Project Security Officer

Job Title: Security Officer

Job location: Bogotá, Colombia, with frequent travel to project intervention areas

Reports to: Project Manager

The Security Officer will be responsible for supporting the safety and security of MedGlobal staff, volunteers, assets, and operations throughout the implementation of the project across five departments and ten prioritized municipalities in Colombia.

The position will provide security support throughout the full field mission cycle, from pre-deployment planning and risk assessment to field monitoring, incident response, and post-mission debriefing. The Security Officer will work closely with the Country Director, Project Manager, Project Coordinators, and field teams to identify security risks, develop appropriate mitigation measures, and ensure that field activities are conducted in accordance with MedGlobal security policies and procedures.

The Security Officer will regularly travel to project intervention areas and provide practical security guidance to teams operating in rural, remote, and potentially high-risk environments.

• Conduct security risk assessments for project intervention areas and planned field activities.

• Monitor the security context across the five project departments and ten prioritized municipalities.

• Identify potential threats, vulnerabilities, and operational risks affecting MedGlobal staff, activities, assets, and beneficiaries.

• Provide timely security analysis and recommendations to management and field teams.

• Support the development and regular review of security plans, risk mitigation measures, and contingency arrangements.

• Assess security implications for planned mobile health brigades and other field activities.

• Provide security input into operational planning, movement plans, and deployment schedules.

• Lead or support security planning prior to field missions and mobile health brigade deployments.

• Ensure that field teams receive relevant security briefings before deployment.

• Review routes, transportation arrangements, accommodation, communication systems, and other relevant security considerations.

• Confirm that teams understand applicable security procedures, communication protocols, and emergency actions.

• Ensure appropriate contact and communication arrangements are established before field deployment.

• Advise Project Coordinators and field teams on specific risks and mitigation measures for each intervention area.

• Conduct regular field visits to project intervention areas to monitor the security environment and assess compliance with security procedures.

• Maintain awareness of changes in the local security context, including social, political, environmental, criminal, and other factors that may affect field operations.

• Maintain regular communication with deployed teams and monitor their safety during field missions.

• Provide security advice and support to teams operating in rural, remote, Indigenous, and hard-to-reach communities.

• Coordinate with field teams to identify emerging risks and implement appropriate mitigation measures.

• Escalate significant security concerns to the Country Director and Project Manager.

• Establish and maintain appropriate procedures for reporting and responding to security incidents.

• Provide immediate security guidance and support during incidents affecting MedGlobal personnel or operations.

• Coordinate emergency response measures in accordance with MedGlobal security procedures.

• Maintain accurate records of security incidents, near misses, threats, and other relevant events.

• Conduct incident assessments and provide recommendations to prevent recurrence.

• Support evacuation, relocation, medical evacuation, or other emergency procedures when required and in accordance with organizational protocols.

• Ensure that serious incidents are promptly communicated through the appropriate management channels.

• Maintain effective communication with field teams throughout missions.

• Establish and maintain relevant security contact lists and emergency communication trees.

• Monitor relevant security information and provide timely updates to management and staff.

• Prepare and disseminate security alerts, advisories, and contextual updates when required.

• Ensure sensitive security information is handled confidentially and shared only with authorized personnel.

• Maintain appropriate records of security assessments, incidents, briefings, and other security documentation.

• Provide security briefings and orientation to staff and field teams prior to deployment.

• Conduct or coordinate training on personal safety, situational awareness, incident reporting, emergency procedures, and security protocols.

• Promote a culture of security awareness and individual responsibility among MedGlobal staff.

• Ensure newly deployed staff understand relevant security procedures and reporting mechanisms.

• Identify training needs based on operational and contextual risks.

• Work closely with the Project Manager, Project Coordinators, and field teams to integrate security considerations into project implementation.

• Provide security guidance for mobile health brigades and other field activities.

• Coordinate, when appropriate and authorized, with local authorities, community representatives, transportation providers, and other relevant stakeholders regarding operational security.

• Develop and maintain appropriate relationships with relevant security and humanitarian coordination networks.

• Ensure that engagement with communities and local stakeholders supports safe and respectful access to project intervention areas.

• Provide security recommendations related to access, movement, community engagement, and field operations.

• Conduct or support post-mission security debriefings with field teams.

• Document incidents, near misses, contextual changes, and lessons learned.

• Review the effectiveness of security measures implemented during missions.

• Update risk assessments and mitigation measures based on lessons learned and changing conditions.

• Provide recommendations to improve future field deployments.

• Ensure field operations comply with MedGlobal security policies, procedures, and minimum safety standards.

• Monitor compliance with movement, communication, incident reporting, and emergency procedures.

• Contribute to the development and updating of security protocols and standard operating procedures.

• Support the implementation of MedGlobal safeguarding, Child Protection, PSEA, Code of Conduct, and other relevant organizational policies.

• Report safeguarding, protection, misconduct, or other concerns through established MedGlobal reporting mechanisms.

• Maintain confidentiality and professional discretion when handling sensitive security information.

• Perform other security-related duties as assigned by the Country Director.

Should have the following skills, education, and experience:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, International Business, Operations Management, or related fields.

• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in procurement, logistics, supply chain, or operations management.

• Previous experience working with NGOs, humanitarian organizations, international organizations, or donor-funded projects.

• Demonstrated experience managing procurement processes, supplier relationships, logistics coordination, and inventory or asset management.

• Experience coordinating logistics for field-based activities, preferably in humanitarian, health, community, or mobile-service contexts.

• Experience managing procurement and logistics across multiple locations is highly desirable.

• Knowledge of procurement principles, competitive quotation processes, supplier evaluation, documentation, and compliance requirements.

• Experience coordinating the procurement and logistics of medical supplies, equipment, or health-related materials is highly desirable.

• Strong organizational, planning, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate documentation and records.

• Ability to coordinate effectively with Finance, Programme, Medical, HR/Admin, and field teams.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.

• Intermediate English proficiency (minimum B1 level) is required.

• Fluent Spanish, both written and spoken.

• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to project intervention areas across Colombia.

• Previous experience with CBPF-funded projects or other humanitarian pooled funds.

• Experience with donor compliance, procurement audits, or financial documentation requirements.

• Experience working in remote, rural, Indigenous, ethnic, or other hard-to-reach communities.

• Knowledge of Colombian procurement, transportation, logistics, and occupational safety requirements.

• Experience with inventory management or logistics/ERP systems.

• Experience supporting mobile health teams, medical brigades, or humanitarian health operations.

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MedGlobal is a global humanitarian non-profit organization providing medical and health education services to people in need, including refugees and displaced persons, in disaster and underserved regions. The organization is composed of medical and public health professionals from diverse backgrounds.

MedGlobal Code of Conduct reflects the profession’s core set of beliefs and values of care, respect, trust, and integrity. These beliefs and values are fundamental to MedGlobal employees, volunteers, interns, consultants, and contractors to guide their practice and conduct. The Code is organized into categories, as follows:

• Always act with fairness, honesty, integrity, and openness; respect the opinions of others and treat all with equality and dignity without regard to gender, race, color, creed, ancestry, place of origin, political beliefs, religion, marital status, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

• Provide a positive and valued experience for those receiving services within and outside MedGlobal.

Child abuse in all forms is unacceptable to MedGlobal, which recognizes its responsibility to protect children from harm in all areas of its work. MedGlobal is committed to ensuring a child-safe environment and is applying a zero-tolerance approach towards any kind of child abuse and exploitation.

MedGlobal provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and expressly prohibits and will not tolerate any form of discrimination, abuse, harassment (sexual or otherwise), based upon race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, citizenship status, disability, or military status. MedGlobal employees and related personnel must under no circumstances take part in any form of discrimination, harassment, or abuse (physical, sexual or verbal), intimidation or exploitation, or in any other way infringe the rights of others inside or outside the organization.