Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and implements emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a Humanitarian Mine Action Manager (Deputy Humanitarian Mine Action Operations Manager) to join our team in Kyiv.

Overall purpose of the role: 

The Deputy Humanitarian Mine Action Operations Manager (Deupty HMA OM) will contribute with ideas and technical input to donor proposals, contribute to and approve the development of detailed technical plans for the implementation of activities, and most critically, ensure field operations are staffed by appropriately qualified technical staff, the appropriate technical training is provided, field operations are appropriately technically monitored, and robust quality assurance of field operations is undertaken on a regular basis.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

People Management

  • Leading and line managing (including people planning, development, performance management, appraisal and well-being).
  • Technically supervising and line managing specific the positions of technical advisor and training team on current HMA projects, in line with HMA SOPs, NMAS and IMAS standards under the management of the HMA OM, HMA Country Programme Manager and the overall supervision of the Head of Operations
  • Supporting the HMA OM in the direct implementation of planning and monitoring of technical training, and capacity and competence building of DRC operations employees, in line with the HMA Country Programme Manager’s plan for capacity building and nationalization of roles

Operational Delivery

  • Deputise for the HMA OM during periods of leave or absence.
  • In support of the HMA OM, provide technical inputs for procurements and support technical procurements
  • Ensure the prioritisation by NMAA/MAC, and ongoing activities of other operators and stakeholders, is considered during strategic planning and operational workplan processes.
  • Support and advise in country management on operational matters and ensure that accreditation of operations is achieved and maintained with authorities.
  • Support the HMA OM with strategic planning and implementation of all HMA projects.
  • With HMA OM, assist in proposing changes and improvements of technical procedure and standards to HQ, for authorisation prior to adoption. Ensure all task selections are made in accordance with the Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebulding (HDP) task prioritization table. 
  • Ensure consultation with Area/program managers has been completed taking into consideration wider sector programming priorities prior to submitting requests for tasking.
  • Monitor and analyse productivity achieved and recommend methods and practices to enhance productivity, ensuring cost effective operations to be conducted in the programme.

Technical Monitoring and Quality Management

  • Ensure the highest possible standards of safety and security are maintained in all operations.
  • Manage, monitor, and supervise the Technical Advisor’s (TA`s), ensuring that they carry out their duties and responsibilities in accordance with their job descriptions and as tasked.
  • Ensure that the teams are adequately supplied with all necessary equipment and identify new items of equipment that will enhance HMA Outputs.
  • Support the Quality Management (QM) Manager by conducting regular Quality Assurance visits to all teams and ensure the TA, Supervisors and the teams are carrying out drills in accordance with the HDP SOPs
  • Promote safety culture, and safe and effective methods of munitions clearance and disposal.

Technical Training and Capacity Building

  • As directed by the HMA OM, maintain and develop SOPs, workplans and other relevant operations documentation and implement changes within the programme accordingly.
  • Maintain the training planner for HDP internal and external training courses.
  • Support the QM Manager in the application of capacity building training of HDP and external stakeholders.
  • Work directly with the HDP Global Senior Technical Advisor, Global Operations Advisor and HMA Operations Manager in analysing lessons learned from country to support other programmes regionally and globally, and vice versa.

External relations

  • Regular participation to all coordination meetings organised by the NMAA/MAC relating to technical or standards discussions, as well as all other relevant stakeholders in coordination with the HMA OM and Country Programme Manager.
  • Representation of the Organization at Mine Action working groups related to technical aspects of the operations in coordination with the HMA OM.
  • Develop a professional collaborative relationship with national authorities and other agencies involved in mine action, and related fields of interest.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have a high level of personal motivation and professionalism. You should be comfortable in working in conflict environment where it is your personal responsibility to follow ogranisational and national rules and guidance on safety. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

  • Minimum 5 years’ previous international experience in HMA and full understanding of its technical requirements.
  • IMAS EOD 3 qualifications are required.
  • Experience in developing SOPs that meet IMAS/NMAS requirements
  • Proven management experience gained in a range of settings.
  • Experience with accreditation to IMAS standard.
  • Proven record of training national staff and ability to train and mentor national counterparts.
  • Experience of working in insecure environments.
  • Diplomatic, patient and persistent.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English.
  • Good knowledge of MS Office.
  • Willingness to embrace and further develop overall objectives such as gender equity, impact monitoring, and cross-sector cooperation.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of supply chain systems.
  • IMAS IEDD operator or Search advisor qualification
  • Previous experience as a Deputy Operations/Operations Manager
  • Previous experience in use of mechanical demining assets

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

  • Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 
  • Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 
  • Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 
  • Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 
  • Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

  • Contract length: 12 months fixed-term contract with the possibility of extension depending on performance and availability of funding
  • Band: F1 - managerial
  • Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv (with travel to other areas), non-family duty station
  • Start date: July 2026

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for employees on international contracts; please refer to our website for more details.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 22nd May 2026

We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified.

For more information about the Danish Refugee Council, please visit our website drc.ngo.

Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment regardless of personal characteristics or attributes.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.