Operations Senior Officer - Quality Assurance

Peace and Security Cluster

Recent assessments indicate widespread explosive ordnance contamination in Northern Ethiopia including Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions, especially in areas that have seen intense fighting. While the full extent and impact of the contamination is yet to be established, the fighting is believed to have contaminated vast swathes of land with explosive remnants of war (ERW). Moreover, explosive remnants of war (ERW) continue affecting the life of civilians, in recent months. ERW is spread across residential areas and internally displaced persons sites, in communal locations and amongst rubble, posing an immediate risk to life, the delivery of humanitarian aid, inhibiting safe movement, and preventing access to basic services.

The project aims to reduce the immediate and long-term impact of explosive ordnance on civilians and humanitarian operations in northern Ethiopia through coordination and explosive ordnance risk education. As lead of the mine action area of responsibility, ensuring MA contributes to improving the safety of at-risk communities by establishing a humanitarian mine action sector, capable of effectively delivering on the objectives of the Humanitarian Response Plan, the Mine Action Response Programme defines and implements specific activities in accordance with emerging humanitarian needs and through needs-based prioritization, involving an analysis of the explosive ordnance threat, IDPs movement, survey data, and the wider humanitarian response.

Under the direct supervision of the International Operations Specialist and the overall supervision of the Head of Project Unit, the Operations Officer - Quality Assurance will perform the following duties:

• Support the operational management of mine action (MA) activities in Ethiopia

• Support the Operations Specialist with the coordination of mine action activities in their Area of Operations

• Support the Operations Specialist with the implementation of all operational activities including quality assurance of ongoing MA activities   

• Contribute to the implementation of a QA management system and ensure that the system is being applied in a fair and equitable manner

• Assist the Operations Specialist during Explosive Ordnance Assessment activities in the Area of Operations 

• Ensure that Mine Action Organisation Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are in compliance with the IMAS and that the activities are conducted in a safe and effective manner

• Review mine action implementing partners' weekly and monthly reports to ensure outputs align with their contractual obligations

• Oversee data entry into IMSMA, and/or Mine Action Database, of all mine action field reports and returns

• Support the Operations Specialist in maintaining professional and close working relationships with the Government and relevant regional authorities

• Support the development of operational plans, work procedures, and guidelines for mine action activities

• Participate in field visits to assess the progress of mine action activities and provide technical guidance

• Ensure compliance with safety protocols, quality standards, and best practices in all mine action operations

• Contribute to the training and capacity-building of mine action personnel

• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Education

• Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) combined with two (2) years of relevant experience

• A First Level University degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) combined with four (4) years of relevant experience

• Military or Police experience with at least eight (8) years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Work Experience

Relevant experience is defined as operational experience in a Humanitarian Mine Action context.

• A minimum of 2 years of proven and applicable experience (within the past 10 years) in a Humanitarian Mine Action context, specifically in manual mine clearance, battle area clearance and quality assurance is required

• Experience applying International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) is desired

Certification 

• Explosive Ordnance Disposal certification is desired

EOD qualification must be from organisations that train and educate EOD specialists in accordance with IMAS standards - Test and Evaluation Protocol 09.30/01/2022. Individuals are responsible for providing proof of completion.

Languages

• Fluency in English (speaking, reading, and writing) is required
• Fluency in Amharic (speaking, reading, and writing) is required
• Knowledge of Afarigna and/or Tigrinya is desired

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

• Contract type: LICA (Local ICA - Specialist)
• Contract level: ICS-9 (LICA-9, IICA-1, P2 equivalent)
• Contract duration: Six months, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance