Humanitarian Mine Action Quality Assurance and Capacity Building Manager

Contract

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

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 600 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.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Ensure quality assurance by implementing and monitoring compliance with IMAS, NTSGs, and DRC SOPs, overseeing Land Release activities within the DRC HDP Ukraine program.
• Develop the HDP Quality Management toolbox, Training Management Plans (TMPs), and oversee training courses for HMA activities, Land Release operations, and Capacity Building trainings.
• Develop, amend, and revise country-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aligned with HDP Generic Operations Procedures (GOPs), Ukrainian National Standards, and IMAS.
• Supervise and document the nationalization or capacity development process of national staff.
• Recruit, train, manage, and capacitate internal QM teams for independent QM activities within a 12-month timeframe.
• Monitor and implement capacity-building plans for DRC technical personnel conducting NTS, clearance, and EORE activities.
• Document and oversee the capacity development process directed by the Operations Manager and Head of HDP, creating quarterly capacity building plans.
• Support capacity development projects for national mine action stakeholders in collaboration with the HMA Technical Advisor and HDP Program Manager.
• Assess, adapt, and conduct QM on activities performed by HDP teams and EORE teams, conducting regular and unannounced task site inspections, reporting findings to the Operations Manager (OM).
• Inform the OM about identified non-conformities during site visits through written reports, providing advice on QM issues, and assisting in updating SOPs.
• Modify training management plans, ensuring alignment with capacity development plans, and overseeing training conduction.
• Prepare, design, and monitor implementation of training plans and procedures as instructed by the OM, supporting operational staff training and recording undertaken training.
• Assist the Head of HDP in training managerial staff where technical mine clearance understanding is required.
• Modify operational reporting formats as needed, ensuring accurate completion of all Operations Reports and conducting investigations of critical non-conformities in HMA operations.
• Conduct regular inspections of the Information Management unit, and provide support for operations-related information for donor reports, equipment maintenance checks, maintain relationships with relevant organizations, and undertake other necessary actions as directed 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 (or national) staff.

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: 25 December 2023