Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS) is a homegrown Non-Governmental Organization that is officially registered in Nigeria. It was founded in 1995 with the primary goal of supporting the National Onchocerciasis Control Programme in Nigeria as CBM Onchocerciasis Control programme. Over time, HANDS has broadened its scope to encompass various initiatives aimed at improving public health, fostering development, and providing emergency services. HANDS envisions a quality life with equal opportunities in an inclusive society.
The organization collaborates with communities, government agencies, and developmental organizations to achieve its objectives. The organization is active in the FCT and multiple states across Nigeria, focusing on controlling and elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), preventing blindness, promoting disability inclusion, offering clubfoot treatment, and providing reproductive health, gender mainstreaming and emergency response services. HANDS' headquarters is situated in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
We are recruiting to
fill the position below:
Job Title: Security, Safety and Safeguarding Officer
Location: Jos, Plateau
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports to: Programme Director
Contract Duration: Contract
Travel Requirements: Involves periodic travel to HANDS' field areas of
operation
Job
Purpose
- The
Security, Safety and Safeguarding Officer (SSSO) play a key role in
ensuring the security, safety, and safeguarding of HANDS' personnel,
assets, partners, and operations.
- The
postholder provides expert advice and leadership to staff across HANDS,
particularly at the Head Office, to keep staff, partners, and programme
participants safe and well.
- Reporting
to the Programme Director, the SSSO leads on HANDS' security, safety, and
safeguarding policies and procedures; develops and delivers basic training
on these areas for staff; and maintains up-to-date security plans,
protocols, and critical incident management arrangements. The postholder
ensures HANDS remains compliant with national and international safety,
security, and safeguarding legal and donor requirements.
- In
the event of a critical incident, the SSSO provides expert advice to the
leadership team on an appropriate response and plays a key role in Crisis
Management Group (CMG) coordination and reporting.
- Working
with the Programme Director, the postholder leads on security, safety, and
safeguarding serious incident reporting and lesson-learning.
Duties
and Responsibilities
Security
and Safety:
- Provide
expert advice to staff on security plan development, incident response,
and security analysis.
- Provide
leadership to security focal points and senior management to develop and
review security plans and procedures, including contingency and
crisis-response plans, serious incident management, standard operating
procedures, and emergency communications.
- Support
staff to integrate security and safety considerations into project
planning and implementation.
- Lead
and network with other security focal points across the organisation,
providing opportunities for information and experience sharing.
- Lead
on organisational crisis preparedness and incident-response processes,
including developing emergency response plans and conducting drills or
simulations; ensure each team has a business continuity plan.
- Provide
expert advice to the leadership team and senior managers in the event of a
security incident, and provide coordination between those involved in
managing the response.
- Play
a key role in HANDS' Crisis Management Group, in coordination with the
Senior Management Team (SMT), providing advice, coordination, and action.
- Report
serious security incidents and review the organisation's incident and
crisis responses.
- Develop
and test organisational emergency communication procedures, including
supporting teams to develop and test phone trees.
- Coordinate,
and where appropriate deliver, training on security and safety issues to
HANDS staff, consultants, trustees, and partners, including ensuring
provision of Hostile Environment Individual Security Training (HEIST) to
staff located in, and travelling to, high-risk environments.
- Monitor
the reporting and data gathering of security and safety incidents, and
generate analysis and reports on trends, responses, vulnerabilities, and
lessons learned.
- Lead
on HANDS' organisational security policy, refreshing it periodically (at
least every two years) as agreed with the Programme Director.
- Understand
and apply Health & Safety compliance requirements and safety
management systems, including hazard identification, risk assessment, and
control measures, across HANDS' offices and field sites.
- Collaborate
with Human Resources to ensure the provision of post-incident personnel
well-being support.
Safeguarding:
- Stay abreast of donor and legal safeguarding requirements and
sector standards, and provide guidance to the organisation to maintain
compliance.
- Provide
expert advice to HANDS staff to develop, implement, and review
safeguarding procedures, including project and event safeguarding risk
assessments.
- Lead
the network of safeguarding focal points across HANDS, providing training
and sharing experience and information.
- Develop
and deliver, or signpost staff and trustees to, basic safeguarding
training.
- Provide
expert advice on how to investigate a safeguarding report, decide on
actions, support survivors, and report; lead safeguarding investigations
were agreed with the Programme Director, and report safeguarding incidents
to the Executive Team, Board, and donors.
- Work
with Human Resources to ensure safeguarding considerations are integrated
into recruitment, onboarding,
and performance management processes.
- Support
trustees to carry out their safeguarding governance responsibilities,
through training, regular reporting, and support in the event of an
investigation.
Other Tasks:
- Prepare
and present reports to senior management,
including the Executive Team and the Board of Trustees, on controls and
compliance activities, findings, and recommendations.
- Contribute
to organisation-wide learning and experience-sharing on security, safety, and safeguarding.
- Undertake
any other task reasonably requested by the Programme Director or line
manager.
Person
Specification
Essential
Requirements:
- Interested
candidates should possess a Bachelor's Degree
- Proven
experience in security, safety, and safeguarding management, preferably
within an NGO or a high-risk environment.
- Strong
understanding of security risk assessment and security management
principles, crisis management, and emergency response protocols.
- Strong
understanding of safeguarding principles, international standards, and
best practices in preventing and responding to abuse, exploitation, and
harm.
- Experience
providing safeguarding and/or security advice, support, and coordination.
- Familiarity
with safeguarding considerations in areas such as child protection,
gender-based violence, and vulnerable populations.
- Experience
working in fragile or conflict-affected contexts.
- Experience
managing security incidents.
- Experience
conducting safeguarding risk assessments and investigations, and managing
confidential and sensitive information.
- Experience
designing and delivering basic security, safety, or safeguarding training.
- Experience
writing and implementing organisational policies.
- Excellent
interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to engage
with staff at all levels, partners, and trustees, in diverse cultural
environments and in a trauma-sensitive manner.
- Excellent
analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex
situations and make informed decisions.
- Clear
and concise writing style, including the ability to simplify and explain
technical issues.
- Ability
to multi-task and work effectively under pressure.
- Fluency
in spoken and written English; knowledge of Hausa is an added advantage.
Desirable Requirements:
- Understanding
of Health & Safety compliance requirements and safety management
systems, including hazard identification, risk assessment, and control
measures.
Equal Opportunity:
- HANDS
is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining
an inclusive workplace.
- Women,
persons with disabilities, and qualified candidates from underrepresented
groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Selection
will be based on qualifications, competence, relevant experience, and
demonstrated suitability for the position.
Application
Closing Date
10th
September, 2026.
How
to Apply
Interested
and qualified candidates should send their Applications to: recruitment@handsnigeria.org using "Application –
Security, Safety and Safeguarding Officer – HANDS" as the subject of
mail.
Application Process:
- Submit
a current CV/Resume highlighting relevant experience in project
implementation or security and safety.
- Submit
a concise Cover Letter explaining your suitability for the position and
interest in supporting the MiracleFeet Clubfoot Programme.
Note
- Applicants
should clearly demonstrate experience with health project implementation
and security and safety.
- HANDS
do not charge applicants any fee at any stage of its recruitment process.
- Applicants
should not pay money, provide favours, or engage intermediaries in
exchange for employment.
- Only
shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- HANDS
reserves the right to conduct appropriate reference, safeguarding, and
background checks as part of its recruitment process.
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