Safety and Security Manager (SSM)

Job Title: Safety and Security Manager (SSM)

Department: –

Reporting Line: Head of Academy (HoA)

Position Location: Maputo, Mozambique

Status: Full-time

Date of Approval of JD: –

Purpose

The Safety and Security Manager (SSM) reports directly to the Head of Academy (HoA) on all daily safety, security, and risk management matters for Aga Khan Academy, Maputo (AKAM). The SSM is responsible for developing and implementing risk based strategies, policies, standards, and procedures aligned with AKS/AKDN frameworks. A strategic perspective will be maintained through active engagement with local organizations and official departments, ensuring that AKAM leadership receives timely, informed input for operational decisions on safety and security.

The SSM is accountable for monitoring, mentoring, and guiding Safety and Security staff (SFPs) and guard force at AKAM. The role includes providing leadership in security analysis by continuously assessing the security environment in Mozambique.

The incumbent operates under the technical and functional guidance of the AKS Global Security Lead and works in close collaboration with the Department of International Security (DIS) of AKDN.

Context

The Aga Khan Academies are an integrated network of residential schools in Africa, South and Central Asia and the Middle East, dedicated to expanding access to education of an international standard of excellence to exceptional young men and women. The Aga Khan Academies’ foundational values include pluralism, meritocracy and civil society. Housed in purpose-built, spacious and attractive campuses with outstanding facilities, the Academies offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Curriculum from Primary Years to the Diploma and provide a rich opportunity for both teachers and students to grow professionally and personally. The first Aga Khan Academy opened in Mombasa, Kenya in 2003, the second in Hyderabad, India in 2011, the third in Maputo, Mozambique in 2013, and the fourth Academy in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2024.

Mozambique

The 1998 agreement signed between the AKDN and the government of Mozambique aims “…to bring sustained benefits and improve the quality of life for the people of Mozambique.” According to the Mozambique Government and USAID (2023) “…less than half of the population finishes primary school, and of those who do finish, only 8 percent transition to secondary school… Among children who finish primary school, nearly two-thirds leave the system without basic reading, writing, and math skills”.[1]

[1] https://www.usaid.gov/mozambique/education

The Aga Khan Academy Maputo

Our school is a non-denominational, co-educational day and residential IB World School for primary and secondary students. Located in Matola, Maputo Province, Mozambique, our Academy is dedicated towards its mission of providing educational excellence.

Our Mission is to “Identify and nurture exceptional young people from any background with the potential to become effective and ethical leaders. Admission is based on merit and not on a student’s socio-economic background nor a family’s ability to pay.”

The school is focused on the following five ‘strands’: (i) ethics, (ii) pluralism, (iii) cultures, (iv) governance and civil society, and (v) economics for development, which helps to distinguish us from other IB World Schools. AKA Maputo is currently authorized to offer the IB PYP, MYP and DP. We provide a bilingual education in Portuguese and English for students in our kindergarten and primary school, and students in the senior school are expected to develop two first languages, English plus Portuguese, Arabic, Farsi, or French, and thus aim for a bilingual diploma. Currently around 60% of our students receive some form of financial assistance.

To fulfil our mission and vision we also plan to offer the IBCP to help more local students to enter university or to follow a career path, and where their knowledge, experience and preference for learning and assessment would be catered for better than via the IBDP. We believe that this new program will move us closer to the spirit of the agreement we have with the government of Mozambique.

We also aim to develop and leverage partnerships with key external organization such as we have with ABB (Blackbulls Football Club) to help us to enrich our programmes, develop student leaders, increase enrolment and or to support student learning and wellbeing. Currently we are working on agreements with ISCTEM University, and Neurodiversity South Africa.

We intended to promote the school as a centre for academic and sports excellence to drive enrolment both in
Mozambique and the wider region. We will continue to develop our sports facilities to this end with the
support of additional partners.

This focus and our third-party agreements will help us to increase paid enrolments including via potential scholarships to be paid by local companies. The post holder will be expected to help to support the strong relationships with such organizations to increase the number of such enrolments.

Main Responsibilities

Security Management and Planning

• Develop and implement a structured safety and security management system, in line with the AKDN Security Level System (SLS), and provide directions on safety and security strategy, policy, standards and procedures.
• Develop and implement mandated (SLS) assessments, procedures, plans, and mechanisms appropriate to regional threat levels and the school’s context.
• Oversee the planning, implementation and quality control of AKAM security manpower, technical assets, and physical protection measures such as CCTV cameras, access control systems, alarm systems, and firefighting equipment, are appropriate, maintained and correctly utilized.
• Collect and analyze security information and disseminate security advisories.
• Develop and maintain a strong contextual understanding of all AKAM areas of operation in Mozambique and outside.
• Review and implement the safety and security mitigation strategies for AKAM to address vulnerabilities and lead the auditing process to ensure compliance.

Incident Management

• Develop and maintain a Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) and prepare contingency plans to manage critical incidents, including coordination with and support to emergency services during such events.
• Support the HOA and CIMT in managing all safety and security aspects of incident response till conclusion.
• Develop and maintain a communications system that is robust and reliable to ensure effective communication with required services and personnel during emergencies.
• Report all safety and security incidents promptly and participate in afteraction reviews to capture lessons learned.
• Gather and analyze safety and security information relevant to education/schools in areas of operations to strengthen security planning and preparedness.

Coordination and Relationships

• Establish relationships with the relevant law enforcement agencies, national council security team, and emergency services to ensure their support as required.
• Actively participate in monthly/quarterly security coordination cell (SCC) meetings led by DIS.
• Work under the functional guidance of the AKS Global Security Lead and in close coordination with the Department of International Security (DIS).
• Maintain regular contact and coordination with the security focal points of AKDN sister agencies.

Training and Briefings

• Deliver or coordinate safety and security workshops/training and drills for AKAM staff and students.
• Conduct or coordinate safety and security training for security guards, drivers, and support staff on a regular basis.
• Develop and implement capacity building for any staff undertaking security and safety functions, full or part time.
• Provide an in-country security briefing to international staff and visitors.
• Provide bi-weekly, monthly and quarterly country security reports to the supervisor (s) and senior leadership team (SLT).
• Ensure the safety and security induction and briefing of all new employees.
• Ensure the statutory standards for fire and first aid preparedness are met and that provision for fire and first aid training is made where applicable.

Private Security Management

• Advice the GSL and HoA on the selection of sub- contracted security service companies (guards/technical security/response) and managing such contracts to ensure the operational requirement stated by AKAM is effectively met.
• Manage the activities and performance of contracted private security providers in accordance with AKS policies, established KPIs, and the service agreement.
• Conduct monthly and quarterly review meetings with the private security company and report.
• Liaise with the private security company as required.

Support

• Investigate safety and security breaches and non-compliance.
• Develop, manage, and monitor the safety and security budget.
• Produce reports, attend meetings, and undertake any other duties, in line with the position, as required by the supervisors.

Required Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in arts, sciences, or a security related discipline.
• At least seven years of proven experience in safety and security management at a comparable level within a reputable national or international organization, or in national armed forces.
• Strong contextual knowledge of the political, social, economic, and security environment in Mozambique and East Africa.
• Fluency in English and Portuguese, both written and spoken.
• Ability to undertake regular in country travel to operational areas as required.
• Demonstrated capability in designing and delivering training programs.

Highly Desirable

Previous risk management experience with a reputable national or international organization (e.g. UN, NGOs/INGOs) in East Africa, and/or a background in education sector security.

Skills & Competencies

• Highly organized, proactive, and motivated.
• Strong assessment and evaluation skills and the ability to make good situational judgements.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage challenging issues under stressful conditions.
• Effective management of human, financial, and technical resources.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
• Able to communicate with a broad range of stakeholders with excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Strong IT and computer skills.
• Possesses professional maturity, sensitivity to different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify AKAM value.

Join us as we work to provide quality education to over 96,000 students across 11 countries, with the vast majority of our schools located in rural and remote communities where access is limited.