Senior Mine Action Technical Advisor

Peace and Security Cluster

Background Information - PSC Libya Project Unit

The PSC Libya  Project Unit operates as an integral part of Peace and Security Cluster structure. The Head of the Project Project Unit reports to the PSC Director who provides direction and guidance. S/he is responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, supervising and closing all projects in the country in order to support substantive partners in delivering its mandate. 

In PSC Libya  Project Unit, PSC’s partner is the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), and UNMAS’ representative in-country is the Chief of Mine Action Programme (CMAP). The CMAP is therefore the HPU’s primary stakeholder. UNOPS PSC and UNMAS have developed a delineation of responsibilities, using a RACI responsibility matrix to define who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed. The HPU is expected to work in close cooperation with the CMAP, ensuring that, in substance, the Libya  mine action programme operates as one integrated team.

Following the 2011 revolution, Libya was recognized as possessing the largest unsecured stockpiles of arms and ammunition in the world. Thousands of air strikes on ammunition storage areas and strategic targets resulted in uncontrolled access to vast quantities of weapons and ammunition. The contamination added to existing mines and ERW from World War II and successive conflicts. Numerous conflicts, the most recent one commencing in April 2019, have exacerbated ERW contamination and ammunition management issues exponentially. 

Intense fighting from April 2019 to June 2020 also resulted in large amounts of unsecured military equipment and ammunition being abandoned. This was compounded by the continuous flow of sophisticated weapons and ammunition into Libya in violation of the arms embargo. Fuelled by the widespread availability of military grade explosive materiel, several non-state armed groups and extremists have made use of IEDs and booby-traps in numerous areas. The explosive items that have recently been used are particularly dangerous as they include sophisticated fuze mechanisms and may involve various explosive charges. The devices and threats exhibit a level of sophistication and ingenuity beyond the training and experience of many clearance entities and the magnitude of the problem may take years to address.

The operational area of Sirte is a known hazardous area and is currently occupied by foreign forces and mercenaries who possess the capacity to utilize the full range of explosive ordnance, tactics, techniques, procedures, and devices previously encountered in Libya. The area is contaminated with mines, booby-traps, IEDs, and other ERW. For example: During clearance of the coastal road in early 2021, more than 7.5 tons of ERW were removed to facilitate the opening. Libyan mine action authorities have stated that surveys must be undertaken to determine the level and type of contamination that must be cleared to make the area of the Ceasefire monitoring mission safe for movement.

The Senior Mine Action Technical Adviser (STA) position will be integrated in the UNSMIL Arms and Ammunition Advisory Section (AAAS) and will report to the UNMAS Chief of HMA. The AAAS has primary responsibility for the implementation of UNSMIL’s mandate to: “provide support in securing uncontrolled arms and related materiel and countering their proliferation”. The AAAS contributes to additional areas of mandate implementation to, inter alia: help achieve a ceasefire and, once it is agreed by the Libyan parties, provide appropriate support to its implementation; coordinate international assistance, provide support to key Libyan institutions; and provide advice and assistance to GNA-led efforts to stabilise post-conflict zones, including those liberated from Da’esh.

In 2022, the AAAS will continue to support the political process, particularly the security track, by providing technical guidance and assistance for the development of Libyan-owned arms and ammunition management; assist in the implementation of humanitarian response activities through support and coordination for the response to explosive ordnance; and capacity building of Libyan stakeholders to enable them to conduct and coordinate mine action. 

In line with the Secretary-General’s progress report on proposed ceasefire monitoring arrangements in Libya (S/2021/281), the Secretary-General’s letter to the Security Council of 7 April 2021 (S/2021/353) and Security Council resolution 2570 (2021) of 16 April 2021, the UNSMIL Operationalization Plan for the Berlin Conference (S/2020/63), and the DPPA Concept of Operations for “UN Support to the Libyan Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism” (July 2021), UNSMIL will deploy a ceasefire monitoring component to Sirte, Libya to assist in monitoring the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement.

In support of the newly established UNSMIL ceasefire monitoring component, the STA will provide dedicated technical expertise to assess the threat and impact from a wide range of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), including landmines, booby-traps, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and other ERW to UNSMIL operations and personnel and provide recommendations on force protection and mitigation measures. The STA will perform UNSMIL’s principal role in providing technical and coordination support to the Mine Action Sub-Committee established by the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) and assist UNSMIL in supporting the successful implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement.

• Provide Mine Action technical expertise to the UNSMIL ceasefire monitoring component for operational planning in areas contaminated with explosive ordnance or dangerous stockpiles; 

• Provide technical and operational expertise and coordination support to the 5+5 JMC Mine Action Sub-Committee, relevant entities, and associated Ceasefire Agreement monitoring committees.

• Develop and provide threat assessments and briefings and provide route-specific briefings on the threat, including explosive ordnance recognition and safety measures;

• Develop and oversee emergency response planning for explosive ordnance accidents/incidents and assist in emergency response implementation;

• Provide 24/7 support to advise UNSMIL and JMC monitors on the threat; 

• Provide explosive hazard awareness induction training to staff and Libyan monitors; 

• Conduct liaison and coordination with relevant national and international entities with knowledge of the threat to assist in operational planning, threat mitigation, and provision of international assistance.

• Provide data recording and management of explosive ordnance reports and support information sharing with stakeholders.

• Report progress by Libyan clearance teams on marking and clearance of contaminated areas and ammunition stockpiles, and on an ad hoc basis, investigate explosive ordnance finds for future clearance in support of the  UNSMIL ceasefire monitoring component, 5 + 5 Joint Military Commission.

• Provide technical expertise on arms and ammunition management to facilitate UNSMIL support for the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries and planning for disarmament related to the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement.

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; or

• First Level University Degree (Bachelor’s degree) with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience; or 

• Military or police experience with a minimum of 13 years of relevant experience. 

Certification:

• Advanced IEDD certification ( as per UN IEDD standards) 

• EOD Level 3 certification is required. 

IEDD and EOD qualifications should be from international organizations that train and educate EOD/IEDD specialists in accordance with IMAS standards and UN IEDD standards. Individual is responsible for providing proof of competence and curriculum of courses attended.

Experience:

Relevant experience is defined as experience in IED Threat Mitigation and/or Explosive Risks Mitigation functions within a recognized military, police, humanitarian mine action organization, development setting, or other relevant field experience.

• Experience using electronic countermeasures (ECM)/C-IED within the last 10 years is required.

• Experience in threat analysis and briefing in high-risk contexts is required.

• Experience in writing and reviewing reports is required.

• Experience working in Libya is desirable.

• Good coordination and diplomatic skills are required. 

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (reading, writing, and speaking) is required. 

• Proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

1. Contract type: FTA
2. Contract level:  P4
3. Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability'

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful
implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects
around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve
peace and sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management,
financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging
environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused
professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on
behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of
nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labour force — a
strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We
continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that
encourage the recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and
personal demands.