Horn of Africa Security and Operations Manager

JOB CONTEXT & PURPOSE

Adam Smith International is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies more stable, and governments more effective. For nearly three decades in almost 100 countries, ASI has been working in partnership with governments, the private sector and civil society in countries at all stages of development.

ASI is currently one of the largest implementation partners operating across the Somali region and has been permanently operational in-country since 2013, currently managing a portfolio of programmes for FCDO and EU.

This role is envisioned to be fulfilled under an independent consultancy agreement. The Adviser shall operate with autonomy in determining how to achieve the outcomes defined herein and shall not be subject to direct supervision or control in the manner of delivery. The Adviser may provide services through a suitably qualified substitute where appropriate, subject to reasonable notice and continuity requirements.

ASI’s Somalia country strategy lays out a commitment by the company and its staff to make a significant and acknowledged contribution to Somalia’s stabilisation, socioeconomic recovery & development. To achieve this, we leverage our operational capability, on-the-ground know-how, technical experience and expertise to enable and deliver stabilization and development projects that produce sustainable results. Crucially for us, we operate on core principles and values applicable to all our staff, clients, partners and stakeholders. The values that we live by every day are:

·       Impact – through passion, commitment, excellence and innovation

·       Integrity – through respect, transparency, accountability and empathy

One of the key challenges for organisations setting up operations in Somalia is accessibility. ASI projects traverse through Somalia and the breadth of our capabilities extends to towns beyond Mogadishu.

As the HOA Security & Operations Manager, you will manage and direct operational, security and risk management activities in the region, and ensure all activities run smoothly and effectively. Critical to this will be the effective management and delivery of the operations component in conjunction with implementation of corporate policies and the management and implementation of Security Standard Operating Procedures. You will be an enabler, responsive and solution oriented - the region has many operational challenges including the need to respond rapidly to changing environments, vague and dynamic regulatory environments, a fragile security environment combined and multiple duty of care challenges. The ultimate purpose of this role is to support the various projects in achieving their delivery objectives safely and securely.

Services to be delivered during agreed periods of in-country presence, generally in 6-week blocks, based on project needs.

In light of the operational context and security-sensitive environment of Somalia, there is a high expectation that personnel assigned to the Duty of Care role shall remain capable, alert, and fully functional at all times, including outside of standard working hours, on a 24/7 basis.

While ASI does not enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy on alcohol consumption, personnel are expected to exercise sound judgment and personal responsibility. At all times, individuals must remain in a physical and mental condition that enables them to safely operate equipment and effectively discharge their responsibilities. Any impairment that compromises the ability to perform assigned duties may be considered a breach of the Terms of Reference and subject to disciplinary action in accordance with ASI policy

The HOA Security & Operations Manager, will be required to spend 75% time in Somalia (typically a 6-week rotation with 2-week downtime). The Manager will be based in Mogadishu, with travel to country offices and Somaliland as needed

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

• Somalia Platform operations and finance staff

• Global Operations and Security Manager

• ASI Head of Operations and Risk, Africa

• ASI Head of Somalia

• ASI Head of Africa

• Somalia project managers and project directors

• ASI Project Managers and Directors during emerging new country projects

• UK and Kenya Finance, HR, Legal and Compliance

External

• Operations and security staff of peer companies operating in Somalia

• Client security and duty of care personnel

• Government Agencies

• Relevant suppliers and subcontractors in Somalia

• Relevant suppliers and subcontractors in new emerging ASI countries projects

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Safety of ASI personnel working in Somalia through the implementation of security and duty of care policies and procedures, including risk management, security and emergency response to enable business and project continuity in a complex and insecure operating context.

• Development and updating of security and duty of care policies and procedures to fill gaps or address emerging challenges, risks and evolving context.

• Implementation of an efficient, effective and value-for-money operational platform in Somalia that demonstrates compliance with minimum local legal requirements to enable business and project continuity.

• Development and updating of operational policies and procedures to fill gaps or address emerging challenges or evolving context.

• Build constructive and trusting relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Compliance with national legislation and corporate policy in all areas (tax, employment, health and safety, insurance, ethics, anti-corruption, safeguarding, diversity & inclusion and security).

• Contracted Security Provider management

• Ensure operational support services are optimised and achieve maximum cost effectiveness and value for money

• Create a conducive environment and provide effective guidance to support Somalia Platform Operations staff to deliver effectively

KEY TASKS

• Develop and maintain robust country specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the operational activities run smoothly and in compliance with rules and regulations.

• Cascade and implement the corporate policies for operational and security activities including Security and Duty of Care, HR, Procurement, Finance, logistics, IT, Asset management, Government relations and any other as required.

• Comply with the corporate policies, SOPs and applicable rules and regulations and ensure everyone else in the country team complies with them and take immediate action on any non-compliance including reporting the non-compliance to the GOSM and Head of Operations and Risk, Africa.

• Work with ASI team members in headquarters and the Africa team to identify and capture the operational and security risks into Risk Registers and ensure that risks are mitigated with appropriate measures and response plans are appropriate and updated.

• Provide inputs, where needed, on the technical and commercial tenders for upcoming projects. This should include details on operational limitations, costing of expenses and provision of benchmarking data and value for money analysis.

• Build relations with all key stakeholders in the country, particularly in relation to local operating context, client relationship management, third party service provision and business development.

• Oversee the management of daily accommodation arrangement lists and movement trackers for staff and consultants in country

• Oversee procurement and day-to-day management of Contracted Security Services; including VfM analysis, Quality Assurance of technical delivery, and client/customer relationship management.

• Ensure security documents such as: Emergency Response, Security Risk Management and Crisis and Emergency Plans as well as Standard Security Operating Procedures are maintained up to date and understood by ASI staff and consultants in the country.

• Work with the Project Managers in ensuring that ASI duty of care responsibilities are discharged appropriately.

• Conduct security and onboarding briefing and necessary trainings to new staff and consultants in the country.

• Consistently analyse threats and advice on implementation of mitigating actions.

• Gather and analyse information and intelligence and share with the team in accordance with the agreed protocols.

• Maintain situational awareness of all ASI operating environments and provide regular and when necessary security updates to staff and consultants in the country.

• Review and disseminate security reports, as appropriate, provided to ASI by external providers.

• Ensure Security Incident and Situation Reports are accurate, up to date and disseminated as required in accordance with ASI policies and procedures.

• Assist in the co-ordination of the emergency and/or medical evacuation of staff if required.

• Oversee and initiate relevant communication to all ASI staff through various means – email, WhatsApp group, phone tree – including post-event analysis and outcomes.

• Consistently review the overall risk position of ASI and provide recommendations.

• Provide support to ensuring that Adam Smith International operations in Somalia have the appropriate level of business registration and official documentation to work within the legal frameworks of the country.

• Supporting Project Managers and Ops staff to maintain comprehensive asset inventories for all assets and in ensuring all assets are properly safeguarded and maintained.

• Ensure all local national staff comply with ASI codes of conduct, anti-bribery legislation and security protocols, gift and hospitality policies. Institute appropriate procedures and practices for ensuring that this is the case.

• Promote the culture dignity, professionalism, integrity and respect operations and ensure any action or omission that will harm ASI, its clients or partners are dealt with appropriately.

• Design and implement an HSE framework that ensures compliance with both local and UK legislation.

Please note that this job advert will close on 19 March 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the closing date.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Qualifications:

Required:

• Security management qualification

• Operations Management qualification

• Operational Risk Management qualification

Desirable:

• Undergraduate or master’s degree in a relevant subject

• Close Protection Qualification

Experience Required:

• At least five (5) years of practical experience in handling complex operations for an international organisation, or 10 years applicable experience in the Armed Forces or Police.

• Demonstrate solid experience of handling security and duty of care matters for international organisations.

• Understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies.

• Risk management experience in international organisation.

• Demonstrated abilities to build effective relationships with people from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds, and to work effectively in politically sensitive and challenging environments.

• Demonstrated ability of working both independently and with a team, should be innovative, energetic, positive, and genuinely committed to achieving lasting change.

• Ability to analyse events, incidents, and trends to facilitate anticipation of developing threats.

• Experience of working overseas or repeated experience of working on operations overseas in a post conflict country.

• Demonstrated ability to work in a consensus-building fashion that is sensitive to the needs of staff, associates, clients, and partners.

• Knowledge of FCDO, USG, EU, and UN regulations is helpful.

• Demonstrated experience of initiative, an entrepreneurial mind-set, client-orientation, risk taking, and working in complex and time-pressured contexts.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with project staff and international and national key stakeholders;

• Financial forecasting and management;

• Reasonable understanding of finance, procurement and logistics;

• Fluency in English languages;

• Planning and delivering results;

• Quality and accountability;

• Managing complexity;

• Communication and knowledge management;

• Collaboration and teamwork;

• Proven ability to work under pressure.

Attitude:

• Positivity that enthuses and motivates others in the face of issues, challenges and frustrations;

• Solution oriented;

• Willingness to work with staff, associates, clients and partners in empathetic and consensus building fashion

• Proactive, enthusiastic, flexible, self-starting, resourceful;

• Open-minded, flexible approach to problem-solving, enabling;

• Resilient to and patient in the face of changing circumstances and challenges;

• Achievement- and solution-oriented – an enabler;

• Trustworthy, reliable, professional, contentious and accountable.