Strategic Humanitarian Access & Security Advisor

International Rescue Committee; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

International Rescue Committee (IRC) is seeking an experienced Advisor to strengthen humanitarian access, safety and security in emergencies. The role collaborates with senior leaders to open, expand and sustain programs in high‑risk contexts, across IRC’s footprint, including leadership in emergency preparedness and risk management.

The Advisor will guide analysis, scenario planning, and capacity building, ensuring principled, safe operations and effective engagement with authorities and

Qualifications

• At least 8 years of non‑profit or NGO work experience within international humanitarian assistance programs with demonstrated successes in planning, organizing and managing safety and security in complex and volatile environments.
• Significant practical experience in humanitarian access, humanitarian negotiation, civil‑military coordination, security management or related competencies.
• Substantial and documented prior experience as a facilitator – the ability to develop, implement, facilitate and impart learning to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience with collaborative/inclusive development of tools, guidance and learning materials for/with practitioners.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver inclusive in‑person and remote scenario development workshops as part of wider ASAP support to frontline program teams responding to major crises, linking those scenarios relevant strategies to support the IRC to serve the worst‑affected and least‑served populations despite conflict, volatility and risk.
• Support frontline program teams to develop and track indicators for tracking crisis developments in support countries, where requested as part of wider support, and actively contribute to information sharing with IRC colleagues about key crisis developments in support countries.
• Support country leadership to develop and implement specific access and acceptance strategies, in support of the Country Director/Emergency Team Leader, ASAP and/or RSSDs to enable and safeguard principled, secure, and sustained humanitarian access to reach target populations, in line with IRC policy and international humanitarian law – these may include a wide range of access approaches including broader risk management and remote management.
• Ensure strategies include how IRC builds relationships, engages and negotiates with authorities, key power brokers, security actors, and community stakeholders, including with state and non‑state actors, to ensure IRC’s mission and activities are understood and accepted, and that staff and programs can operate safely and without disruption.
• Build and maintain an active network of humanitarian access and security staff internally and across organisations.
• Maintain currency with methods, approaches and professional developments in relevant topics, and represent IRC in relevant global fora where needed.

Job description

International Rescue Committee (IRC) is seeking an experienced Advisor to strengthen humanitarian access, safety and security in emergencies. The role collaborates with senior leaders to open, expand and sustain programs in high‑risk contexts, across IRC’s footprint, including leadership in emergency preparedness and risk management.

The Advisor will guide analysis, scenario planning, and capacity building, ensuring principled, safe operations and effective engagement with authorities and