Underwater Explosive Threat Management Specialist

The Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR), based in Geneva, is responsible for the effective management, coordination and oversight of UNOPS operations across the region. The ECR region spans the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Türkiye, where UNOPS works with partners to achieve sustainable impact in health, education, environmental management, housing, rule of law, good governance, economic development, and social inclusion. With a wealth of experience in procurement, infrastructure, project and grant management, UNOPS in the region directly implements projects, provides technical advisory services and capacity building to advance the Sustainable Development Goals in support of national governments.

On 24 February 2022, the military of the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, with strikes across the territory of Ukraine. Since then, Russia’s invasion imposes a severe humanitarian and socio-economic toll, global energy and food crisis, large-scale destruction of the country's infrastructure, and disruptions in the provision of critical services and degradation of social fabrics and communities’ ties, triggering one of the world’s most significant forced displacements. 

Severe attacks on energy and critical infrastructure facilities leave millions of people without electricity, water or heating supply, struggling to access water, food, health services, materials to repair homes, among others. The continued attacks cause substantial damage to the country’s economy and agricultural production, and also affect the poorest countries worldwide.

UNOPS support to partners spans the humanitarian-development nexus from emergency response to building back better, across the housing, health, education, transport, energy and mine action sectors, through infrastructure, procurement and technical assistance / project management interventions, with the ultimate aim of supporting the country on its EU accession and in its achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UNOPS Ukraine and Eastern Europe MCO (UEMCO) operates in Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland, supporting urgent humanitarian needs while building pathways for recovery and development. In Ukraine, UEMCO delivers large-scale infrastructure, energy, housing, education, and mine action projects in partnership with UN agencies, international financial institutions, the European Union, and bilateral donors. Its agile portfolio responds to fast-evolving needs with strong procurement and implementation capacity. In Moldova, UEMCO supports justice sector reform and is exploring opportunities to expand its role across public sector modernization and infrastructure. In Poland, UEMCO works with government and private sector actors to strengthen ties with UN procurement and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, leveraging Poland’s EU experience to support Ukraine’s future accession and integration.

The Ukraine Mine Action Portfolio of Projects operates as an integral part of the Ukraine & East Europe  Multi-Country Office (UEMCO). 

In order to support a multi-year strategy of a major donor, a six- month (6) Critical Needs Assessment (CNA)  is being undertaken as a prelude to an anticipated 5-year project delivering humanitarian mine action services to state entities in Ukraine. These services will include training, procurement, and infrastructure development. The needs assessment will cover various functional areas, including humanitarian demining, canine services, underwater demining, and academic enhancements.

The purpose of the Critical Needs Assessment is to clarify the operational requirements regarding infrastructure, procurement, training, and identify key strategic gaps that can be remedied through training, mentoring, and re-alignment of state institution policies. The CNA will review the areas related to each of the programme projects to establish a solid foundation for implementation. 

In support of the beneficiary, UNOPS will address the unique risks of underwater ordnance clearance. This project will establish an underwater Explosive Threat Management training facilities, while equipping divers with specialised skills and tools. Significant scale-up of existing infrastructure facilities will also be required. Project phases include facility design and construction, followed by two training and equipment procurement cycles, ultimately creating a sustainable underwater EOD capability.

The Underwater Explosive Threat Management Specialist will work to assess existing Underwater Explosive Threat Management capacity during the CNA, collecting data and working closely with the CNA Technical Lead to identify milestones to be undertaken immediately after, and if possible during, the Critical Needs Assessment. 

Summary of key functions: 

1. Assessment of existing Underwater processes, facilities, and capacity.  

2. Procurement Planning.

3. Infrastructure Refurbishment Planning.

4. Policy Development and Implementation 

   1. Training/Mentoring 

   2. Operational Support 

Reporting to the Technical Lead, the Underwater Specialist will contribute to enhancing Ukrainian humanitarian underwater demining capacity by supporting the scale-up of diving units. 

During the CNA, (s)he will specifically be responsible for encompassing the initial phases of the project by conducting:

1. Assessment of existing underwater processes, facilities, and capacity: 

• Conduct thorough assessments of existing underwater capacity as it relates to training, equipment, and infrastructure. 

• In close collaboration with the Programme Officer, compile findings to capture in the final CNA report. 

Utilising the results of the assessments undertaken, the Underwater Specialist will be responsible for providing the following support in close collaboration with the CNA Technical Lead: 

2. Procurement Planning: 

• Evaluate and determine the specifications for diving and any required UW ETM tools relevant construction materials, hyperbaric chambers, and Underwater ETM Training Material (UWETM).

• Ensure all procured equipment is compatible with existing equipment utilized by the beneficiary.

• Working in close collaboration with the Senior Procurement Officer, liaise directly with the beneficiary to obtain approval for all selected equipment.

• Working in close collaboration with the Senior Procurement Officer, compile a comprehensive list of approved equipment.

3. Infrastructure Refurbishment Planning: 

• Provide technical input for the rehabilitation of existing diving training facilities.

• Offer technical expertise in the replacement of the hyperbaric chamber, if required. 

• Advise on the construction of permanent structures to support the development of the beneficiaries humanitarian demining and diving training site. 

4. Policy Development and Implementation as it relates to: 

• a. Training and Mentoring Planning:

  • Oversee the technical aspects of delivering the training package up to EOD3+ IMAS level, ensuring compliance with beneficiary agreements and urgent training needs.

  • Verify that UWETM training delivered by contracted vendors complies with the beneficiaries professional development plan approved by the Ukrainian Ministry of Education, national legal frameworks, NMAS, and IMAS.

  • Provide technical guidance for operational management training and EOD level 3 for team leaders.

  • Ensure the technical quality and relevance of training on the use and maintenance of autonomous surface vehicles and hyperbaric chambers.

• b. Operations Support:

  • Provide expert technical support to the beneficiary as a UW ETM specialist based on their operational needs.

  • Maintain constant and close contact with the beneficiary and other training providers to ensure proper resource prioritization and avoid duplication of effort with other projects

Required

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; OR

• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; OR

• A technical or professional diploma with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience.

• Demonstrated IMAS-equivalent EOD 3+ qualification certified through military and government-affiliated training programs

• Qualified EOD Diver, certified through military and government-affiliated training programs

• Professional Diver qualification (e.g., HSE SCUBA, HSE Part I/II, ADAS Part 2 or higher, or equivalent) for commercial or military diving operations.

Desired

• Certification and demonstrable experience operating Closed-Circuit Rebreather (CCR) equipment.

• Certification as Hyperbaric Chamber Operator qualification or equivalent, with experience running surface decompression and therapeutic recompression tables.

Required

Relevant experience is defined as: 

• A minimum of 5 years (or more depending on academic credentials) of progressive experience in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), of which at least 3 years must involve Underwater EOD (UXO) operations.

• Within the required 5 years, a minimum of 3 years of verifiable professional experience in the design, development, management, and instructional delivery of Underwater (UW) ETM training programs is required.

• Proven experience in conducting underwater search, recovery, and disposal operations utilizing various diving, detection, and scanning systems is required.

• Proven experience in the identification, handling, rendering safe, and final disposal of a wide range of conventional ammunition and ordnance, specifically in the underwater environment, is required.

• Proven operational experience working within an organization whose ETM and diving procedures adhere to or are formally equivalent to International technical standards is required.

Desired

• Demonstrable experience in high-pressure gas management and blending, including the safe operation of a Diving Gas Station (compressors, boosters, filtration systems) is desired.

• Demonstrable experience in the deployment, operation, maintenance, and detailed interpretation of data from autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and/or other equipment for underwater search and target detection is desired.

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