Ukraine: Mine Risk Education Project Managers, Eastern Ukraine– DDG Ukraine

(2 positions)

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) / Danish Demining Group (DDG) are looking for qualified Mine Risk Education (MRE) Project Managers to launch mine action and awareness activities in various locations across Eastern Ukraine.

Background

The Danish Refugee Council/Danish Demining Group (DRC/DDG) has operated in Ukraine since June 2007. In January 2013, it closed its office upon completion of programmes for the protection of asylum seekers and refugees, and for the capacity building of government and civil society. DRC returned to Ukraine with assessment missions starting in April 2014, in order to assist those persons who are internally displaced (IDPs). Today, DRC/DDG implements activities in eastern Ukraine with a head office in Kyiv.

DDG implements Mine Risk Education (MRE) with the aim to increase the safety and security of school-aged children and their parents in Donbas. This is conducted in and around learning spaces and schools through increased awareness and knowledge on risks from explosive remnants of war (ERW), namely unexploded ordnance (UXO) and mines. The MRE project is currently operating out of Severodonetsk but with planned expansion to government-controlled Mariupol (Donetsk Oblast), with a second location to be confirmed. This includes the possibility of operating in the non-government controlled area of Ukraine if the situation permits.

Specific duties

The MRE project manager is responsible for the overall implementation of and reporting on the MRE project in a designated area of Ukraine (in planning to be Mariupol) including:

• Detailed planning of project roll-out, activities, and phase-out.
• Supervising project implementation and staff in their duties.
• Project monitoring and evaluation.
• High-level liaison work with stakeholders, including government authorities and the UN.
• Establishment and management of the DDG field office in Mariupol, in close coordination with DRC colleagues already working there.
• Development of further DDG-specific projects.
• Potentially moving to a second location after several months to set up a new office in the non-government-controlled part of Eastern Ukraine, if the situation permits.

The MRE Project Manager(s) has a direct reporting line to the DDG Head of Office in Severodonetsk in terms of technical and operational implementation. Equally, it is important the MRE Manager reports to and keep the field based DRC Head of Office in e.g. Mariupol updated of DDG activities in the area.

Required qualifications

• Preferable a BA level in a relevant discipline from an internationally recognized university or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience with programme and staff management, preferably in a complex and fragile environment.
• At least three years’ work experience working on MRE-related programming.
• Experience of managing multi-donor, multi-site programmes.
• Strong communication skills.
• Proven ability to mentor and coach others.
• Prior M&E experience, data collection and analysis.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
• The capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult and insecure circumstances.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Ukrainian or Russian language skills are highly desirable.

Personal competencies

• You are a strong leader with an acute sense of cooperation and networking, internally and externally
• You have a documented ability to recruit, build and motivate a team
• You show initiative, have perseverance and an ability to keep a cool head under stress
• You have attention to detail and get the job done.
• You possess innovative and creative thinking, and strong analytical and reporting skills

Conditions

Duty station: (planned) DDG Mariupol, government-controlled Donetsk Oblast, with daily work at DDG field operations in the area. As noted in ‘Specific duties’, the position may require a move to the non-government-controlled area of Ukraine to help start MRE activities there, so candidates must be willing to accept this.

Contract: 12 months with a possibility for extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and employment conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates http://drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/ . This position is rated as salary level A11.

Further information

For further information, please contact DDG’s Programme and Operations Coordinator for Ukraine, Bodil Jacobsen, at bodil.jacobsen@drc.dk. For general information about the Danish Demining Group and the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.danishdeminingroup.dk and www.drc.dk.

The Danish Demining Group (DDG) is the Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) and Armed Violence Reduction (AVR) Unit in the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). The DDG mission is to recreate a safe environment where people can live without the threat of landmines, unexploded ordnance and small arms and light weapons .

We only accept applications sent via our online system at www.drc.dk. Apply here

Please submit your application no later than Friday 11 September 2015. Please annex both a CV and a “Letter of Motivation” as part of your application. CV-only applications will not be considered.

Please contact job@drc.dk, if you experience problems with your online application.