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Deadline for Applications August 12, 2026 Hardship Level E (most hardship) Family Type Non Family with Residential Location Residential location (if applicable) Nairobi (CO), Kenya Grade NOB Staff Member / Affiliate Type National Professional Officer Reason Regular > Regular Assignment Target Start Date 2026-09-01 Standard Job Description Associate Field Security Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Associate Field Security Officer coordinates and supports all activities pertaining to workforce security and security for forcibly displaced and stateless people. The duty of the incumbent is to support, develop plans and monitor the management of security issues. The incumbent is supervised by a senior officer who defines the work objectives and provides general guidance. The incumbent contacts are predominantly with other UN agencies, implementing partners and government departments on relevant subject matters at the working level. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties • Advise and support the Representative or the Head of Office in managing the safety and security of UNHCR personnel, partners, operations, premises, and forcibly displaced and stateless people. • Undertake and advise on Security Risk Management (SRM) and support in compliance with security measures and identify areas needing improvement. • Support the development of security plans for evacuation/relocation, medical evacuation, and other security contingencies. • In cooperation with UNHCR senior personnel, assist in ensuring that security measures are fully integrated into operational planning, including budgetary provisions, at the earliest stages of development. • As a member of a multi-functional team, contribute to efforts to ensure the physical protection and security of forcibly displaced and stateless people. • Establish and build relationships with security-related actors on behalf of UNHCR, including host government law enforcement authorities, the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), and partner agencies. • Support UNHCR management as members of the country Security Management Team (SMT) or Area Security Management Team (ASMT), and Area Security Coordinators (ASC). • Represent UNHCR at the Security Cell as required. • Provide country-relevant security advice and training to UNHCR personnel and, where appropriate, to personnel of NGOs and operational partners. • Conduct rehearsals and practical exercises to ensure that personnel are familiar with security contingency plans and can implement them confidently in an emergency. • Establish communication mechanisms in support of security plans, providing training to personnel, including wardens. • Prepare periodic reports on security issues in accordance with UNSMS and UNHCR standard operating procedures, sharing with managers in the country of assignment and, as appropriate, regional security coordinators and the Field Security Service. • Maintain linkages with the Psychosocial Wellbeing Section, and the Medical Service, referring cases as required. • Ensure a person-centered approach to all aspects of UNHCR security risk management, including the diverse personal profiles of personnel and the development of appropriate support and measures. • Undertake other security-related functions or responsibilities as necessitated by the operational context. • Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues, and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s). • Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education Security Management;                    Risk Management;              Political Science; International Relations;                  or other relevant field. Certificates and/or Licenses Security Management Learning Program;                     First Aid Training; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Not specified. Desirable Relevant trainings (first aid, etc.). Experience in having established working networks with law enforcement and other security actors. Functional Skills FS-Security Risk Management FS-Security Analysis FS-National Security Forces FS-National Law Enforcement Agency FS-Security Planning CO-Drafting and Documentation IT-Computer Literacy (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English . For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language . For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English . Competency Requirements All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below. Core Competencies Accountability Communication Organizational Awareness Teamwork & Collaboration Commitment to Continuous Learning Client & Result Orientation Managerial Competencies Judgement and Decision Making Managing Resources Cross-Functional Competencies Analytical Thinking Political Awareness Stakeholder Management All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. Desired Candidate Profile The candidate should have demonstrated experience working in high-risk/hardship environments and with proven experience in drafting robust and detailed security analysis drawing the information from various sources including from the communities outlining the triggers and trends and security outlook in line with the current and evolving situation and context and putting in place the mitigating measures for personnel and asset security, and the People We Serve. Experience in implementing person-centered and gender-inclusive Security Risk Management processes is key. S/He is experienced in effectively handling gender-based security incidents. S/He should have relevant trainings (first aid, Women’s Security Awareness Training (WSAT), Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments (SSAFE), and as well as conducting security trainings for staff/personnel. S/He should have demonstrated experience in establishing networks and effectively working with the host country Government security authorities, and in providing detailed and timely security reports, trends analysis, and suggested measures. The candidate should have demonstrated managerial and team management skills particularly in effectively working with security team in the unit, and protection, operations, admin and other units. The candidate should have proven coordination and interpersonal and communication skills in effectively working, internally and externally, with diverse stakeholders in managing the security and safety. Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): , , Desired languages , , Operational context Occupational Safety and Health Considerations: To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel Nature of Position: UNHCR Sub-Office Kakuma covers operational area includes Kakuma municipality including the refugee hosting areas and integrated settlements. Kakuma is located in Turkana County in the north-western region of Kenya and is about 720.4 Km from Nairobi. Kakuma municipality has a total population of around 530,000 people including over 320,000 refugees and asylum seekers from around 23 nationalities. Currently, within the progressive policies and pioneering approaches of the Kenyan Government i.e. the Shirika Plan at the national level, and the Kalobeyei Integrated Socioeconomic Development Plan (KISEDP) at county level, the UNHCR and partners are working ensuring the protection assistance and supporting socioeconomic inclusion of refugees and host communities. Besides, there are about 200 new arrivals per week to Kakuma, and all these are initially hosted in two reception centres in prior to the registration and accordingly transferred to the refugee hosting areas. Two field posts provide various services for refugees and asylum seekers. Government through the presence of national and county security teams ensures the safety and security in Kakuma municipality, including in the refugee hosting areas. The staffing of UNHCR included around 68 including 7 internationals, and all reside in UNHCR compound. Other UN agencies in Kakuma includes WFP, UNICEF, UNHABITAT, FAO, and UNDSS. While WFP has its own compound, other UN agencies are hosted at UNHCR compound. Further, there are about 63 partners, both UNHCR-funded and operational, working in Kakuma and stay in two separate compounds that were built by UNHCR. The ASMT, with UNHCR Head of Sub Office as the ASC, is responsible for security management in the SRM-1 area covering 19 counties. The overall security situation in Kakuma has been calm and while UNHCR (and or UN) operations have not been directly affected by insecurity, operations and program delivery modalities are constantly reviewed and the security posture adjusted in order to mitigate the risks. Further, the Kenya Police and a private guard company provide the security to the UNHCR compound the facilities across Kakuma Municipality. The Associate Field Security Officer, reporting to the Head of Sub Office, will supervise the Security staff. S/he will establish close working relations with all the units (e.g. protection, operations and solutions including technical sectors, supply, administration and risk management and compliance etc.) ensuring the safety and security of personnel and operations. S/He will be responsible for coordinating with the relevant Government authorities on matters related to security and safety. AFSO is expected to maintain excellent and effective working relationships with all the Partners on matters related to security and safety. S/He is responsible for providing Sub Office Senior Managem