Humanitarian Mine Action Quality Assurance and Capacity Building Manager

Contract

This is a DRC - Expatriate contract. More about DRC - Expatriate contracts.

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 400 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2023 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

About DRC's Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP) Sector in Ukraine

DRC has been working in Humanitarian Mine Action in Ukraine since 2014, conducting survey and clearance, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) victim assistance (VA) and capacity development with national mine action stakeholders. DRC currently has 15 clearance, 6 Non-Technical Survey and 20 Explosive Ordnance Risk Education teams across Kyivska, Chernihivska, Kharkivska, Dnipropetrovska and Mykolaivska Oblasts and is looking to scale up further in the coming months.

Overall purpose of the role:

As Quality Assurance and Capacity Building Manager (QA/CB Manager) your primary responsibility will be to manage all quality related issues and ensure all technical/HMA assets are trained to the highest standards. The DRC Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP) will rely on your ideas and technical input to revise National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) and MA legislation in country. You will support the Operations Manager (OM) with the capacity building of stakeholders - namely national authorities, and ensure that trainings are delivered as per needs assessments and with a focus on quality.

The QA/CB Manager will be based out of Kyiv and will travel to areas where DRC HDP teams operate and to the national training centers in Ukraine. As QA/CB Manager, you will plan your activities closely with the HDP OM and liaise with the HDP PM based in Kyiv. You directly report to the HDP OM and maintain a technical line with HDP’s Global Senior Technical Advisor and Medical Global Advisor.

The QA/ CB Manager has a direct line management role over the QM Specialist and the QM Officers (including EORE QM staff) and CB Officers and works closely with the Technical Field Managers, Technical Advisors, Demining Supervisors, Officers and other HDP team members.

Responsibilities:

Primary responsibilities:

• The QA/CB Manager`s main responsibility is assuring quality in terms of IMAS, NTSGs and DRC SOPs and monitoring Land Release activities conducted within the DRC HDP Ukraine programme.
• Responsible for the development of the HDP Quality Management toolbox, Training Management Plans (TMPs) and directly monitor training courses for all HMA activities, Land Release operations, including internal and external Capacity Building trainings.
• Develop, implement, amend and revise country-specific Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) for all HDP activities in accordance with HDP Generic Operations Procedures (GOPs), Ukrainian National Standards and IMAS.
• Responsible for overseeing and documenting the nationalisation and/or capacity development process of national staff.
• Recruit, train, manage and capacity develop internal QM teams that will be able to conduct QM activities with minimum supervision within a 12-month timeframe.

Capacity development:

• The QA/CB Manager is responsible for monitoring implementation of capacity building plans for DRC technical personnel conducting NTS, clearance and EORE.
• Ensure that the capacity development process is documented and conducted as directed by the Operations Manager (OM) and Head of HDP.
• Support the OM in creating quarterly capacity building plans for operations.
• Support the implementation of capacity development projects for national mine action stakeholders (e.g. State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Mine Action Center etc), in cooperation with the HMA Technical Advisor and the HDP Program Manager.

Quality:

• Assess and adapt as necessary the current QM toolbox to suit the HDP Ukraine programme.
• Conduct QM on all activities carried out by the HDP teams (this includes EORE team).
• Conducts regular task site inspections in pre-planned coordination with the OM.
• In addition, conducts unannounced task site inspections and report findings to OM accordingly.
• Keep OM informed about any non-conformities identified during site visits through written reports.
• Provide advice on QM issues to the OM.
• Support the OM in updating SOPs.

Training:

• Assess and modify the current training management plans in support of operations as per capacity development plan.
• Ensure that all training is conducted in line with capacity building plans.
• As instructed by OM, prepare, design and monitor implementation of training plans and procedures.
• Support the training of operational staff on a needs basis.
• Compile and record all training undertaken by all HDP personnel.
• Assist the Head of HDP in the training/briefing of managerial staff where their tasks may require understanding of technical mine clearance policies or procedures.

Documenting and Reporting:

• Assess the current operational reporting formats and modify if required in cooperation with the TFMs and Demining Supervisors.
• Ensure that all Operations Reports i.e. survey, clearance, EORE are correctly completed, and where necessary, carry out report writing training if required.
• Report critical non-conformities in HMA operations to OM and suspend work until OM authorises otherwise.
• In accordance with IMAS, conduct investigations of any incident or accident, which may occur under the direction of the OM or HQ HDP Department in Copenhagen.
• Conduct regular inspections in the Information Management unit to ensure that documenting/filing system is done appropriately.
• In accordance with IMAS, conduct investigations of any incident or accident, which may occur under the direction of the OM or HQ HDP Department in Copenhagen.
• Conduct regular inspections in the Information Management unit to ensure that documenting/filing system is done appropriately.

Others:

• Support the OM and the Head of HDP in providing operations related information (incl. photos/video, maps, etc.) for donor reports in coordination with TFMs and the Information Management unit.
• Conduct and record random checks to ensure proper use and maintenance of all HMA equipment such as vehicles, radios, mine detectors etc.
• As required by the OM, establish and maintain relationships at a technical level with all organizations (civil, commercial, military, or humanitarian) involved in HMA and related activities in the project area of operations.
• Undertake other such actions as deemed appropriate and necessary by the OM.

Experience and technical competencies:

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant working experience at international level with a minimum 5 years of experience working with humanitarian international NGOs or similar international body, within the Mine Action sector is required.
• Hands-on experience of training, supervising and deploying HMA teams for Land Release operations is required.
• Extensive experience in HMA Quality Management is required.
• Knowledge of and practical experience with a range of equipment such as the Minelab F3, Ebinger UPEX 740M, for the purposes of clearance operations is essential.
• IMAS EOD Level 3+ certification, or equivalent from an Internationally recognized technical school (Military or Civilian) is required with proven experience to support level EOD Level 3+.
• Experience in advisory and coordination in Capacity Development roles in post conflict environments is desirable.
• Proven experience in drafting SOPs and Training Management Plans is required.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering technical training is required.
• International Certification/Qualifications in Quality Management highly desirable.
• A high degree of computer literacy in all MS Office programs is required.
• Work experience in programme management, including representation, technical supervision of staff, monitoring and evaluation is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of advanced trauma care is highly desirable.
• Work experience from within the region (Eastern Europe) is desirable.
• International Driving license (manual gearbox) required.

Education:

• Masters or Bachelor degree
• EOD 3 Qualifications

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent writing skills required
• Ukrainian and/or Russian language skills are highly desirable

We offer

• Contract length: 12 months
• Band: F – Manager
• Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv / Non-family duty station
• Start date: As soon as possible
• Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for international staff or DRC National Staff salary scale.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 31 August 2023