We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Safety and Security Officer
Location: Abuja (FCT)
Category: Programs
Contract Duration: 2 Years (with potential for renewal)
About the Role
- Nutrition International Nigeria will support the Nigerian government in target states through implementation of the following project: "VAS for Boosting Child Survival in Northern Nigeria". The project will provide financial and technical support in the planning and delivery of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week (MNCHW) activities. It will focus on coordinating MNCHW campaigns to increase access to essential services for mothers and children, while also ensuring follow-up and post-campaign support to sustain impact. Through these efforts, we will strengthen state-level health delivery and improve community uptake of key health interventions.
- In line with Nutrition International's strategic objectives in Africa, and, in partnership with key stakeholders in Nigeria, Nutrition International is seeking a qualified Safety & Security Officer who will support the safe and effective delivery of operations by providing contextual security analysis, movement advice, incident response support and practical security risk guidance.
- The Safety & Security Officer will monitor the operating environment, assesses the impact of safety & security developments on activities, support informed decision-making and contribute to the organization's Duty of Care through timely advice, coordination and field-based security support.
- While hosted by the Country Office, the Safety & Security Officer will work collaboratively and seamlessly with the Manager, Global Safety & Security to ensure a cohesive understanding and operationalization of safety & security within the Country Office.
- This position is conditional upon receipt of funding. While the organization is proceeding with recruitment in anticipation of project implementation, appointment to the role will only be confirmed once funding has been secured. The organization reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the recruitment process if funding is not finalized.
Key Responsibilities
Risk Analysis and Context Monitoring:
- Monitor and analyse security developments in Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano and Katsina, including armed group activity, criminality, civil unrest, access constraints and local security trends.
- Identify emerging risks, movement restrictions and changes in the operating environment; provide clear recommendations to inform planning, access decisions and operational posture.
- Maintain and update incident databases, security risk analysis tools and security reporting frameworks in line with the organization's Security Management Framework.
- Produce regular security reports (e.g. weekly/monthly updates, incident summaries, analytical notes) focused on operational implications, key risks and required actions.
- Contribute to formal threat assessments and contextual analyses for ongoing and planned activities, new locations and special events.
Security Systems, Planning and Documentation:
- Draft, review and update security management documents, including security plans, SOPs, contingency plans (relocation, hibernation, lockdown), fire safety plans, movement procedures and communication trees.
- Ensure that safety & security documentation reflects operational realities, is practical and usable by field teams, and is regularly simplified where processes create unnecessary operational friction.
- Maintain proper filing, version control and sharing of safety & security documents with country, regional and headquarters security focal points for centralization and archiving.
- Support office, accommodation and site security assessments, including for new operational locations, visitor accommodation and temporary facilities.
Operational Support and Movement Advisory:
- Provide advice on staff and consultant movements, including route selection, timings, communications, travel restrictions, contingency measures and security considerations.
- Monitor conditions affecting travel and access (security incidents, road conditions, checkpoints, local restrictions) and adjust movement guidance accordingly.
- Ensure appropriate communication procedures, contact lists and movement tracking systems are in place and consistently applied for staff.
- Conduct field security assessments and audits in offices, accommodation and project locations across the five states, providing practical security risk mitigation advice to teams.
- Support logistics and administration to ensure readiness of security-related assets (vehicles, communications equipment, guard services, access control, etc.).
Incident Management and Emergency Preparedness:
- Support immediate response to security incidents, including information gathering, coordination, and disciplined escalation in line with organizational protocols.
- Ensure timely incident reporting, documentation and follow-up, including lessons learned and corrective actions.
- Contribute to the development, testing and review of contingency plans covering medical emergencies, critical incidents, evacuation, relocation, lockdown and hibernation.
Briefings, Awareness and Capacity Support:
- Deliver clear, context-specific security briefings and inductions for new staff, visitors, consultants and partners.
- Provide refresher coaching on security procedures, movement protocols, incident reporting and personal security measures.
- Promote situational awareness and practical risk ownership among staff, tailoring messaging to behavioural patterns, access sensitivities and community dynamics in the operating environment.
Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination:
- Maintain a collaborative working relationship with the Country Office Safety & Security Focal Point.
- Maintain working-level relationships with relevant security counterparts, such as UN/INGO security coordination forums, local authorities, community actors and other stakeholders, in line with organizational protocols.
- Provide insight into formal and informal local power structures, access constraints and community dynamics that may affect security posture and program delivery.
- Coordinate with partner security teams and internal teams (programs, facilities and procurement, HR, IT) during movements, incidents and operational planning.
- Participate in internal security meetings, providing up-to-date context analysis and practical recommendations to inform management decisions.
Compliance, Monitoring and Oversight:
- Monitor compliance with organizational safety and security policies, movement rules, office/site security requirements and Duty of Care standards.
- Support monitoring and audit processes for security risk management and follow up on action plans to address identified gaps
Requirements
Educational Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in a security, humanitarian, development or discipline related field, or four (4) years of paid work experience in the same field in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
Experience:
- 5+ years' experience in security, access, security risk advisory or operational support roles in complex, fragile or conflict-affected environments.
- Demonstrated experience in contextual security risk assessments, incident reporting, and coordination of responses to security emergencies.
- Previous experience with an INGO, humanitarian agency or development organization is strongly preferred.
- Experience supporting movement planning and security coordination in environments affected by armed violence, access restrictions, civil unrest or kidnapping risk is desirable
- Demonstrated ability to conduct structured security risk assessments, maintain incident records, and support first-hour incident response, escalation and After-Action Reviews.
- Strong skills in analysing political, social and conflict dynamics in northern Nigeria and translating them into clear, practical guidance for movement, access and program planning.
- Proven capacity to draft, update and operationalise security plans, SOPs and contingency procedures, ensuring documentation is practical, field-focused and regularly reviewed.
- Experience planning and advising on safe staff and vehicle movements (routes, timings, communications, tracking) in high-risk or access-constrained environments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce concise security reports and deliver engaging briefings to diverse audiences.
- Ability to build and maintain professional relationships with authorities, security actors, coordination forums, community leaders and partners to support safe access and incident response.
- Strong commitment to applying organizational security policies, maintaining personal resilience in demanding contexts, and integrating cultural/gender sensitivity into security practice
Language Skills:
- Superior communication skills (verbal and written).
- Fluent written and spoken English essential. Knowledge of Hausa and the local language is an added advantage.
Working Conditions:
- In Nigeria, Nutrition International operates across Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano and Katsina, where insecurity, criminality, communal tensions and road safety concerns can affect movement, access and program delivery. As such, the position requires regular travel within Nigeria, including to remote and high-risk locations where access may be constrained by security conditions, infrastructure limitations or operational needs. The role requires flexibility to work irregular hours and provide support in emergency situations, including evenings, weekends and public holidays, during periods of elevated risk or critical incidents.
Benefits
- A competitive market pay, health benefits, pension plan, flexible work hours, vacation, support for learning and development opportunities and health and wellness.
- We offer a collaborative and engaging work environment.
Application Closing Date
21st August, 2026.
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
Important Information and Notice
- Nutrition International upholds a zero-tolerance policy on safeguarding concerns and sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH).
- Following the principles of the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, reference checks will include safeguarding verifications with previous employers.
- By applying to this position, candidates acknowledge and consent to these reference checks being conducted with previous employers.
- Please note that all our offers are conditional subject to appropriate screening checks and satisfactory reference checks.
- This position is open to Nigerian nationals only
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.