Mine Action Manager at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an independent, non-profit organization (NGO), founded on the basis of humanitarian principles, and human rights based approach, to secure the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and to promote long-term solutions to the problems of forced displacement.

Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a specialized unit within DRC which implements Mine action and Armed Violence Reduction (AVR) programmes. DDG’s mandate is ‘to create a safe environment free from armed violence and the remnants of conflict’, and DDG does this via a programmatic focus on four key sectors: Security Systems Reform, Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) management, Mine Action and Conflict Management.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: DDG-DRC Nigeria - Mine Action Manager

Job ID: #1364636
Location: Yola

Position's Overall Objective

• The Mine Action Manager is responsible and accountable for designing, managing, monitoring, and advising on DRC/DDG mine action activities in northeastern Nigeria.
• The Mine Action Manager's role is to ensure that Mine Action-related activities implemented within the DRC/DDG programme are in line with DRC/DDG’s objectives, strategies, donor requirements, and are compliant with DDG’s mine action Standard Operating Procedures.

Reporting Lines

• The Mine Action Manager reports to the EU Programme Manager, responsible for the overall implementation of the EU programme.
• The Mine Action programme also works in close collaboration with DDG’s Regional Manager, Global Specialist Lead for mine action, Global Risk Education Advisor and other DRC/DDG Managers based in Nigeria (e.g Livelihoods, AVR, M&E).
• The Mine Action Manager monitors, advises and line manages national staff responsible for implementing risk education-related activities (ie RE supervisors and facilitators).
• The post holder will have to work closely with the National Safety Advisor to ensure staff safety during programme delivery.

Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities include:

• Provide overall leadership for DRC/DDG’s Mine Action operations in Nigeria
• Recruit and help to induct and train national programme staff
• Plan and lead the implementation of all mine action-related activities
• Develop realistic workplans which a focus on achieving tangible results within required timeframes
• Devise future Mine Action project plans and funding proposals
• Collaborate with M&E staff to ensure rigorous monitoring and evaluation of mine action activities
• Monitor and supervise regular mine action related assessments
• Contribute to the management of safety and security by adhering to established protocols
• Other tasks as requested by EU Programme Manager, Country Director and/or DDG Regional Manager

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

Operations:

• Assist the CD in carrying out operational planning for all Mine Action related activities, e.g Non-Technical Survey/Technical Survey, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Battle Area Clearance (BAC), Community Liaison, and Risk Education. This should be done while keeping focus on national priorities and beneficiary needs.
• Mentor, monitor, advise and supervise the national programme staff in Mine Action, ensuring that they carry out their duties and responsibilities in accordance with their job descriptions and relevant DDG mine action SOPs and DRC/DDG and donor guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with medical support SOPs, and ensure a proper level of medical training for all staff.
• Make recommendations regarding new approaches and develop, implement and revise country-specific Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) for relevant DRC/DDG activities.
• Design an internal Quality Management (QM) structure that includes monitoring the
• impact of DDG programming in terms of Mine Action as well as productivity (outputs).
• Ensure that all mine action related activities are coordinated with and complementary to each other and all other programmes including both DRC-DDG and external partners
• Make regular field visits to monitor and advise the national staff in programme delivery
• Ensure the staff is well trained and have the relevant skills and capacity to deliver the programme efficiently and effectively.
• In collaboration with the national Safety Advisor, managing the safety of field staff

Stakeholder Relations:

• Liaise with local and national authorities (including the police, military, etc), donors, external partners etc. within his/her assigned areas of responsibility and coordinate with the Programme Manager and the Country Director.

Reporting:

• Assist the senior national staff in the timely and quality compilation of monthly, quarterly and annual reports for their specific sections.
• Make regular field visits and reports
• Support the Country Director to prepare annual reports to the host government, donors and DDG Regional and Head Offices as requested.

Admin/HR:

• Work closely with Head of Admin and Finance to monitor admin and HR aspects of his/her assigned sections; including monitoring the discipline and welfare of the programme staff and ensuring that the correct level of staff capacity is maintained.
• Line manage the assigned national mine action staff. The Mine Action Manager will also coach and mentor the national staff in management skills in relation to their teams.

Finance:

• The Mine Action Manager is responsible for working closely with Head of Admin and Finance in monitoring of the financial aspects of the activities in his/her assigned sections.

Required Qualifications

• University Degree in a relevant discipline
• Minimum 5 years’ previous experience in humanitarian mine action and full understanding of its technical requirements.
• IMAS EOD 3 qualifications and previous work experience as an Operations Manager.
• Minimum two years previous experience working with a mine action INGO
• Proven management experience, gained in a range of settings.
• Experience with accreditation to IMAS standard
• Proven record of training, mentoring and developing the capacity of national staff
• Experience of working in challenging and insecure environments
• Diplomatic, patient and persistent.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Experience working in diverse and cross-cultural context
• Willingness to embrace and further develop overall objectives such as gender equity, impact monitoring, and cross-sector cooperation.
• High degree of computer literacy - fully proficient in use of word, excel and powerpoint
• Willing to live in shared team house

Conditions:

• Availability: April 2016
• Duty station: Yola, Nigeria with frequent travel within Borno and Adamawa states
• Duration: 12 months with possibility of renewal, subject to performance
• Contract: Level B2
• This is a Non Family Duty post.

Remuneration
Salary, benefits and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to: www.drc.dk under Vacancies.

Application Closing Date
9th February, 2016.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• All applicants must send a Cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note.
• CV only applications will not be considered.