SECURITY COORDINATION OFFICER, P4

This position is located in the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC), within the UNDSS Integrated Security Workforce (ISW). The incumbent will be based in Bogotá and will report to the Chief Security Adviser / Chief Security Officer (CSA/CSO).

Within delegated authority, the Security Coordination Officer may be responsible for the following duties: • Assists the CSO/CSA and serves as Security Professional for all matters related to the UNSMS for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC) HQ in Bogota and relevant coordination with the ISW at regional level, to all security risk management matters, security policy and procedures including crisis readiness and preparedness. • Serves as a member of the area Security Management Team. • Chairs the area Security Cell, building consensus to ensure alignment and support for security operations and initiatives to best enable UN activities. • Ensures forecasting of the evolving security environment and, the UN’s security and operational responses. Using analytical techniques and collaborative team research, supports planning and ensure awareness of the current trends to enhance or adjust security programmes. • Ensures the development of inclusive risk management strategies and drives planning using situational awareness, critical thinking, and logic to detect and interpret early signals, emerging trends and analysis of multi-dimensional threats that may impact security. Identifies the strengths and weaknesses of different solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. • Ensures the preparation, review and implementation of security planning, security risk management documents and risk management-based security solutions through innovation and creativity. Provides written analysis of security trends and reporting of incidents. Participates in meetings, committees, and task forces, prepares papers on security issues, delivers briefings, provides responses, as needed. • Advises on the inclusion of security in all stages of United Nations activities and programmes through the established ISW structure and reporting lines. Provides advice and support to line managers responsible for security. Enables the delivery of mandates and programmes through direct operational assistance in line with the Concept of Operations (CONOPs). • Oversees security-related projects, prioritizing work to meet deadlines and following defined processes, policies, procedures and guidance, fostering alignment with colleagues and across organizations. • Monitors and contributes to activities that relate to the implementation and evaluation of preparedness and compliance; drives results that help support operational efficiency and effectiveness. • Enhances communication and trust through active collaboration, consultation and exchanges with UN system organizations and other stakeholders, for information sharing, coordination of responses, provision of security briefings, taking into account operational activities and risks. • Collaborates closely with peers and colleagues, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, and Host Government representatives. • Strengthens awareness and capacity of personnel by supporting the development, updates and delivery of contextually relevant security training and advice. • Ensures the conduct of security surveys and assessments, creatively leveraging tools and processes, identifying and recommending simple, reasonable, inclusive, effective and efficient security measures, including when there is incomplete, contradictory and/or fluid information. • Ensures implementation and maintenance of a functioning Security Communication System. • Ensures conduct of budget, finance and logistical planning for the security office and participation in relevant United Nations administration, finance, and logistics forums. Supports resource mobilization, • Leads and manages the security team, anticipates human resources needs through workforce planning, assesses performance and support the development security personnel under his/her supervision. • Ensures implementation of departmental approaches to mainstreaming gender, diversity and inclusion into all aspects of the work as well as ensuring the implementation of people-centred security risk management approaches considering specific threats or vulnerabilities of personnel and adapting practices and measures in support of diversity and inclusion. • Leads and manages the ISW Safety and Security Support Section, assists the Close Protection Coordinator with the relevant Protective Services Unit (PSU) to the Head of Mission, anticipate human resources needs through workforce planning, assesses performance and support the development security personnel under his/her supervision. Oversees and supervises the Security Training Unit (STU), the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the Fire Safety and Administrative personnel, including Pass & ID coordination for the UNVMC. • Performs other functions as directed.

Professionalism: Demonstrates respect and sensitivity towards diversity in all its forms, in all cultural, gender and religious settings. Takes responsibility for incorporating different perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Contributes to an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; places confidence in and builds trust with colleagues and stakeholders. Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, including self-awareness and contextual intelligence. Shows openness to learning and commitment to self-development. Identifies issues, researches, collects data, demonstrates situational awareness, conceptual analytical and evaluative skills and participates in the resolution of issues/problems demonstrating critical thinking, perceptiveness, judgement and decision-making. Demonstrates an ability to implement policies. Ability to make quick decisions in emergencies or when rapid response is needed. Communicates complex concepts effectively both verbally and in writing. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Shows ability to prioritize, manage, and implement multiple high-level projects in a timely manner, even in fast-changing contexts. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Takes ownership of accountability and supports strategies to ensure compliance with all security risk management decisions and regulations. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, political/social science, psychology, criminal justice, law, international relations, security management or a related field is required. A relevant first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A first-level university degree may be substituted with a diploma from a police or military academy (for commissioned officers), which may be considered its equivalent, and in combination with four (4) additional years of qualifying experience in military, police or security management.

UNDSS certification in Security Certification Programme (SCP) or Security Analysis Process Practice (SAPP) Course is required.

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, disarmament affairs, conflict resolution, crime or terrorism prevention, security, risk or disaster or emergency management and preparedness in the public or private sector areas responsible for responding to emergency situations that directly impact security is required. Two (2) years of experience in the management of security operations is required. One (1) year of experience in field security operations management at international level and in a conflict or post-conflict environment is required. Experience in planning, design, implementation, or review of risk mitigation measures related to operations impacted by insecurity is required. Experience in security risk management within the United Nations Security Management System (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions, and UN agencies, funds, and programs) or similar international organization or non-governmental organization in a field-based environment is desirable.

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

The appointment against this position is limited to the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff, as per the Secretary General´s Gender Parity Strategy. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Candidates interested to work for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia may wish to check out our Realistic Job Preview videos to get an idea of the living and working conditions in different duty stations in Colombia.: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-8SCkVjg-e3073SwTDG1VQf1oLTWfUQ4 For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 August 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Naoero, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Cabo Verde, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Libya, Liberia, Luxembourg, Monaco, Nicaragua, Oman, Paraguay, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, United States of America. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.