Location: Maiduguri, Borno State
Contract Type: Full-time (Renewable subject to performance and funding)
Reporting Line: Senior Humanitarian Access, Safety and Security Officer.
Date: January 2026
Background
Bridge for Women Development Initiative (BOWDI) is a national non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing gender equality, protection, and empowerment through humanitarian and development interventions across the BAY States (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe). Operating in complex and volatile environments, BOWDI prioritizes strong safety, security, and access management systems to safeguard staff, assets, beneficiaries, and organizational reputation.
To strengthen its security risk management and humanitarian access mechanisms, BOWDI seeks to recruit a Humanitarian Access, Safety and Security Officer (HASSO) to support field operations and ensure safe program delivery.
Purpose of the Role
The Humanitarian Access, Safety and Security Officer will support the implementation of BOWDI’s safety and security policies, conduct risk assessments, monitor security threats, and facilitate safe humanitarian access across all operational locations. The role works closely with the Senior HASSO to promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with organizational security standards.
Key Responsibilities
1. Risk Management & Security Analysis
- Conduct regular Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) and threat analysis across operational LGAs.
- Support the review and updating of Security Management Plans (SMPs) and contingency plans.
- Monitor, analyse, and report emerging security threats and trends.
- Maintain and update risk matrices for all field locations.
2. Humanitarian Access Coordination
- Facilitate safe access by maintaining effective relationships with military, police, CJTF, community leaders, and humanitarian partners.
- Represent BOWDI at coordination forums including UNDSS, and Local Coordination Group meetings.
- Support staff movement planning, clearance requests, and mission tracking.
3. Operational Safety & Security
- Implement and monitor safety measures at offices, safe spaces, and staff accommodations.
- Supervise security guards and enforce access control procedures.
- Conduct facility inspections to ensure compliance with physical security, fire safety, and first aid standards.
- Support emergency preparedness and drills (evacuation, hibernation, fire, and first aid).
4. Reporting & Documentation
- Maintain up-to-date security incident logs and submit timely situation reports.
- Draft security advisories, alerts, and briefings as required.
- Contribute to post-incident reports and lessons learned documentation.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Administration, Security Management, Disaster Risk Management, International Relations, or a related field.
- Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in humanitarian safety and security, preferably within Northeast Nigeria.
- Prior experience in military, police, or humanitarian operations is an added advantage.
- Strong knowledge of security dynamics in the BAY States.
- Proven skills in risk assessment, contingency planning, and stakeholder engagement.
- Excellent communication and report-writing skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, HF radios, GPS, and basic mapping tools (QGIS).
- Fluency in English and Hausa; Kanuri is an added advantage.
Core Competencies
- Strong interpersonal and coordination skills
- Sound judgment and decision-making under pressure
- Commitment to humanitarian principles and duty of care
- Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams
- High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality
BOWDI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, disability, religion, or ethnicity. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
