HEAT & Security Training Expert

SRD Center is seeking an experienced Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) and Security Training Expert to serve as Team Lead for an upcoming training assignment in Syria. The expert will lead the design, preparation, and delivery of a practical HEAT programme targeting professionals who may work or travel in challenging, insecure, or hostile environments. The assignment will combine classroom-based learning with practical exercises and a dedicated field-training component. The Team Lead will be responsible for ensuring that the training is technically sound, participatory, scenario-based, and delivered in accordance with appropriate safety standards. The expert will work closely with a second HEAT/First Aid Trainer and the SRD Center coordination team. Tasks The Team Lead will be responsible for: - Lead the overall preparation, technical design, and delivery of the HEAT programme. - Review and adapt the training curriculum, agenda, presentations, exercises, and participant materials to the operational context. - Deliver classroom and practical sessions on hostile-environment awareness and personal security. - Facilitate training sessions related to: - security risk identification and assessment; - situational awareness; - personal security and safety; - travel and movement security; - preparation for field missions; - incident prevention and response; - checkpoints and road movement; - detention and arrest awareness; - kidnapping and abduction awareness; - civil unrest and challenging security environments; - communications and incident reporting; - stress and decision-making under pressure. - Lead practical field exercises, simulations, role plays, and scenario-based learning activities. - Coordinate the roles of the co-trainer and other personnel involved in practical exercises. - Ensure that all practical scenarios are conducted in a controlled and safe manner. - Brief participants on safety procedures before practical exercises. - Monitor participant performance and provide constructive feedback during exercises and debriefing sessions. - Facilitate structured debriefings following practical simulations. - Contribute to pre- and post-training assessments and evaluation of participant learning. - Ensure consistency and quality across all training sessions. - Coordinate with SRD Center regarding training logistics, equipment, field arrangements, and participant requirements. - Support preparation of training completion records, participant evaluations, and training reports. - Contribute to the provision of internationally recognized or accredited HEAT certification, where applicable under the proposed certification arrangement. Qualifications Candidates should preferably meet the following requirements: - University degree or professional qualification in security management, risk management, crisis management, humanitarian operations, military/police studies, emergency management, or another relevant discipline. - Recognized HEAT, hostile-environment, security-management, or related professional training certification. - Strong demonstrated professional experience in security, humanitarian safety, risk management, crisis management, or hostile-environment operations. - Demonstrated experience delivering HEAT or comparable personal security and hostile-environment training. - Previous experience leading practical and scenario-based security training. - Strong practical understanding of security risks faced by humanitarian, development, research, and field personnel. - Experience working or operating in fragile, conflict-affected, post-conflict, or high-risk environments. - Ability to design and safely manage field exercises and realistic training scenarios. - Strong facilitation, communication, coaching, and participant-management skills. - Ability to work effectively as Team Lead and coordinate other trainers and support staff. - Experience delivering internationally recognized or accredited security training is highly desirable. - Previous professional experience in Middle East is an advantage. - Excellent command of English is required. - Ability to deliver training or facilitate discussions in Arabic and/or Kurdish is a strong advantage. - Availability to travel and participate fully in classroom and field-training activities. How to apply Interested candidates should complete the following short online application form: Applicants should clearly indicate the position for which they are applying and provide information on their relevant qualifications and professional experience. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further steps and additional information.