Humanitarian Mine Action Mechanical Technical Advisor

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been working in Humanitarian Mine Action in Ukraine since 2014, conducting survey and clearance, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) victim assistance (VA) and capacity development with national mine action stakeholders. DRC currently has 15 clearance, 12 Non-Technical Survey and 22 Explosive Ordnance Risk Education teams across Kyivska, Chernihivska, Kharkivska, Dnipropetrovska and Mykolaivska Oblasts and is looking to scale up further in the coming months with mechanical clearance capacities

Overall purpose of the role:

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

Responsibilities:

• Develop country-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) with the consultation of Operations Manager 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 trails to assess any modifications to 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.
• Conduct QA and monitoring of the mechanical assets.
• Seek and liaise with NMAA and other humanitarian MA operators in Ukraine, to develop and improve HDP mechanical operation in terms of machines 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.Attention to the maintenance of the machines before, during and after the machines’ working operations.
• 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 TFM for budgeting purpose.
• To do review of mechanical SOPs for each machine and request for an amendment to the OM.
• Where tasked by OM, coordinate within internal investigation board in an event of Mine/UXO accident or other incidents.
• Regularly appraise and perform mechanical teams in all locations according to DRC Mechanical SOP and NMAS, providing support and feedback to the teams and TFM’s.
• Be informed of all external and internal non-conformities received by mechanical teams and that they are solved 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.
• Undertake any other tasks as directed by OM.

Experience and technical competencies:

• 5 years experience in the mine action program specifically (Clearance, EOD, Survey and MDU operation).
• 3 years’ experience as mechanical demining operation Officer.
• Have to be qualified EOD IMAS level 2.
• 2 years’ experience and capacity with modifications/armoring of the demining machines (Front End Loader, Excavator).
• Experience with the drafting of mechanical SOP.

Education:

• High school (Certificate to be attached).
• Bachelor’s degree desired.
• IMAS EOD L2 Qualifications.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent writing skills required.
• Ukrainian and/or Russian language skills are highly desirable.

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We Offer:

• Contract length: 12 months.
• Band: F- non management.
• Designation of Duty Station: Mykolaiv, Ukraine.
• Start date: 1st January.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies.