Head of Safety and Security

Location: UK / MENA (Remote)Role Type: Full-time FTCCLOSING DATE: 6 November 2025About ARKARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity and hope for the future.We believe that strong, resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional and international development and stability - and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise, we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change.Learn more about our impact here: https://www.ark.international/impactAbout The RoleThe Head of Global Safety & Security role plays a critical part in shaping the safety and security landscape across ARK's expanding global programmes. This position leads to ensuring that ARK operates safely and effectively while delivering impactful work in complex and fragile contexts.The role requires a strong understanding of the local and regional security context and involves providing actionable recommendations, providing security and safety training to staff, contributing to incident response planning, and supporting proactive risk mitigation. The role plays a key part in compliance and duty of care for employees in line with donor requirements. Additionally, the position involves monitoring and reporting on contextual changes and reviewing existing safety and security resources. What You'll Be DoingStrategic Advice: Responsible for providing leadership, advice and counsel to ARK management on security policy and practices. Identify exposures and recommend and develop corrective plans as appropriate. Insights to guide decision-making and ensure the protection of staff, operations, and reputation.  Policy Development and Compliance: Shape security protocols and procedures by reviewing and developing comprehensive risk and security management policies. Brief / Train our staff on implementing these strategies, ensuring a consistent and effective security framework across ARK. Develop country-specific security plans and conduct security assessments, ensuring compliance with regulations.  Business Continuity and Risk Mitigation: Collaborate with the senior management team to develop robust business continuity plans in response to identified risks. Conduct routine security and risk testing to identify weaknesses and implement necessary mitigations, keeping operations resilient and secure. Maintain knowledge of complex industry and regional trends, current security issues, security technologies and update management on risk and threats that could impact the company's business. Training and Empowerment: Empower programme and project managers and staff by providing guidance and training on managing risks and security effectively.   Stakeholder Engagement: Foster relationships with key stakeholders, including local government personnel, law enforcement agencies, and international safety and security organisations. Safety and Security Documentation: Responsible for conducting risk registers, site reviews, risk assessment and analysis, production of site audit/review reports, including a review of findings and recommendations for all ARK projects in line with donor requirements. Crisis Management and Incident Response: Develop and refine emergency response plans, coordinate critical incident responses, and keep our senior management team informed, to enable ARK to respond swiftly and effectively in times of crisis. Manage security incidents, investigations, and emergency response plans as agreed with senior management. Business Development: Support business development activities and organisational growth with security and risk advice.    IT Security: Support the integration of information security into the overall security framework.  RequirementsEssential:Bachelor's degree in Security Management, Risk Management, International Relations, Emergency Management, or a related field, or relevant equivalent experience. Senior-level experience (typically 7-10+ years) in safety and security management within international or complex operational contexts. Proven track record of designing, implementing, and overseeing security risk management frameworks and crisis response systems. Experience leading security operations in fragile, conflict-affected, or disaster-prone environments. Strong background in staff safety training, incident management, and emergency preparedness planning. Experience working with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, including both international and local staff. Demonstrated ability to create and interpret security risk registers, risk assessments, and translate findings into actionable strategies. Experience working in high-risk and conflict-affected regions. Ability to travel to fragile and conflict-affected regions.  Fluency in written and verbal English.  Desirable:Formal training or certification in security risk management, crisis management, or occupational health and safety Certified Security Management Professional (CSMP) or equivalent recognised professional certification. Training in first aid, hostile environment awareness (HEAT), or personal security awareness. Experience within the humanitarian, development, or government sector, especially in volatile or politically sensitive regions. Previous experience liaising with government authorities, UN agencies, donors, and local security networks. Background in coordinating security for large-scale field operations, logistics hubs, or remote project sites. Experience integrating security management with organisational strategy, business continuity, and duty of care frameworks. Exposure to cybersecurity or information risk management in operational settings. Experience mentoring or developing national security focal points or teams in field offices. Professional fluency in a second language (preferably Arabic or French). BenefitsWhy join ARK? Impactful Work: Your expertise will directly impact the lives of those in need. Global Reach: Collaborate with international experts and local stakeholders. Innovation: Engage in pioneering solutions for sustainable change. Career Growth: Expand your horizons with varied projects and challenges. Our People Our team covers a diverse range of professional backgrounds, from diplomacy, humanitarian, development and the military, to the UN, civil society groups, multilateral organizations, journalism and the private sector.Smart: We think deeply about things. We're proud of our institutional knowledge and our grounding in rigorous research, which we use to make informed decisions.Humble: Our work leaves little room for pride or arrogance. Our operating environment is constantly evolving, and we recognize out limitations. We believe in and rely on the education and experiences of others while remaining quick to read, invite feedback, and ask sensible questions.Accountable: Each of us want ARK, its partners, and beneficiaries to succeed. This means taking initiative, assuming ownership when necessary and never giving up on our beneficiaries. We are committed and accountable, to both our donors and the communities we serve.Collegiate: We know we are stronger together and that every contribution counts. We trust each other and always support each other.Outspoken: We tackle diverse challenges, and we always want to find the best solution to a problem. We aren't afraid to share our opinions, and we want to hear those of others too.ARK Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. ARK Group does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. ARK Group places human dignity at the center of its development and stabilization work and is this committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK Group employees and related personnel are expected to share this commitment and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.