Humanitarian Mine Action Technical Advisor

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 700 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 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.

DRC is currently looking for a Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) Technical Advisor to join our team in Kharkiv. This position, open to national and international candidates.

About the job:

You will have the primary function of providing technical advice to all national staff assigned to you throughout all HMA activities. You will provide daily support and advice to a number of Manual Mining Clearance (MMC), Battle Area Clearance (BAC) and Non-Technical Survey (NTS) teams spanning a wide area of operations. Your secondary function will be to develop the capacity and technical knowledge of all national HMA staff within DRC Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding (HDP) assigned to you with a view to producing an effective and sustainable partially nationalized HMA operation over a specified timeframe.

You will be primarily based in Northern Ukraine but will be expected to travel and reside in other regions, mainly to areas where DRC HDP HMA teams operate, the national training centers and to Kyiv where DRC HDP country office is located.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Provide technical oversight of relevant field operations of the project for which you will be responsible, including training, safety and security, daily operational planning and implementation and the direction of all employed operational personnel under your control.
• Supervise and if necessary, carry out any Land Release operations or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) in accordance with DRC HDP Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Assist the Operations Manager (OM), HMA Manager, Quality Management and Training Specialist (QMTS) in developing the project’s technical contribution to the national mine action capacity as required by the OM. This includes required training in agreed locations and subsequent DRC HDP approved training courses of national personnel such as but not limited to DRC HDP staff members.
• Assist, as required, in the development and maintenance of the DRC HDP technical procedures for project operations.
• Assist the OM, HMA Manager and QMTS in maintaining reporting mechanisms.
• Assist the OM, HMA Manager and QMTS in the training of staff.
• Establish and maintain relationships as required with all organizations (civil, commercial, military, or humanitarian) involved in HMA activities in the project area of operations.
• Monitor the team's daily activities in the field to ensure that all safety procedures are followed according to DRC HDP SOPs.
• Compile the Implementation Plan (IP) for each task in conjunction with the TFM and National Demining Supervisor.
• Ensure that the IP is approved by the OM prior to submitting to the National Authorities.
• Amendments to IPs shall be approved by the OM prior to submitting to the National Authorities.
• Follow up the QM visits and ensure that remedial action if required, is completed.
• Undertake other actions deemed appropriate and necessary by the OM.

Reporting Lines:

You will report directly to the Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) Manager with some indirect technical lines to other DRC HDP expatriate staff.

You will work very closely with other Technical Advisors, Technical Field Managers, National Demining Supervisors and other demining team members.

About you:

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 5 years' Explosive Ordnance Disposal related working experience at international level within humanitarian international NGOs or similar international bodies, within the Mine Action sector. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Hands-on experience of training, supervising and deploying Land Release teams is required.
• Knowledge of and practical experience with a range of HMA equipment, such as the Minelab F3, Ebinger UPEX 740M, CEIA CMD, Vallon VMR3 / VMC, for the purposes of Land Release operations is essential.
• Proven experience in the application of Land Release and a willingness to exercise and promote the Land Release Policy during DRC HDP operations and to transfer this knowledge and expertise to National Staff.
• Minimum of IMAS EOD Level 3 certification, or equivalent from an Internationally recognised technical school (Military or Civilian) is required with proven experience in EOD Level 3.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering technical training and capacity development of national staff is desirable.
• Experience in HMA Quality Management roles would be considered advantageous
• Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent writing skills is requirement. Ukrainian and/or Russian language skills are highly desirable.
• A high degree of computer literacy in all MS Office programs is required.
• Proven experience in technical management of national staff, cultures and religions is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of advanced trauma care is highly desirable.
• Work experience from within the region (Eastern Europe) is desirable.

Desirable personal competencies:

• Capacity to work independently.
• Resolution and integrity.
• A positive and problem-solving attitude and ability to accomplish objectives in spite of a challenging political and insecure environment.
• Innovative and creative thinking with strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Political and cultural sensitivity, as well as a diplomatic, tactful, and flexible interpersonal style.
• Ability to exude calmness and patience in high stress situations.
• Proven ability to function well in a potentially volatile and sometimes stressful environment.
• A strong team player with a willingness to assume other roles and responsibilities short term in times of Expatriate Staff leave periods.
• Medically and physically fit for duty in austere environments.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract: One-year contract, with possibility of an extension, depending on funding and performance.
• Level: F2 Non-managerial
• Duty station: Kharkiv, Ukraine. The position is unaccompanied and the candidate must be prepared to live and work in an isolated environment for long periods of time with limited recreational and social facilities. Accommodation is provided for the duration of the contract.
• Start date: June 2024

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriate staff.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applicants must submit high resolution copies of their EOD certification (in English) and syllabus for each course/certificate, which should clearly support EOD Level III.

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: May 30th, 2024.

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Recruitment will be conducted on a rolling basis, and a final candidate may be selected before the advertisement closes. Only candidates who meet the criteria will be contacted.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.