POSITION TITLE: Physical Safety Trainer (Consultant) 

GRADE: Consultant (with the potential to become Part of Full Time Hire) 

REPORTS TO: SAFE Initiative Europe Center Manager 

LOCATION: Ukraine or Eastern Europe with unrestricted travel availability to Ukraine and the region 

ABOUT IREX  

IREX is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world by empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions, and extending access to quality education and information. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Physical Safety Trainer, under the supervision of the Center Manager will be hired to prepare and deliver regionally contextualized safety trainings and workshops to journalists and other media practitioners in Ukraine

IREX  will prioritize applicants based in Ukraine or in Eastern Europe with unrestricted travel to Ukraine with experience working in the country/region. This is a consultancy position with a potential to become a part or full time hire. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

• In coordination with the Center Manager and Deputy Center manager and other Trainers, prepare tailored holistic safety trainings for media practitioners and human rights defenders in Ukraine 

• Deliver trainings in physical safety and risk management for media professionals and social communicators  that reflect an integrated safety framework. 

• Ensure integrated approach to trainings and training activities (i.e. standard operating procedures and risk-mitigation strategies) through working closely with other program trainers, as well as other program staff and consultants. 

• Adapt, create and contextualize physical safety and risk management lessons and methodology to suit participants’ needs and ensure integrated approach in training materials.  

• Work with the management and technical team to develop and update training curriculum as needed.  

• In close coordination with trainers: develop, implement and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for activities in training locations. Under the supervision of the deputy center manager, may be responsible for risk assessments for all training locations.  

• Maintain a local and regional situational awareness and coordinate project responses to (emerging) threats, analyzing and disseminating information.  

• Coordinate with the Center Manager on needs assessment and risk assessment work prior to trainings.  

• Participate in debrief meetings after trainings if/when required  

• Monitor participants’ learning and performance during trainings/other psychosocial activities to provide inputs and feedback to MEL coordinator and Team during activities debriefs.  

• Coordinate with the Center Manager and Deputy Center Manager on risk-mitigation strategies and trainee follow-up on an as needed basis. 

• Report on activities as required by Center Manager. 

• Participate in meetings and/or calls with staff upon request 

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE  

• University degree/ Minimum 2 years of experience designing and implementing curriculum for physical safety trainings, preferably in emergency protocols, risk assessment, first aid and safety. . Substantial experience working in high-risk environments or emergency situations. 

• Demonstrated expertise in areas such as training programming and curriculum development.  

• In-depth knowledge of journalism sector as well as operating environment and media landscape  Ukraine and Eastern Europe region

• Must be open to learning and adapting training material for a holistic approach combining psychosocial, physical, digital curricula and risk management as well as piloting new adult learning techniques.  

• Ability to communicate professionally and provide written reporting in Ukrainian and English.  Russian will be considered as a plus.

• Excellent cross-cultural communication, and interpersonal skills; and  

• Experience of working constructively as part of a small team.