Helvetas is an organization specialized in development cooperation and humanitarian response, anchored in Switzerland. Our vision is a just world in which all people determine the course of their lives in dignity and security, using environmental resources in a sustainable manner.
For our International Programmes based in Bern, Zurich (or partially in Geneva) we are looking for a Global Security Coordinator to join our organization as per June 01, 2026, or upon agreement.
The Global Security Coordinator plays a vital role in the implementation of Helvetas’ global safety and security concept. The main aim of this role is to guide and support staff in mitigating risks and contingency planning. It is expected that you ensure a permanent high standard in terms of Safety & Security Risk Management (SSRM) in the whole organization through careful monitoring and support, ensuring a continuous linkage between the head office and the country offices.
You identify training needs, you advice, liaise and coordinate on safety and security matters, and you make sure that SSRM-relevant contacts with external actors and partners are established, fostered and effectively leveraged. In case of a crisis, you contribute to the effective functioning of the crisis management team.
YOUR MAIN TASKS
Global Coordination & Safety and Security Risk Management Implementation: Coordinate global safety and security systems, ensuring consistent application of policies and guidelines.
Support development, rollout, and review of the Helvetas Safety and Security Concept, Local Security Plans, SOPs, Travel Procedures and Regulations, insurances, systems and tools. Monitor country compliance and support corrective action planning
Technical guidance to Security Focal Person or National Security Coordinators, provide operational leadership, & coordinate across all Country Programmes to ensure the consistent application of safety and security standards.
Conduct field assessments and provide front line emergency support as required.
Consolidate Global Data for incident reporting, trend analysis, and dashboards.
Crisis Preparedness & Response Support: Coordinating crisis management, deploying support as needed. Coordinate early crisis information flows, analysis, and recommendations. Support after-action reviews and capture lessons learned.
Training & Mentoring: Develop and deliver training for traveling staff members, management and security focal points/coordinators.
Coordinate overall Institutional Risk Management, in lead of Country Risk Management together with the IP Management: Manage global risk platforms, including reporting systems, risk tools, and mitigation action.
Networking & producing briefings, risk updates, and security analysis.
Regular international travel will be required as part of this role across operations
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
Proven safety and security senior experience as Safety and Security or Access Advisor in humanitarian or INGO settings.
An academic degree in political science, international relations, or in a security-related domain.
At least eight years of experience in development/humanitarian cooperation, preferably with three years in fragile and conflict-affected contexts where Helvetas is present.
Demonstrated experience conducting risk assessments, incident analysis, and emergency response in crises and conflicted affected countries.
Strong interpersonal skills and experience in working in a diverse environment.
Strong facilitation, analytical writing, and presentation skills.
Experience supporting or coordinating multi-country safety functions.
Ability to take on delegated leadership responsibilities and make decisions under pressure.
Proficiency in English and French; German, Spanish, would be an asset.
OUR OFFER
At Helvetas, you will be part of a purpose-driven organization where your work creates a meaningful global impact. We foster a caring and collaborative culture built on trust, flexibility, and accountability. You will grow in a professional environment that values integrity, empathy, and continuous learning. → We care. We commit.
We offer you an interesting opportunity in a motivated team with attractive working conditions. You can expect a modern workplace in a multicultural setting in the centre of Bern/Zurich/Geneva.
READY TO APPLY?
We look forward to receiving your complete application, including a CV, motivation letter, and relevant work certificates, by January 26, 2026. Please send your electronic application via our online recruiting portal. For any questions related to this position please contact Barbara Dietrich, Director International Programmes, barbara.dietrich@helvetas.org and Kalyani Vercammen, Talent Acquisition Manager, kalyani.vercammen@helvetas.org or visit our website www.helvetas.org.
Kindly be aware that the contract will be a two years contract with the possibility of extension. The contract will be based on Swiss terms.
Helvetas, Swiss Association for International Cooperation, founded 1955 as Switzerland’s first private organization for development cooperation, is registered as a denominationally and politically independent, non profit oriented, specialised development association.
Helvetas is primarily committed to working towards the elimination of the causes of poverty and marginalization in the South and the East. Its mission is to actively contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of economically, socially and politically disadvantaged people within the frame of the Human Rights, with a focus on self-initiative activities and self-help in rural areas.
Together with some 44’000 members and their local groups, Helvetas is as well actively engaged in Switzerland with respect to solidarity in development, to promoting fair trade, and raising public awareness of the cultural wealth of development and transition countries.
In its international programme, Helvetas concentrates its actions in four working areas:
1. Infrastructure in Rural Areas including initiatives regarding water and sanitation, access and mobilization, livelihood, rehabilitation and construction of basic infrastructure,
2. Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, also comprising projects in the fields of climate, disaster risk mitigation and sustainable livelihood management,
3. Education and Culture, including a number of successful initiatives in Vocational Education and Training (VET), support to and lobbying for reforms in the VET System, improvement of teaching and learning environments, modernization of curriculum, assessment and development of learning materials, human resource development, development of alternative financing approaches, awareness-building and income generation through artistic forms of expression, promotion of cultural exchange and diversity of cultural expressions.
4. Civil Society and the State, which integrates projects supporting good governance, decentralisation and civil peace building/conflict sensitivity.
Helvetas’ development initiatives are guided by five approaches: striving for equality between men and women (gender), learning through dialogue between different cultures, protecting the environment, acting with economic and social responsibility and conflict prevention.
Helvetas is not only oriented towards material needs, such as procuring food and improved living conditions, but also towards aims regarding social, cultural, and spiritual aspects. These include the overcoming of paralysing dependence, reduction of inequality between the sexes, ethnicity, castes, building up of self-confidence or the strengthening of responsibility towards other human beings and the environment. Helvetas acts on the basis of human rights and makes every effort that these are also respected by its partner organizations. Also important are the promotion of democratic, decentralised structures, opportunities for participation, and joint responsibility as citizens.
For its international programmes, Helvetas’ mission is:
- to cooperate on a partnership basis with and in favour of the poor and disadvantaged population groups in the poorer regions of development and transition countries
- to share knowledge and experiences between Switzerland and partner countries as well as to further promote mutual exchange between partner countries
- to strengthen local structures and sustainable development and to promote human rights
- to develop suitable measures that prevent or mitigate violent conflicts
Wherever indicated, Helvetas applies a multi-stakeholder approach involving partners of civil society, the state and the private sector in reaching development goals. On the basis of participatory approaches, Helvetas strengthens its partner organizations. Their institutional sustainability is a key concern which is addressed through capacity building of the partner organizations. Furthermore, to leverage the best utilisation of its knowledge, to strengthen internal learning and to share experience and lessons learnt with other development actors, Helvetas (in 2000) elevated Knowledge Sharing (KS) to a strategic level. Helvetas nowadays plays a leading role in KS for Development, striving for continuous learning through an intranet and face-to-face workshops. Helvetas supports facilitation of international Communities of Practice (CoP), e.g. the “Water-for-food”-network () or the “KM4Dev” (Knowledge Management for Development) (www.km4dev.org).
Helvetas currently employs 77 staff (56 full-time posts) at the Head Office in Switzerland, and 45 expatriates (42 full-time posts) and 630 local staff in 20 developing and transition countries. In 2009, Helvetas had a turnover of around 64.3 Mio CHF; 54.2 Mio CHF for programme support abroad, 3.4 Mio CHF for information and advocacy activities in Switzerland, and 6.7 Mio CHF for administration and fundraising in Switzerland.
Helvetas’ Board of Directors (15 members) determines the overall strategy based on the bylaws and executes financial control functions. The operational implementation is with the Secretary General and the Management Board (7; Heads of Departments and Secretary General) based on department and working area strategies and financial plans. The International Programmes Department (19 full-time posts) at the head office is divided into a geographic team (steering, coordination, controlling of the country programmes) and the thematic team (technical assistance and expertise, monitoring). In the partner countries, programme offices with programme directors (15) are responsible for the implementation of projects and country strategies. The finance department (4) at the head office operates the financial control system. The Programme direction and programme country projects are audited yearly by an external, independent auditing company (KPMG, Zurich). Helvetas is ZEWO certified, avails a risk analysis system and a well elaborated monitoring and evaluation system.
Helvetas’ monitoring and evaluation system pursues three objectives: a) to provide information for strategic steering, b) to allow organisational learning and c) to assure accountability to its constituencies, donors and the ultimate beneficiaries. Helvetas conducts therefore a) periodic monitoring, b) internal and external evaluations, c) qualitative case studies and d) impact assessments in a set of selected projects. For the periodic monitoring Helvetas has developed an electronic Project Monitoring System (pms), which is linked to its Internal Control System.
Helvetas introduced a decentralized management system in 1990, delegating a high degree of autonomy to the country programme directors. A project monitoring system enables the programme directors to delegate operational responsibility to national project managers and staff. The Helvetas programme offices are responsible for coordination and strategic issues.
Helvetas has links with networks and partner organisations, e.g. being actively involved in the SDC governance network, the KOFF (Competence Centre for Peace Building) intervision group on conflict sensitivity and gender network at university of Bern. Strategic partnership agreements exist particularly with SCA, SKAT and KOFF.
