation and disinformation campaigns, advise the project team for clarification, and alert staff and partners.   

Document & Security Reporting (5%)  

• Develops, reviews, and/or edits area-specific threat/risk assessment protocols, including threat/risk assessment indicators, travel recommendations for permissive, uncertain, and hostile environments, concerning project daily activities for office and field staff.  
• Coordinate revisions of project-specific Security Situation Plan, Contingency Plans and Risk Roadmaps on a monthly and quarterly basis or more frequently as required.  
• Maintains and updates all project contingency planning material, reference documents and annexes on an annual basis.   
• Provide regular audits of security and safety procedures within project locations.  

Access Management and Actors Mapping (5%)  

• Assess and identify access barriers, profile-specific risks, and recommend mitigation measures to the project team.  
• Update and map the active actors and stakeholders, and provide guidance on local access and negotiation best practices.   
• Ensure that staff and visitors are aware of specific norms and values, and advise on positioning ARK’s security posture accordingly.   
• Coordinate contacts with local authorities, law enforcement, diplomatic/international organisations, and private security officers in close consultation with the project team.  

ARK Premises and vehicles Safety/Security Oversight (20%)  

• Monitor and review the premises’ physical protection measures to ensure that project sites’ visibility aligns with the security strategy.    
• Under the direct supervision of the project manager, review and retrieve the security camera records for analysis or investigation, with technical oversight from the GSSM.    
• Update the site safety and security checklist and implement the improvement actions and measures.   
• Frequently check the identified protection measures in the office and ensure that they are fit for purpose and maintained (ex: locks, bars, keys and spare keys, CCTV, access controls).    
• Advise and brief drivers on the safety and security standards of ARK vehicles, ensuring they are aware of safe roads and situationally aware in transport emergencies in the field.   

Occupational Health and Safety (15%)  

• Develop and update the premises safety plans, including firefighting plans, detection and protection measures. Post the emergency evacuation plans and directions in visible points.   
• Update the emergency evacuation plan and conduct evacuation drills on a frequent basis as guided by the security plan.   
• Supervise the preventive and reactive maintenance of the firefighting equipment, CO & smoke detectors. Ensure that an active maintenance service plan is in place.   
• Train staff on fire safety and fire equipment use, evacuation planning and drills with the help of the GSSM.   
• Conduct frequent occupational health and safety inspections at project premises and inform the office managers/administrators to take the appropriate corrective action.   
• Ensure that the first aid kits are allocated, checked periodically, and replenished frequently.   
• Follow up on the approved first aid and security training plans to ensure that staff are taking the mandatory and recommended training, and run exercises as needed.     
• Lead the fire warden team and ensure readiness capacity to address different health and safety emergencies.   
• Ensure that the generator/s and power backup systems are in good condition and initiate preventive maintenance and safety inspections.   

Requirements

Essential:  

• Security Risk Assessment experience in Lebanon.  
• Proficiency in safety and access management tools and digital resources such as Excel trackers, incident reporting, and security sitreps.   
• Experience implementing gender in security and awareness of individual risk profiles.   
• Experience in implementing health and safety measures on working sites and in the field.   
• Experience using MS Office and cloud resources, including SharePoint and MS Teams.   
• In-depth knowledge of the operating environment and working sites.   
• Good security network and peers across Lebanon.  
• Very good command of written and spoken English and Arabic. 

Desirable:  

• Advanced safety and security training certification (HEAT, FAST, HEFA).
• Humanisation Negotiation Certification, i.e., CCHN .
• Specific Security Certification, i.e., INSSA SRMP-C, IFRC security manager Level 3, or similar.   
• OSINT certification is highly desirable but not mandatory; the candidate’s willingness to learn and advance their knowledge is advantageous.    
• Knowledge of deconfliction systems, practices and mechanisms.   
• Aware of digital security systems use (CCTV, Radio, GPS, power backup systems).   

Benefits

Why join ARK?  

• Impactful Work: Your expertise will directly impact the lives of those in need.  
• Global Reach: Collaborate with international experts and local stakeholders.  
• Innovation: Engage in pioneering solutions for sustainable change.  
• Career Growth: Expand your horizons with varied projects and challenges.  

Our People  

Our team covers a diverse range of professional backgrounds, from diplomacy, humanitarian, development and the military, to the UN, civil society groups, multilateral organizations, journalism and the private sector.  

Smart: We think deeply about things. We’re proud of our institutional knowledge and our grounding in rigorous research, which we use to make informed decisions.   

Humble: Our work leaves little room for pride or arrogance. Our operating environment is constantly evolving, and we recognize out limitations. We believe in and rely on the education and experiences of others while remaining quick to read, invite feedback, and ask sensible questions.   

Accountable: Each of us want ARK, its partners, and beneficiaries to succeed. This means taking initiative, assuming ownership when necessary and never giving up on our beneficiaries. We are committed and accountable, to both our donors and the communities we serve.   

Collegiate: We know we are stronger together and that every contribution counts. We trust each other and always support each other.   

Outspoken: We tackle diverse challenges, and we always want to find the best solution to a problem. We aren’t afraid to share our opinions, and we want to hear those of others too.   

ARK Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. ARK Group does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. ARK Group places human dignity at the center of its development and stabilization work and is this committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK Group employees and related personnel are expected to share this commitment and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.