Humanitarian Mine Action Quality Assurance Manager

Overall purpose of the role: 

As the Humanitarian Mine Action Quality Assurance Manager (HMA QA Manager) your primary function will be to manage all programmatic quality issues and ensure all technical/HMA assets and personnel are trained to IMAS standards. The DRC Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP) sector and Humanitarian Mine Action unit will rely on your ideas and technical input to revise National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) and HMA legislation in country. You will coordinate closely with other stakeholders - namely the HMA Programme Manager (Capacity Building) and the HMA Operations Manager (OM) to build the capacity of national authorities, coordinate their training needs to ensure Quality Management to IMAS standards.  Furthermore, as the HMA QA Manager, you will develop Training Management Plans and act as the primary trainer for DRC HDP HMA staff.

The HMA QA Manager will be based out of Kyiv, Central Ukraine and will travel to areas where DRC HDP HMA teams operate and to the national training centers in Ukraine. As HMA QA Manager, you will plan your activities closely with the Operations Manager and liaise with the HMA Programme Manager (Capacity Building) based in Kyiv. You directly report to the HMA Operations Manager and maintain a technical line with HDP’s Global Senior Technical Advisor and Medical Global Advisor.

The HMA QA Manager has a direct line management role over the QM specialist and the QM officers and has a Technical Line Supervision Responsibility (TLSR) to the Technical Field Managers, Technical Advisors, national Demining Supervisors, Officers and other HMA team members.

Responsibilities: 

Primary responsibilities:

• The HMA QA Manager`s main responsibility is assuring quality in terms of IMAS, NTSGs and DRC SOPs and monitoring Land Release activities conducted within the DRC HDP Ukraine programme.
• Responsible for the development of the HDP Quality Management toolbox, Training Management Plans (TMPs) and directly conduct and oversee training courses for all HMA activities, including Land Release operations.
• Responsible for overseeing and documenting the nationalisation and/or development process of the capacity building of national staff.
• Develop, implement, amend and revise country-specific Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) for all HDP activities in accordance with HDP Generic Operations Procedures (GOPs), Ukrainian National Standards and IMAS.
• Recruit, train, command and capacity develop Internal QM teams that will be able to conduct QM activities with minimum supervision within a 12-month timeframe (subject to available funding).

Nationalization/Capacity development of the technical field staff:

• The HMA QA Manager is responsible to support capacity building within the technical staff and monitor the transitional/ nationalisation process of the Technical Field Managers (TFM), and QM Specialist position.
• Ensure that the capacity development process is documented and conducted as directed by the Operations Manager (OM) and Head of Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP).
• Support the OM in creating quarterly capacity building plans for operations.
• Assist in developing a selection process and criteria for new national QM Officers in support of The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) via the HMA Programme Manager (Capacity Building).

Quality:

• Assess and change as needed the current QM toolbox to suit the HDP Ukraine programme.
• Conducts QM on all activities carried out by the HDP teams (this includes EORE team).
• Conducts regular task site inspections in pre-planned coordination with the OM.
• In addition, conducts unannounced task site inspections at his/her own will and report findings to OM accordingly.
• Keep OM informed about any non-conformities noted through site visits through written reports.
• Provide advice on QM issues to the OM.
• Support the OM in updating SOPs.

Training:

• Assess and modify the current training management plans in support of operations as per capacity development plan.
• In conjunction with the OM prepare, design and implement training plans and procedures.
• Support the training of operational staff on a needs basis.
• Ensure that all training is conducted in line with capacity building plans.
• Collate and record all training undertaken by all HDP personnel.
• Assist the Head of HDP in the training/briefing of managerial staff where their tasks may require understanding of technical mine clearance policies or procedures.

Documenting and Reporting:

• Assess the current operational reporting formats and modify if required in cooperation with the TFMs and Demining Supervisors.
• Ensure that all Operations Reports i.e. survey, clearance, EORE are correctly completed, and where necessary, carry out report writing training if required.
• Report critical non-conformities in HMA operations to OM and and suspend work until OM authorises otherwise.
• According to IMAS, conduct investigations of any incident or accident, which may occur under the direction of the OM or HQ Ops Department in Copenhagen.
• Conduct regular inspections in Information Management unit to ensure that documenting/filing system is done appropriately.

Visibility:

• The HMA QA Manager, in conjunction with the Communications Department, will ensure that all donor visibility is shown on task sites, vehicles, uniforms and offices and other visibility requirements are met as per individual donor contract or HDP internal requirement.
• Support OM with visibility material related to HMA activities for case studies for the HDP website/donor reporting.

Others:

• Support the OM and the Head of HDP in providing operations related information (incl. photos/video, maps, etc.) for donor reports in coordination with TFMs and the Information Management unit.   
• Conduct and record random checks to ensure proper use and maintenance of all HMA equipment such as vehicles, radios, mine detectors etc.
• As required by the OM, establish and maintain relationships at a technical level with all organizations (civil, commercial, military, or humanitarian) involved in HMA and related activities in the project area of operations.
• Undertake other such actions as deemed appropriate and necessary by the OM.
   

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant working experience at international level with a minimum 5 years’ experience working with humanitarian international NGOs or similar international body, within the Mine Action sector is required.
• Hands-on experience of training, supervising and deploying HMA teams for Land Release operations is required.
• Extensive experience in HMA Quality Management in accordance with IMAS, NTSGs and SOPs is required.
• Knowledge of and practical experience with a range of equipment such as the Minelab F3, Ebinger UPEX 740M, CEIA CMD, Vallon VMR3 / VMC, for the purposes of manual mine clearance is essential.
• Minimum of IMAS EOD Level 3 certification, or equivalent from an Internationally recognized technical school (Military or Civilian) is required with proven experience to support level EOD Level 3.
• Proven experience in drafting SOPs and Training Management Plans is required.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering technical training is required.
• International Certification/Qualifications in Quality Management highly desirable.
• A high degree of computer literacy in all MS Office programs is required.
• Work experience in programme management, including representation, technical supervision of staff, monitoring and evaluation is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of advanced trauma care is highly desirable.
• Work experience from within the region (Eastern Europe) is desirable.
• International Driving license (manual gearbox) required.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

We offer

Contract: One year contract, with possibility of an extension, depending on funding and performance.

Salary at Band F - managerial and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates including DRC allowance; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies.

Duty station: Field locations (as determined by programme). 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. Simple accommodation is provided for the duration of the contract.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Start date: December 2022

Application and CV

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications sent together with a CV and cover letter, in English will be considered.

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.

Do not apply if you do not have the necessary experience and qualifications.

All qualifications/certification submitted will be screened.

Application end date: December 4th, 2022