Head of Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding – Ukraine

DRC started Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP) activities in Ukraine in 2014 (when the conflict in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts broke out). The bulk of the HDP portfolio centred on humanitarian mine action (HMA). Following the military offensive launched by the Russian Federation on 24 February, 2022 and the subsequent large-scale humanitarian crisis triggered by the war, explosive ordnance contamination has become a critical issue in many more areas. Currently, HDP activities in Ukraine includes risk education, non-technical survey, humanitarian demining, victim assistance and training support to national partners such as the State Emergency Services and the Ministry of Defence. The programme consists of eight clearance teams, two NTS teams with the intenal QA team, risk education personnel, a team dedicated to cooperation with the SES, an information management unit and general project support staff. DRC intends to scale up and expand its HMA response, in coordination with the State Emergency Services of Ukraine.

About the job

The role of the Head of HDP is to provide the overall management, programmatic direction, oversight, and leadership to DRC’s HDP portfolio in Ukraine. This includes developing areas of the sector beyond HMA where relevant.

Reporting to the Country Director and with Technical Line Supervision from the HDP Unit in Copenhagen, the Head of HDP is part of the overall DRC senior management team (SMT) and provide strategic input to the overall DRC country operation, including the development and implementation of DRC Ukraine’s response strategy.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT:

• The Head of HDP will report to the Country Director (likely based in Kyiv) and have the overall responsibility of DRC’s HDP portfolio in Ukraine, including planning, implementation, financial management and monitoring. The Head of HDP will manage DRC’s HDP programme staff, including people planning, development, capacity building and performance appraisal
• Capacity building of key programme staff in project management functions for HMA, including budget follow up, procurement planning and tracking
• Development of national capacity building and nationalization plans for key roles within the programme.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND QUALITY:

• Team guidance and oversight with respect to HDP programme development.
• Coordination with other DRC Ukraine’s sectors on cross-sector programme planning and implementation (Livelihoods-Economic Recovery, Protection, Legal Aid, Capacity Building, Shelter/NFI), in close collaboration with the Head of Programmes and other Sector Leads, to integrate (when relevant) Humanitarian Mine Action with other activities to achieve more impact for affected communities.
• Team guidance and oversight with respect to HDP programme development, and leading on roll out of programming focused on conflict sensitive programme adaptation.
• Guidance and input to development of HDP country-level sector strategies

FUNDRAISING:

• Development of project proposalsparticularly in view of multi-sector project proposals
• Focal point for all fundraising and donor engagement on HDP programming
• The Head of HDP will be supported by a HDP Advisor for these responsibilities until the end of 2022.

EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION & ADVOCACY

• In coordination with the DRC Head of Programme,Country Director the HDP unit in Copenhagen, the Head of HDP will be responsible for donor liaison and for liaison/representation with local authorities and UN coordinating agencies in areas of implementation, as well as at national level, under the guidance of the Country Director and in coordination with the DRC Ukraine SMT
• Engagement in policy forums, including the Cluster System, regarding HMA good practice, Includes representation of DRC on issues relating to conflict sensitivity across the humanitarian sector in Ukraine.
• Support to National Mine Action Authorities in addressing needs and challenges related to HMA in Ukraine.

OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT:

• Roles include coordination of HDP teams and with support units of DRC Ukraine (HR, Supply Chain, Finance) to deliver and implement in line with DRC procedures. Monitoring of outputs and guidance to Operations Manager regarding work planning and course correction.
• With support from the HMA Operations Manager, the Head of HDP will ensure that operational planning for Battle Area Clearance (BAC), Manual Mine Clearance, Technical and Non-Technical Teams, Community Liaison, and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education are carried out and will maintain a Quality Management (QM) structure that includes monitoring the impact of DRC programming as well as productivity (outputs) and adherence to operational Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and National Mine Action Standrads in the field. The Head of HDP will ensure that quality reporting is delivered to the National Mine Action Authority and DRC’s Headquarters Office in a timely manner in close collaboration with the HDP Operations Manager, Programme Manger, Grants Coordinator and the HDP Unit in Copenhagenin Copenhagen.
• Programme lead for ensuirng safety and compliance standards across HDP programming in Ukraine.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect the following:

Required

• Bachelors or Masters degree in conflict management, conflict prevention, development studies, and social sciences or other relevant field from a recognized institution
• A minimum of 5 years of working experience providing technical guidance and training within Mine Action, Peacebuilding, conflict management or similar sectors
• Extensive understanding of working on issues related to conflict management, conflict sensitivity, community-based approaches, awareness raising, and development of policy recommendations;
• Minimum 2 years of project management experience at the programme implementation level
• Demonstrated experience ensuring conflict-sensitive programming at the programme implementation level
• Demonstrated experience training staff in critical analysis and / or project management skills
• The ability to develop and translate realistic strategic plans that shape programming
• Experience coordinating across departments and sectors at field and country office levels
• Successful experience with fundraising, budget design and monitoring, and managing multiple funding grants
• Experience with the liaison with donors and Government authorities
• Experience in working in complex and politically-sensitive contexts
• A team player – able to demonstrate a constructive, cooperative and problem-solving approach
• Ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment
• Fluency in verbal and written English

Desirable

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply;
• Experience working in challenging and insecure security environments.
• Experience working as a field-level project manager is highly desirable;
• Working experience in Ukraine or in post-soviet countries
• Proficiency in Russian and/or Ukrainian is a distinct advantage.

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: 24 months

Band: E

Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv with frequent travel to the field locations

Start date: 01 July 2022

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Brieuc Le Merle at [email protected].