Humanitarian Mine Action (Mechanical) Technical Advisor

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Humanitarian Mine Action (Mechanical) Technical Advisor to join our team in Mykolaiv.

About the job

The Mechanical Technical Advisor (MTA) will establish and manage all mechanical demining units/teams (MDU) at the Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding operational sites. Furthermore, the MTA will ensure that all MDUs are in working order and operate in accordance with the appropriate SOPs.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

• Develop country-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) with the consultation of Operations Manager (OM) and Technical Field Manager (TFM) for mechanical assets in accordance with HQ Generic Operating Procedures (GOP), Ukraine Mine Action Standards and International Mine Action Standards (IMAS)
• Develop and assist in the delivery of specific trainings and re-trainings for members of the MDU including clearance teams in mechanical assets and support. 
• Design and conduct trials to assess any modifications to mechanical assets.Conduct QA and monitoring of the mechanical assets.
• Identify and recommend any new technologies/methodologies that will contribute to increased operational efficiency and safety. 
• Provide recommendation to the Operations Manager and the Head of HDP on capacity gaps related to use of mechanical assets.
• Define the needed spare part stock and provide input to the procurement process.
• Maintain good relationships with all relevant HDP Technical Field Managers and other departments within the DRC.
• Seek and liaise with National Mine Action Authorities (NMAA) and other humanitarian Mine Action (MA) operators in Ukraine, to develop and improve HDP mechanical operation in terms of machine modifications or use in multiple systems.
• Conduct inspections of all MDU assets/teams, particularly the machines progress, operating procedures, and productivities rate/day, week and monthly in each area. Ensure the maintenance of the machines before, during and after the machines’ working operations is conducted, recorded and a record of material expenditure is kept.
• Ensure all MDU assets are ready for a quick response to support manual clearance teams whenever required.
• On-time provides the spare parts required list for all machines to the TFM for budgeting purposes.
• Conduct a review of mechanical SOPs for each type of machine and submit proposed amendments to the OM.
• Where tasked by OM, coordinate within internal investigation board in an event of Mine/UXO accident or other incidents involving mechanical assets.
• Regularly appraise performance of mechanical teams in all locations according to DRC Mechanical SOP and NMAS, providing support and feedback to the teams and TFM’s.
• Keep abreast of all external and internal non-conformities received by mechanical teams and that they are resolved on time.
• Analyze all relevant MDU team’s daily, weekly and monthly achievement reports and share with TFM, OM and Information Management Unit.
• Participate in meetings and Technical Working Groups (TWG) arranged by HDP and NMAA, that are relevant to the mechanical operation as directed by OM.
• Conduct Capacity Building (CB) activities with all MDU personnel, with a goal of identifying, training, mentoring and developing the DRC national mechanical teams capability.
• Undertake any other tasks as directed by OM.

Reporting to: HMA Operations Manager

Direct reports: None

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 5 years’ experience in the mine action program specifically (Clearance, EOD, Survey and MDU operation) and 3 years’ experience as mechanical demining operation officer. Moreover, we expect the following:

• 2 years’ experience and capacity with modifications/armoring of the demining machines (Front End Loader, Excavator).
• Verifiable experience with the GCS-200 Demining machine.
• Experience in the use of remote control vegetation cutters would be an advantage.
• Shall be qualified to a minimum of EOD IMAS level 2.
• Experience with the drafting of mechanical SOP.
• Ability to work in a diverse technical team.
• Willingness to deploy to a conflict country.
• High school (Certificate to be attached); Bachelor’s degree desired
• IMAS EOD L2 Qualifications
• Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent writing skills required
• Ukrainian and/or Russian language skills are highly desirable

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract length: One-year contract with potential for extension subject to funding
• Band: F - non-management
• Designation of Duty Station: Mykolaiv, non-family duty station.
• Start date: January 2025

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for international employees, please refer to drc.ngo for more details.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 30th November 2024