Humanitarian Mine Action Team Leader

Introduction:

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. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

 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.

Background

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been working in Sudan since 2004 and was subsequently present in South Sudan when it gained independence in 2011. DRC-DDG South Sudan programmes' current focus is on supporting forcibly displaced and conflict-affected people, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees, to access their rights in a safe and secure environment. Currently DRC-DDG is operational in greater Equatoria, Unity and Upper Nile States.

Overall, Purpose of the Role:

The team leader is tasked to undertake to supervise and managing the EOD/BAC teams with technical management and field operation over site.

The Team Leader will ensure the adherence of the project activities as per DRC SOPS and NMAA

DRC’s Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP) portfolio in-country was initially established in 2006 with Area Clearance, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Peace building (PB). DRC currently conducts these activities, along with Non-Technical Surveys, in Unity, Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria, and Upper Nile States.

Responsibilities

Operations Management:

• Supervision of the EOD/Survey/BAC Team.
• Provide administrative, welfare and disciplinary supervision of all team members.
• Supervise all EOD/Survey/BAC activities of the team in accordance with the work plan.
• Support in the capacity-building process, including training and coordination, whenever possible.
• Ensure that safe storage, transport, and handling of explosive and explosive items in accordance with HDP SOPs in the relevant project operation locations in which they are responsible and keep records of explosive usage updated and reported to relevant government authorities.
• Ensure the alignment of SOP during demolitions.
• Conduct daily meetings with the team leader to plan operational activities.
• Review EOD/Survey/BAC operational procedures and recommend improvements to the operational department.
• Conduct regular internal monitoring of the team and give feedback to the individual team members.
• Report on EOD/Survey/BAC materials and equipment to the Team Leader.
• Making sure the driver keeps the team vehicle clean and in good order.
• Take over the lead of the team when the team leader is away on leave
• Ensure that all equipment are ready and loaded for the daily operations.
• Take the lead in EOD/NTS/BAC/Demining presentations and briefings
• Take the lead in NTS activities such as completing the Survey and Hazard Reports and community mapping exercise in absence of Team Leader or when asked by Team Leader.
• Regularly complete the Hazard report electronically and submit it to the Technical Field Manager or Site Supervisor
• If the team splits to conduct Survey tasks, you will take lead role of the split section
• Make sure the radio communication between Juba and field is maintained all the time.

Coordination

• Establish and maintain relationships at a technical level with all organizations (civil, commercial, military or humanitarian) involved in mine actions in the project area and keep TFM/OM informed.
• Liaise with the NMAA External Quality Assurance section/Operational cell to ensure that all necessary checks are carried out in a timely and efficient manner.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Be familiar with South Sudan NTSG’s and DDG policies and procedures in relation to EOD/NTS/BAC/Demining.
• Update statistics of daily EOD/NTS/BAC activities on the EOD/NTS/BAC Daily/Weekly Activity Report format and submit it to the Radio Operator – Juba Base.
• Assist the EOD/NTS/BAC Technical Field Manager in planning and reporting
• Regularly inspect and check tools, equipment, and work requirements, coordinating with support services and logistics to ensure all necessary resources are provided for efficient HMA operations.
• Ensure that all EOD/Survey/BAC kit is good working condition.
• Ensure that the PPEs are cleaned regularly as directed by the Team Leader.
• Make sure the team folder is correctly and accurately filed with the all the operational documents.
• Keep a record of all daily activities.

Other:

• Play an active role in supporting DRC Senior Management Team.
• Maintain and develop SOPs, workplans and other relevant operations documentation and implement changes within the programme accordingly.
• Work directly with the DRCs HQ Technical Team and the Regional HDP Coordinator in analysing lessons learned from South Sudan to support other programmes regionally and globally, and vice versa.
• Deputise for the HDP Manager as an in-country representative for HMA if/as required.

Experience and technical competencies: 

Required

• Five (5) years (within the past 10 years) of international experience in humanitarian mine action operations with sound knowledge of the relevant International Mine Action Standards and the National Technical Standards and Guidelines
• IMAS EOD Level 3 Qualification (certificates to be annexed to the submitted CV).
• Three (03) years of experience (within the past 10 years) in operating F3 handheld and Large Loop Metal detectors.
• Three (3) years of experience (within the past 10 years) in a similar role with a Mine Action organisation thus possesses sound knowledge of the relevant International Mine Action Standards and the National Technical Standards and Guidelines.
• Three (3) years of experience (within the past 10 years) in planning, deploying and supervising a team in a manual mine clearance role,.
• Proven management experience gained in a range of settings.
• Experience with accreditation to IMAS standards.
• Knowledge of Armed Violence Reduction or Peace building concepts and programming.
• Proven record of empowering and training national staff and ability to train and mentor national counterparts.
• Experience of working in challenging and insecure environments.
• Diplomatic, patient and persistent.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Good knowledge of Word and Excel.

• Willingness to embrace and further develop overall objectives such as gender equity, impact monitoring, and cross-sector cooperation.

Desirable

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
• Documented Explosive Ordnance Disposal skills including but not limited to use of line main and ring main for the disposal of multiple items of ammunition, use of a small-arms ammunition incinerator, identification of all Land Service Ammunition found in South Sudan, capacity to identify whether an item is safe to move, application of adequate safety distances, tamping and protective works, fuse removal using a de-armer, use of pyrotechnic torches
• Trained and experienced in the use/application of the Dual Sensor Detectors.
• Documented capability to undertake, record and report non-technical survey, road assessment, technical survey and mine/ERW clearance tasks
• Experience in data analysis and Information Management

Workplace: Roving within South Sudan.

Start date: TBC, (This recruitment is for creation of a pool). 

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the DRC Expats or National salary structures. 

General Regulations

The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality, and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework. The employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization. The employee should not engage in any activity that could harm the DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period. The employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization. The employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

Application Process:

All suitable candidates apply for this position online: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English. DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability. DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process. 

Applications close on the 7th of December 2024 at 11:59pm (GMT-time). Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.