Regional Security & Technical Operations Advisor - Asia

Focus of the Role

We don’t just talk, we do. Lead the change with us.

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, we work with political leaders around the world to drive change. We help governments turn bold ideas into reality so they can deliver for their people. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. And by sharing what we learn on the ground, so everyone can benefit. We do it to build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere. 

We are a global team of nearly 800 changemakers, operating in more than 30 countries, across five continents. We are political strategists, policy experts, delivery practitioners, technology specialists and more. We speak more than 45 languages. We are working on over 100 projects, tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’re all here at TBI to make a difference. 

In a world of ever more complex challenges, we believe diversity of background and perspective is a strength. We pride ourselves on a culture that values and nurtures difference. We are dedicated to unlocking potential, not only for the countries we work in but also for each of our team members. No matter where you’re from or who you are, if you’re passionate about the transformative power of progressive politics, we invite you to build a better future with us.

Job Introduction

TBI continues to grow its work globally. As a result of this growth, we are searching for an outstanding candidate to provide effective and efficient support to the TBI teams across Asia region to ensure smooth administrative and operational delivery. This includes operational and security support and advisory to TBI management and staff across the region.

The Asia region is seeing significant growth and therefore the postholder should be proactive, be able to work with autonomy with a keen attention to detail to ensure that our programmes are operationally efficient, our people are safe, and we continue to enable the growth of the Institute within their region.

This role reports to the Head of Middle East North Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia Security, Resilience and Technical Operations and will be part of the Security, Resilience and Technical Operations (SRT) team and works closely with Country Directors (CDs), Regional Directors (RDs) and Operation Assistants. The postholder will deliver excellent operational, safety and security support to our people and work closely with our teams on the ground.

This role will also work alongside multiple functions and teams within TBI, and therefore must remain agile to the changing nature of new country start-ups. Due to the diversity of the region, the postholder should demonstrate a strong understanding of holistic risk management and be willing to work and travel to conflict and post conflict affected states.

We will consider supporting relocation for the successful candidate.

Key Responsibilities

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­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­The Regional Security and Technical Operations Advisor is either directly responsible for implementing the tasks below or provides oversight of staff and departments that perform these functions.

Core Areas

• Support RDs and country teams to anticipate and address operational and security issues and proactively identify effective solutions, in coordination with all relevant International Operations (IO) teams
• Deputised as needed for the Head of Middle East North Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia Security, Resilience and Technical Operations
• Act as Duty Officer as part of the SRT team roster to ensure that the TBI Global Emergency Number is appropriately staffed
• Conduct country visits to quality assure teams on behalf of IO and Asia senior management, drafting clear Terms of Reference (ToR) and visit notes including corrective action plans, within two weeks of each country visit.
• Support country teams across the region to problem solving operational issues, as they arise. Work with the SRT team to create solutions, and where required, work on policy and protocols to enable the continuous improvement of operations.
• When necessary and requested, lead on the context analysis of new countries, conducting remote research and analysis of the political, economic, social and cultural, legal, financial security environment to inform and enable key decisions to be made when TBI is scoping new areas / countries of operation. Work with senior members of the SRT team to agree appropriate resourcing to address new programme start up workloads.
• Work seamlessly with IO to ensure that country teams are appropriately supported, and the requests of country teams are sensible, pragmatic and work for all departments
• In conjunction with IO teams, support the design and delivery of security and operational training, including first aid, in-country inductions and health and safety
• Proactively build operations and risk management knowledge through self-learning and pro-activeness, expanding subject matter expertise in technical specialisms such as duty of care, fleet management, geographic information systems, information management, digital security, health and safety and crisis management
• Clearly brief CDs and other relevant stakeholders on their duty of care, risk management and operations responsibilities

Security

• Act as the lead for safety and security services and support for the region
• Ensure local security networks are engaged in the region, where possible joining official and unofficial security forums and engaging with NGOs and corporate security focal points
• Work with the Operations Assistants and CDs in the region to ensure that each country has an up to date and quality assured Essential Security Package (ESP). Support country teams develop Incident Management Team (IMT) structures. Conduct in country IMT testing and deliver real time IMT support. In times of crisis, be prepared to deploy at short notice to support country teams.
• Draft and deliver ESP’s for country programmes during new country start up, ensuring the package is effectively handed over to appropriate staff member
• Draft clear and concise tailored Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for country teams when required or when risks are above medium in the country risk register
• Proactively monitor and analyse country contexts, sending operational and security updates to the relevant teams, including CDs, RDs, and the SRT
• Review country risk registers at least monthly, highlighting recommendations to CDs and RDs. When visiting country teams, fully review the country risk register and check that mitigations are fully implemented.
• Monitor the security situation in locations of significance to the Institute and communicate relevant information to stakeholders
• Work closely with all IO teams to ensure an integrated approach to security risk management
• Work with country teams to ensure that safety and security is accurately budgeted, including office physical security, health and safety minimum requirements, medical kits and relevant training
• Lead on ensuring that events within their region are fully compliant with safety and security policies, oversee or carry out event risk assessments and mitigations

Resilience

• Build the capacity of Operations Assistants within the region to manage safety and security in offices and staff accommodation
• Assist in the development and delivery of internal operational risk management training programmes
• Work with IO to share knowledge and understanding of the operating environments in the region, flagging priority areas and setting realistic expectations between country teams and the centre
• Support the delivery of operations and security training across project teams. Build the skills to train and mentor Operations Assistants.
• Lead the induction programme for new Operations Assistants in the region
• Act as a mentor to Operations Assistants in the region, supporting them to build their operations and security capacity

Technical Operations

• Work with the SRT team to identify operational cost savings and efficiency improvements
• Support CDs in ensuring that operational needs are accurately budgeted at the country level. Act as a critical friend to budget holders during budgeting and forecasting to ensure that our staff and projects are properly supported, always ensuring that fleet, logistics, office and accommodation, safety and security requirements are included.
• Support in identification and set-up of appropriate office locations and relocated staff accommodation, including the maintenance of TBI managed properties. Conduct and document safety and security assessments of new buildings, when requested. Quality assure and approve assessments completed by Operations Assistants / CDs within the region.
• Conduct spot checks of country finance and operational procedures to ensure compliance with global finance policy and procedures, diplomatically escalating potential non-compliance to the relevant Internal Operations team. Ensure countries maintain minimum cash levels, in case of emergencies and security evacuation.
• Support teams with logistics coordination for VIP leadership visits and regional events, including working with the travel team to manage travel logistics and provide visa support
• Ensure value for money in all procurement and supplier management, conducting suppliers spot checks, including conducting due diligence, during quality assurance visits
• Ensure adequate fire safety and medical plans are in place for each country team in the region
• Support the country teams to manage logistics coordination between the country and regional HQ, including requests, shipping and management of IT equipment, satellite phones and First Aid kits
• Ensure that country programmes in the region document country level operational processes, including cash handling, local finance procedures, in country movements, supplier management and legal compliance. Work in coordination with senior members of the SRT team to ensure that global policy reflects the reality, within the region.
• Support the contracting and oversight of vehicle rental and fleet management across the region, ensuring appropriate vehicles, contracting terms and value for money

Representation and Coordination

• Ensure the consistent use of and adherence to the TBI travel management system and procedures. Support travellers to complete and sign off the unique travel security form when there is a plan for travel to high risk countries or where we do not have permanent Institute presence.
• In coordination with the SRT team, ensure that the Security Risk Management Framework (SRMF) is pragmatic, proportional and enabling for country teams, ensuring that countries in the region are fully trained on the SRMF and policy updates are fully briefed to country teams
• Liaise with service providers, country office teams, government and partner contacts on operational issues, ensuring country teams carry out stakeholder analysis and maintain resilient key relationships
• Deploy to conduct operational and security risk assessments, ahead of programme scoping and staff visits, conducting key stakeholder mapping for security and operations issues
• In new country locations within the region, draft the initial ESP including country risk register, SOPs, contingency plans and welcome pack, effectively handing them over to the incoming CD. Act as the regional IO focal point for new programme start-up.
• In new country locations within the region, utilise your networks to support operational set-up including the use of regional suppliers and conducting research into recommended suppliers or services
• Ensure a supplier database is maintained in country and reviewed annually with the legal team to ensure Know Your Counterparty (KYCs) are up to date and contract renewals are completed in a timely manner
• Ensure that country teams understand and are confident in how to report safety and security emergencies and safeguarding incidents and know how to access wellbeing support

Person Specification

The ideal candidate should work to the highest standard with a keen attention to detail, delivering workable solutions to multiple teams with competing priorities. They should proactively engage with the business and be bold in their approach, working to make change for the better, improving operational efficiency and reducing the threat to our people, assets and reputation. They should be an ambassador for the SRT team and build trust with those they engage with.

Therefore, the successful candidate for the role should be able to demonstrate the majority of the following:

• A high standard of written English communication
• Confident, calm and friendly persona, with excellent communication skills
• Exceptional and persuasive presentation skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve project goals
• Attention to detail and solution orientated (essential)
• Ability to work proactively and autonomously
• Experience in managing diverse, multi-location teams
• Budget and financial management experience, at the country level
• Significant experience of managing security or operations at the country level
• Demonstrable experience managing operations and security at multi-country / regional levels
• Experience in country start up within Asia
• Experience in politically complex and challenging contexts, including conflict affected countries
• Team management and leadership
• Subject matter excellence in security, resilience, and technical operations (logistics, fleet, facilities management, travel management and/or country start up)
• Accountability and delivery focus
• Credibility with stakeholders
• Ability to perform other duties as reasonably required to achieve the goals of the team and the Institute
• Able to travel at least 50% of the time and deploy at short notice as required

The Security, Resilience and Technical Operations team sit within the Internal Operations division. Our role is to enable the Institute to achieve Duty of Care, navigate complexity and mission deliver.

We do this within three connected specialisms:

Security

Incorporating security risk management, incident management, travel security management, health and safety, access negotiations and Duty of Care, we keep our people and programmes safe from harm and insecurity.

Resilience

Incorporating crisis management, business continuity, election contingency planning and special contingency insurance, we enable and enhance Institute resilience.

Technical Operations

Incorporating international procurement support, fleet management, travel and event management, facilities management, logistics, new country start up and special projects, we provide the technical operational expertise the Institute needs to deliver impact.

Values

The SRT team all agree to work within the same value set.

#LI-Hybrid