Operations Associate

Peace and Security Cluster

UNMAS

United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a division of the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNMAS is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly (RES/68/72) to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problem posed by a wide range of explosive hazards. Legislative mandates also recognize UNMAS technical expertise in responding to threats posed by unsecured and unsafe conventional weapons and ammunition stockpiles. As an office within DPKO, UNMAS supports peacekeeping and special political missions in accordance with Security Council mandates. 

UNMAS as a component of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) provides explosive hazard management capacities, including mitigation, to AMISOM as part of a logistical support package. Non-lethal tactical advice and analysis are delivered by UNMAS technical advisors located in each AMISOM Sector Headquarters and at AMISOM Force Headquarters, who support AMISOM planning and operations. UNMAS support includes both enabling (“operate in spite of IEDs”) and response (“defeat the device”). As a component of the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) UNMAS also supports the Federal Government of Somalia, including the Somali Police Force, Somali Explosive Management Authority and National Security Advisor

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager for Capacity Buidling (CB) in Humanitarian Explosive Management for Stabilisation (HEMS), and general supervison of the Project Manager, the Operations Senior Assistant will be partially imbedded into the office of Somali Explosive Management Authority (SEMA), and he/she will be responsible for providing coordination, information management and secretariat support to the office of the National Mine Action Authority in Mogadishu, Somalia regarding regulation, coordination, and management of explosive hazards. The Operations Senior Assistant will be reporting to the Director General of SEMA in parallel to UNMAS. 

Functional Responsibilities

• Assist in liaison between UNMAS projects and SEMA at federal and states level.
• Assist in setting up internal and external SEMA federal meetings and record meeting minutes.
• Support in organizing and attend humanitarian mine action coordination meetings.
• Participate in field monitoring missions and QA activities in support of UNMAS and SEMA.
• Assist to participate in National Protection Cluster related coordination meetings. 
• Support in providing substantive inputs to assist SEMA in the preparation of reports.
• Validate field data IMSMA reports prior to submission to SEMA and UNMAS IM databases.
• Facilitate the dissemination of data in support of SEMA Information Management Department.
• Assist in data entry activities to the national mine action database when requested.
• Assist to prepare operational briefing documents and packages in support of SEMA.
• Facilitate the issuance of tasking orders to contractors delivering services in support of SEMA.
• Assist to record and dispatch SEMA’s mine action related correspondence.
• Assist in routine logistical and administrative support to UNMAS and SEMA.
• Assist in translation and interpretation of correspondence related to/from local language.
• When requested, assist during formal incidents/accidents investigations.
• Implement any other tasks requested by the Director of SEMA or HEMS Project Manager.

Education:

• A First Level University Degree (Bachelors of equivalent) with a minimum of two years of relevant experience; OR
• High School (Secondary or equivalent) with a minimum of six years of relevant experience is required.

Experience:

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in project management, operation management, operation support, project support, project administration, analysis or planning.
• Experience in Explosive Hazard Management is highly desired;
• Experience in supporting operations in a humanitarian, conflict, post conflict or development context is required;
• Experience in Computer Literacy is required.

Languages

• Fluency in English (writing, reading and speaking) is required. 
• Fluency in Somali (writing, reading and speaking) is required.  

1. Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
2. Contract level: LICA-6
3. Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.