Security Manager

Project Context

The Security Manager will provide support to two initiatives :

U-RESTORE is a five-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Cowater International in partnership with Ukrainian civil society and academic institutions. The project aims to enhance the resilience of women, vulnerable groups, and communities across hromadas in two oblasts of government-controlled Ukraine by promoting inclusive and transparent recovery processes. U-RESTORE works to improve the effectiveness of national ministries and local governments in managing gender-responsive and inclusive recovery, while strengthening the role of civil society in holding public institutions accountable. The project encompasses the reconstruction of social infrastructure and the implementation of small-scale economic initiatives aligned with community priorities.

The Support to Ukraine's National Museum of the Holodomor Genocide is an -month initiative designed to strengthen resilience and safeguard Ukrainian cultural heritage as part of post-conflict recovery efforts. The project supports the Museum's efforts to preserve and promote Ukrainian identity, document and digitize materials related to the Holodomor, and strengthen institutional governance and partnerships. It also advances international awareness through the development of a permanent exhibition, a traveling exhibit, and a virtual tour.

Position Summary

The Security Manager will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive, gender- and conflict-sensitive security framework to support the safe and effective delivery of both the U-RESTORE and Holodomor Museum projects.

As a key member of the project management team, the Security Manager will oversee operational risk management in conflict-affected areas, ensuring the safety of staff, partners, infrastructure, and local communities. This role requires advanced technical expertise in security management, a strong commitment to duty of care, and a deep grounding in rights-based and trauma-informed approaches.

The Security Manager will report to the program / country leadership team for day-to-day oversight and performance management. In parallel, the role maintains a strong technical reporting line to Cowater's Head Office Security function, working under the strategic and technical guidance of the Head of Global Security. This dual engagement ensures that project security is responsive to both local operational realities and the organization's global risk governance framework.

The Security Manager will work in continuous partnership with both the project management team and Cowater's Head of Global Security, coordinating on security management, incident reporting, context monitoring, crisis preparedness, and training strategies. This role serves as a vital link between field-level operations and Cowater's broader security governance, ensuring coherence, compliance, and support across all levels of the organization.

Cowater applies a standardized and globally coordinated approach to security and crisis management across all its operations. These systems are built around Cowater's Three Pillars of Security : Building Capacity, Providing Risk Information, and Providing Resources & Response. The Security Manager will play a critical role in adapting and applying these systems to the Ukrainian operational context, ensuring alignment with corporate policies, ISO-aligned frameworks, donor requirements, and the practical needs of project implementation.

Additionally, the Security Manager will build the security capacity of staff and partners, deliver targeted training, and advise on integrating safety considerations into programming. This includes a focus on enabling secure and inclusive community engagement, particularly for women, internally displaced persons (IDPs), persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

This position requires regular travel within Kyiv and to implementation areas, including but not limited to Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Odesa, and Zhytomyr oblasts.

Key Responsibilities

1) Security Risk Management & Coordination

• Design, implement, and continuously update the project's Security Risk Management Plan (SRMP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Conduct risk assessments in Kyiv and hromadas to monitor evolving threats, including gender- and identity-specific risks.
• Participate in relevant security coordination groups and platforms to access security-relevant updates and information, and exchange experience and mitigation approaches with other security personnel
• Maintain up-to-date situational awareness and disseminate timely, actionable security information to staff and partners.
• Ensure alignment with Cowater's global security policies, tools, and incident reporting platforms, in coordination with the Head of Global Security.

2) Training & Capacity Building

3) Operational Support & Emergency Response

4) Stakeholder Engagement

Qualifications

Education :

Experience :

Language Requirements :

Employment Conditions :

Salary Expectation

Applicants are requested to indicate their desired salary range (gross, in CAD) in their cover letter. Compensation will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and Cowater International's salary scale for similar roles in Ukraine. Only candidates who provide this information will be considered for shortlisting.

Application Process

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible through Cowater Career Portal. Please ensure your application includes your desired salary range, as outlined in the Salary Expectation section. Please submit your CV and cover letter using the following naming convention : Last Name, First Name,  Position Title.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. Applications from women, veterans, individuals from underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and qualifications. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

About Cowater International

Cowater International is a leading global development consulting firm headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with regional hubs in Montreal, Brussels, and London. Since 5, Cowater has implemented over 2, projects in more than countries. We collaborate with governments, civil society organizations, and private sector actors to promote inclusive governance, sustainable economic development, environmental resilience, and equal opportunities. Cowater has been consistently recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for its impact, innovation, and commitment to excellence.