Health, Safety, and Security (HSS) Coordinator/Менеджер_ка з безпеки

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) is a German non-government organization (NGO) that renders humanitarian aid in 31 countries with 13 offices across the world. DKH supports people who are affected by crisis related to natural hazards, war, and displacement and focuses on locally led responses by working in collaboration with a global network of partner organizations. Fostering localized humanitarian action and a long-term equal partnership approach lies at the very core of our work. Continuously striving to facilitate mutual learning and capacity exchange, DKH aims to identify innovative and customized programmatic approaches and cooperation models. The organization actively seeks to shift power to local partners and communities through the transfer of decision-making opportunities to directly address their own priorities. DKH is part of the Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development (EWDE) based in Berlin, Germany.

The Health, Safety, and Security (HSS) Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of DKH Ukraine’s staff, assets, and operations. Reporting directly to the Country Representative and has an administrative reporting line to the Senior Operations Manager, the HSS Coordinator plays a critical role in integrating health, safety, and security measures into all aspects of the organization’s work. This position is tasked with developing, implementing, and monitoring comprehensive HSS plans, including evacuation and contingency procedures, to mitigate risks and respond effectively to emergencies. The HSS Coordinator collaborates closely with the Senior Management Team, program staff, and partner organizations to ensure compliance with security protocols, while also delivering training and capacity-building activities to enhance safety and security knowledge within the organization. The ultimate goal of this role is to protect DKH Ukraine personnel and operations, ensuring that all humanitarian efforts are carried out in a safe, secure, and effective manner.

DUTIES & RESPONSABILITIES: 

• Lead and oversee health, safety, and security (HSS) processes across DKH Ukraine to ensure a safe operational environment, mitigate risks, and strengthen organizational resilience.
• Develop and implement Health Safety and Security (HSS) plans, including evacuation procedures and contingency plans, plans to support employees’ mental health and Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) specific to the country context and in line with DKH HSS organizational standards to ensure preparedness for emergencies
• Ensure the safety and security of infrastructure for all DKH offices, installations, and other premises are in place to maintain a secure and operational environment, ultimately safeguarding both assets and personnel.
• Monitor and analyze the context (overall security situation, risks, and most likely scenarios) for ensuring reliable security information as basis for informed decision-making. 
• Ensure that HSS standards are uphold at all time and that corrective measures are implemented when weaknesses are identified.
• Supervise staff compliance with the HSS plan, and ensure HSS-related training to keep staff “fit for work” in accordance with the DKH HSS minimum training requirements: first aid, safe fire, and evacuation drills, communication and field equipment, security seminars, etc.
• Implement workplace safety measures to ensure the dissemination of safety protocols, compliance with legal requirements, and the promotion of employee well-being.
• Provide Country Representative and Senior Managment Team with strategic advice regarding all relevant HSS issues based on changes to the context, by conducting risk assessments and safety audits in both field and office environments to identify hazards and implement mitigation strategies.
• Network, communicate and cooperate with relevant external HSS actors and pursue and develop relationships with a variety of stakeholders to increase and maintain humanitarian access.
• Close collaboration with program team to ensure that the relevant mitigation measures are in place in the field and within operational processes to reduce risks to an acceptable level
• Close collaboration with Capacity Building Coordinator ensuring DKH ’s partners have solid HSS management system in place also conducting capacity building activities.
• Represent the organization in external forums and meetings related to health, safety, and security in Ukraine for enhancing the effectiveness and safety of organization`s operations, ensuring that organization`s remains well-informed, compliant, and collaborative in addressing health, safety, and security challenges.
• Lead organization-wide risk management by conducting safety audits, travel risk assessments, and maintaining security infrastructure, implementing mitigation strategies to ensure a safe operational environment for staff and visitors.
• Manage HSS protocols and emergency preparedness by overseeing visitor processing, staff onboarding, and regular security briefings, while ensuring that all personnel are familiar with security procedures, emergency protocols, and workplace safety regulations.
• Oversee incident reporting and security documentation by tracking security events, maintaining detailed records, and providing regular risk analysis and updates to senior leadership to enable informed decision-making.
• Ensure the maintenance and functionality of security systems and equipment by supervising the upkeep of fire safety mechanisms, first aid supplies, evacuation tools, and access control systems to enhance workplace security.
• Design and implement HSS capacity-building programs by delivering training sessions, facilitating ongoing learning initiatives, and organizing basic on-site safety training in line with DKH standards.

TARGET SKILLS PROFILE

• Strong foundation in security management practices, with practical understanding of humanitarian assistance contexts, with an excellent understanding of humanitarian and other key principles of international NGOs.
•  Experience in working in fast changing contexts of sensitive political nature while remaining organized, detail oriented, and able to work under pressure with minimal supervision
• Experience in risks management for implementing partners and remote management.
• Sound knowledge of and skills in security procedures, analysis of incidents and trends in local and regional security context, assessment and mitigation of risk
• Experience in overseeing the installation, maintenance, and functionality of safety and security systems, including surveillance, access controls, and emergency equipment
• Comprehensive knowledge of security procedures, incident analysis, and the ability to assess and mitigate risks in complex humanitarian contexts.
• Expertise in identifying potential risks, conducting thorough risk assessments, and executing measures to mitigate identified threats.
• Demonstrated ability in communicating in a professional way with stakeholders in a politically and culturally sensitive environment
• Strong communication skills for effectively conveying safety protocols, coordinating with teams, and providing clear instructions during emergencies
• Proven skills in liaising with internal teams, external partners, and local authorities
• Established competence in communicating across diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds
• Skilled in effectively managing and responding to emergencies, including coordinating response efforts and implementing contingency plans.
• Proven track record in ensuring adherence to legal, regulatory, and organizational safety and security standards and protocols.
• Strong capability to design and conduct training sessions and safety drills, ensuring staff are well-prepared and knowledgeable about safety procedures.
• Established competence managing and allocating resources effectively to support safety and security initiatives and address any issues that arise.
• Demonstrated ability to gather, structure, and convey information and concepts effectively through written and verbal communication, adapting style and content for different audiences.

• TARGETED SPEZIALIZED KNOWLEDGE
• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Economic, Management and administration, or a related field, Master’s degree preferred. A certification in Health, Safety, and Security (HSS) is required, and specialized training is preferred
• Professional proficiency in English (written/spoken) and Ukrainian is required.

What We Offer:
We are pleased to offer you the following benefits as part of your employment with our organization:

• 30 calendar days of vacation per year.
•  Medical insurance, life insurance, and military risk insurance after the successful completion of the probation period.
• Paid Sick Leave in case of illness.
• A hybrid work schedule to support a healthy work-life balance.
• Opportunities for training and skill development.
• Individual supervision sessions to support your professional growth and well-being.
•  Team-building events to foster collaboration and a positive work environment.

DKH is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful working environment for all. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic. We value diversity and strongly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three professional references to  [email protected]. Please be informed that only candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted and invited for an interview. We appreciate your understanding and thank all applicants for their interest in joining our team. 

Please note that this is an urgent recruitment. DKH Ukraine therefore reserves the right to close this vacancy as soon as a suitable candidate is identified.