Technical Advisor

Programme & Policy

Overview

Provide technical advice and training for Mine Action operations in Afghanistan

You have:

• Minimum 4 years of relevant working experience at a senior international level with humanitarian NGOs or similar in the Mine Action sector is required
• Hands-on experience of training, managing, and deploying manual/mechanical demining, BAC, EOD, NTS and AIM teams
• Knowledge of and practical experience with a range of hand-held detectors for AIM clearance
• IMAS EOD Level III certification, or equivalent is required
• Recognised Non-Technical Survey certification
• Instructor Qualification
• Experience in drafting SOPs is required
• Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent writing skills required
• A high degree of computer literacy is required
• Experience in programme management, including representation, staff management, monitoring and evaluation is highly desirable
• Knowledge of advanced trauma care is highly desirable
• Understanding of local languages (Dari and Pashto) is an asset

Contract

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

WHO ARE WE?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

ABOUT THE JOB

Danish Demining Group (today known as the Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding, HDP, sector of DRC) Afghanistan was established in Kandahar in 1998 during the Taliban regime and since May 2000 conducted operations in Central, Northern and Eastern regions of Afghanistan. HDP has trained a large number of professional Afghan national mine action personnel across a wide range of disciplines and has built a solid reputation as an implementing partner (IP) of Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) with a strong focus on integrated activities as well as quality and safety.

As of January 2022, HDP alone has more than 300 staff. To date, HDP has found and destroyed over 26,803 Anti-Personnel and Anti-Vehicle mines, and 1,167,755 items of ERW, releasing 68,614,623 m2 of safe land to impacted communities. Over three million Afghans in 3,294 at-risk communities have also benefited from receiving EORE from HDP’s teams.

HDP Afghanistan is looking for a dedicated Technical Advisor to support in the training, development and improvement across Mine Action operations.

The Technical Advisor (TA) has the primary function of providing technical advice to national staff. The purpose of providing this technical advice is to develop the capacity and technical knowledge of the national staff within DRC-HDP and other IPs. The objective of building technical knowledge and capacity within the national staff is to ensure that correct and safe Mine Action practices are according to HDP Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and sustainable supervision and management capacity is developed within the organisation.

The TA is to develop staff capacity, in particular from a technical capability point of view, focusing on training delivery, The TA is not to take on tasks and responsibilities of the national staff under his/her supervision, but rather monitors and ensure that these tasks and responsibilities are carried out correctly, efficiently and effectively.

Responsibilities:

• Support the implementation of DRC HDPs Mine Action activities including Abandoned Improvised Mines (AIM)
• Review and revise country specific NTS SOP with the consultation of Operations Manager and Quality Assurance Manager (QAM) for relevant HDP activities in accordance with HQ Generic Operating Procedures (GOP), Afghanistan Mine Action Standards (AMAS) and International Mine Action Standards (IMAS)
• Develop and lead in the delivery of specific trainings for members of the HDP team in areas such as EOD, NTS, Mine Clearance including AIM clearance and quality management.
• Provide recommendation to the Head of HDP and Operations Manager on capacity gaps, and for future continuation training.
• Review the operational structure of the programme and provide feedback/recommendations to Head of HDP and Operations Manager
• Review the application of the Land Release concept throughout operations including the use of task implementation plans and applied land release methodology (cancellation, reduction, clearance)
• Identify and recommend any new technologies/methodologies that will contribute to increased operational efficiency and safety.
• Up-date the training packages for all Mine Action activities conducted by HDP in Afghanistan, in coordination with the national training specialist, EOD Instructor and Quality Management Manager.
• Conduct at least 3 x field QA/Monitoring visits from the available NTS teams after the completion of NTS course to make sure all NTS process are implementing smoothly as per the SOP and NTS training they received.
• Other relevant tasks as assigned by the Head of HDP

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role you must have:

Experience and technical competencies:

• A minimum of 4 years of relevant working experience at a senior international level with humanitarian international NGOs or similar international body, within the Mine Action sector is required
• Hands-on experience of training, managing, and deploying manual/mechanical demining, BAC, EOD, NTS and AIM teams
• Knowledge of and practical experience with a range of hand-held detectors, such as the Minelab F3, Ebinger UPEX 740M, CEIA CMD, Vallon VMR3 / VMC, Wire hound and mine hound detectors for the AIM clearance
• IMAS EOD Level III certification, or equivalent is required
• Recognised Non-Technical Survey certification
• Instructor Qualification
• Experience in drafting SOPs is required as well as knowledge on IMAS/National Standards
• Experience in designing (including TMPs) and delivering technical training is required
• Experience related to use of mechanical assets is desirable
• Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent writing skills required
• A high degree of computer literacy is required
• Work experience in programme management, including representation, staff management, monitoring and evaluation is highly desirable
• Knowledge of advanced trauma care is highly desirable
• Work experience from within the region is desirable

Education/qualifications:

• Strong leadership skills.
• Capacity to work independently

• Managerial courage and integrity

• A problem-solving attitude and ability to get things done in spite of a challenging political 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
• Proven ability to function well in a potentially volatile and sometimes stressful environment

Languages:

• Professional fluency in written and spoken English;
• Understanding of local languanges (Dari and Pashto) an asset

Conditions

• Duty station: Kabul, with regular travel to other regions. The position is unaccompanied, and the candidate must be prepared to live and work in an isolated environment for longer periods of time with limited recreational and social facilities. Simple accommodation is provided for the duration of the contract.
• Contract: 3 months.

• Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position is placed at salary level F.

• Start date: 11 September 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter

We Offer:

• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with DRC salary scale

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position, all applicants must send a cover letter & CV online.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: drc.ngo