View Vacancy - Post Security Manager EO (04/23 YAO)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Security

 Main purpose of job:

The British High Commission (BHC) in Cameroon has been growing in size and ambition over the past five years.   The security situation in Cameroon has deteriorated over the same period. 

This is an exciting opportunity to manage security for the British government’s representatives in Cameroon, where we are an active member of the international community.  The UK is an important and high profile international player in Cameroon.

This Post Security Manager (PSM) is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day security and safety of the British High Commission.  The PSM is the go-to person for all security matters concerning Cameroon for all BHC staff: you will manage all things related to security, will advise us on our activities and facilitate our diplomatic work around the country. The Post Security team is also responsible for operational health and safety matters at Post. 

You will work closely with:

  • The High Commissioner
  • The Deputy High Commissioner (who has overall responsibility for security, as Post Security Officer)
  • The Head of Corporate Services/ High Commission administration
  • The Regional Overseas Security Manager (not based in Cameroon)
  • The Post Security Support Officer and Transport Manager (who you will also manage)

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Instil a culture of security across the BHC staff and guards
  • Proactively obtain up-to-date information on the security situation in all areas of Cameroon, and communicate this to the rest of the BHC
  • Provide regular summaries and analysis of the security situation nationwide and in specific locations of interest to the BHC
  • Manage our security contract with a private sector provider of approximately 35 guards
  • Manage relations with the Diplomatic Police, Gendarmerie and any other relevant parts of the security architecture of the Government of Cameroon to ensure two-way flow of information, and to enhance their support to the BHC
  • Assist DHC, and ROSM, and work with Corporate Services and wider BHC, to with implement the British Government’s Overseas Security Advisor’s recommendations
  • Travel around Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to improve our understanding of local contexts – to include reviewing the security arrangements at hotels, restaurants and other locations of interest, and ensuring we have links with other security actors and also health providers
  • Provide active support in the planning of travel for BHC staff around Cameroon
  • Be the focal point for all enquiries from BHC Staff, and from UK Government staff outside Cameroon, concerning security
  • Regularly assess the security of residential and office accommodation to ensure that it meets defined standards.  Conduct pre occupancy Security and H&S Inspections for all UKB staff
  • Ensure all staff have necessary security clearance to operate in the Mission.
  • Convenor of and Secretary to the Post Security Committee, which is chaired by the DHC
  • Ensure Post Security Regulations are up to date and are adhered to by all staff, visitors and contractors to the Mission
  • Brief all incoming staff (permanent or temporary, as well as family members of UK nationals) on the security situation and on BHC mitigations that they must follow
  • Play a lead role in managing all security and transport issues related to visits of VIPs to Cameroon
  • Manage the A2 Post Security Support Officer and Transport Manager

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Management:(and working closely with the Corporate Services Manager) one AO member of staff: Post Security Support Officer and Transport Manager                                             

You will play a lead role in the tendering, and management, of the security guarding contract

  • A good and broad understanding of the security challenges in Cameroon
  • Be well-versed in mitigations that can be employed to take into account against security risks
  • A wide network of security experts across the country
  • Possess strong analytical and written skills - and attention to detail
  • At least three years’ experience managing physical security
  • At least one year’s experience managing personal security
  • Ability to handle sensitive information (financial and personal data)
  • Ability to plan and prioritise effectively
  • Ability to work with a wide range of internal and external contacts
  • Good communication skills
  • Strong IT skills (MS Office)
  • Full driving licence
  • Fluent in both English and French
  • Experience working in an international-facing organisation
  • Experience of managing security for a diplomatic mission or international organisation
  • Management of a contract guard force
  • Management of other staff
  • A broad understanding of the security challenges in Gabon
Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing
13 February 2023
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
38 hours
Africa
Cameroon
Yaounde
British High Commission
1
XAF 785,238 plus XAF 136,068 Housing allowance and XAF 51,612 Transport allowance
1 March 2023
3 March 2025

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

Opportunities to undertake regional and internal courses, subject to approval and budgets.

Access to a vast amount of online e-learning courses and other learning and developing opportunities.

Travel around Cameroon in furtherance of expanding your network and understanding the security situation.


Working patterns:

Full time 

The incumbent can work from home up to one day a week.  This can be extended to two days a week on a trial basis with your line manager.

The nature of the role will occasionally necessitate the PSM working outside of normal working hours, with very little notice, to follow through investigations and assist with events or VIP visits.

BHC Yaounde offers time and financial support for the successful candidate to take advantage of professional learning and development opportunities inside and outside of the organisation.

  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Yaounde are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Cameroon.
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
  • 1.Obtain the relevant permit
  • 2.Pay the fees for the permit
  • 3.Make arrangements to relocate
  • 4.Meet the costs to relocation
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
  • Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
  •  Please note: Job grade AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.
  • Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6/12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.