Advisor, Operations Management

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) manages UNOPS' New York-based portfolios, delivering project and programme management, procurement, HR, and financial services to global partners, from the UN Secretariat to Member States. NYPO strategically positions UNOPS with these partners, fostering collaboration to achieve growth and leveraging expertise in global portfolio design and implementation. We support the broader SDGs and 2030 Agenda, primarily assisting the UN Secretariat and other New York-based UN entities with a global reach. NYPO encompasses the Peace and Security Cluster (PSC), focusing on explosive threat management, and the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC), providing diverse operational support to the UN system in New York.

Background: UNMAS Syria Programme 

UNMAS Syria, with its office based in Damascus, plays a central role in coordinating humanitarian mine action across Syria. UNMAS also actively supports the broader United Nations Country Team (UNCT) by enabling safe access for humanitarian and development operations. UNMAS also works closely with the Syrian Government which has designated the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management (MoEDM) as the national focal point for mine action. As part of its strategic support, UNMAS is actively coordinating advising on the establishment of a national mine action authority and mine action centre, by providing strategic and technical advice and developing a comprehensive roadmap for institutional development and technical capacity. In addition, UNMAS serves as the lead agency for the Mine Action Area of Responsibility ( MA AoR) in Syria, coordinating efforts under the broader humanitarian framework.

Background: UNMAS Syria Programme 

Operating under the mandate of Security Council resolution 2165 (renewed in 2017 with SCR 2393), UNMAS deployed to Syria at the request of the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator in August 2015 and subsequently activated the Mine Action Sub Sector under the Protection Sector to address the impact of explosive hazards within Syria. UNMAS acted as the lead agency for the Mine Action Sub sector for Syria. Established in Damascus since 2018, following the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Syrian Arab Republic, UNMAS strives to expand humanitarian mine action in Syria, with the aim of responding to high humanitarian needs. This includes humanitarian mine action activities prioritized in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Syria: risk education, victim assistance, survey and clearance.

The conflict in Syria has been characterized by the extensive use of explosive weapons, which resulted in large-scale explosive hazard contamination, with the presence of diversified types of ordinances. According to the Syrian Arab Republic Humanitarian Needs Response Plan(HNRP) 2026, over 14.3 million Syrians are estimated to be at risk of explosive ordnance (EO) contamination; men, women, and children are exposed to the threat of grave injuries and death on a daily basis.

Mitigating EO risks and supporting survivors are a key priority given the scale of EO contamination with 2335 civilian casualties recorded between December 2024 and June 2026.

UNMAS play a central role in reducing harm through non-technical survey, EO disposal and clearance, inclusive risk education integrated with critical services such as education, agriculture, and cash/livelihoods, and sensitive community engagement, while facilitating referrals to survey and clearance actors where feasible.

Reporting to the Capacity Building Advisor, and maintaining a close technical line to the Head of Operations, the Operations and Planning Mentor will provide technical and operational advisory support to the Syrian National Mine Action Centre (SNMAC) to strengthen its ability to plan, task, coordinate, monitor and oversee mine action operations at national level. Working closely with SNMAC, the incumbent will serve as the mentor for SNMAC operations, coordinating and will provide technical oversight and guidance for the development, implementation and continuous improvement of national operational systems, with a particular focus on the quality management system (QMS) including accreditation, operational compliance and lessons learned, in accordance with the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and  the National Mine Action Standards (SNMAS).

Key Responsibilities:

1. Operational Planning, Prioritisation and Tasking

• Mentor SNMAC counterparts to develop, maintain and apply operational frameworks, procedures and workplans, including integration of quality management and information management considerations into operational workplans and tasking processes.

• Assist SNMAC in establishing prioritisation, coordination and tasking mechanisms based on humanitarian, development, and government priorities and in accordance with relevant IMAS. Prioritisation and tasking criteria should take into account the differentiated needs and risks of women, girls, boys, men and persons with disabilities, informed by community consultation and gender- and age-disaggregated data.

• Assist SNMAC in developing an evidence-based operational decision-making process, supported by appropriate operational and information management products and aligned with national mine action standards. 

2. Operational Capability Development

• Support the Capacity Building Advisor in strengthening SNMAC Operations Department structures, functions and processes.

• Develop, coordinate and implement structured training, mentoring and coaching programmes for operational staff, aligned with agreed capacity development plans.

• Maintain gender- and age-disaggregated records of SNMAC personnel mentored and trained under this assignment, and report participation against those records in the reports required under this TOR.

• Support the identification of operational and quality management capability gaps and contribute to the development of improvement actions.

• Identify and address barriers to the participation of women and underrepresented groups in SNMAC operational and quality management roles and in training and mentoring opportunities.

• Support initiatives that promote sustainable national ownership of operational and quality management functions.

• Support organisational development and institutional strengthening activities related to operational and quality management systems.

3. Land Release and Operational Standards

• Provide technical advice on implementation of IMAS-compliant, Syria-specific and evidence-based land release methodologies.

• Assist SNMAC in developing operational policies, SOPs, and technical guidance documents for land release and other mine action activities.

• Support SNMAC in integrating land release principles, including all reasonable effort considerations, into national planning and tasking operational oversight systems.

• Support SNMAC in monitoring the implementation of operational standards and procedures.

• Ensure that land release methodologies, SOPs and technical guidance are reflected in the national quality management framework, including accreditation criteria and monitoring tools.

4. QM and Operational Oversight

• Support SNMAC counterparts in the application and improvement of the SNMAS , and other QM relevant policies, plans and procedures.

• Support SNMAC in developing, implementing and improving accreditation systems and operational compliance mechanisms, including desk and field-based quality assurance and post-clearance quality control. Quality indicators and post-clearance feedback should be gender- and inclusion-sensitive.

• In close coordination with the Capacity Building Advisor & UNMAS Head of Operations, delegate tasks to quality management mentors where required and coordinate SNMAC quality management personnel to ensure consistent application of standards nationwide.

• Create, foster and role-model a safe, inclusive culture and work environment for all personnel. Advise SNMAC to establish azero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, and sexual exploitation and abuse and that the highest standards of conduct are observed; and ensure that all personnel under direct or indirect supervision, including contracted personnel, are aware of and comply with PSEAH obligations and reporting channels.

• Provide operational input into accreditation procedures and monitoring visits and investigations of non-conformities and adverse events.

• Monitor operational performance data and quality indicators, identify systemic issues and support SNMAC in developing and implementing corrective and preventive action plans.

• Mentor SNMAC counterparts in the development of lessons learned mechanisms and continuous improvement processes, ensuring that learning is captured and fed back into policies, SOPs and planning cycles.

5. Civil Defence EOD and National Response Capacity

• Advise on EOD task management, deployment concepts, operational reporting, and command and control structures, in line with IMAS and relevant frameworks.

• Support development of explosive ordnance response procedures and associated SOPs.

• Identify training and mentoring needs to improve operational capability and integrate these into SNMAC capacity development plans.

6. Mentor Coordination and Coherence

• Ensure that operational, information management and quality management is aligned with mine action strategies, NMAS and SNMAC’s annual work plan.

• Facilitate regular internal coordination meetings among mentors to share lessons learned, identify gaps and agree on common approaches.

7. Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain close engagement with SNMAC operations and technical departments.

• Support the capacity-building advisor in coordinating with UNMAS, GICHD, mine action operators, Civil Defence, donors and national authorities on operational and quality management matters.

• Support national mine action coordination mechanisms and technical working groups, particularly those related to operations, land release and quality management.

• Facilitate operational coordination between stakeholders and support SNMAC in communicating operational priorities and requirements.

8. Monitoring, Reporting and Strategic Support

• Provide regular technical assessments and recommendations to the Capacity Building Advisor.

• Support development of operational performance indicators and monitoring frameworks.

• Include GESI integration and PSEAH compliance as standing dimensions of the operational and quality management monitoring supported under this assignment, with findings reported to the GPO GEDSI Advisor.

• Support the consolidation and analysis of operational and quality management data to inform SNMAC planning, prioritisation and reporting to authorities and donors, ensuring that operational data collection, analysis and reporting include gender- and age-disaggregated data.

• Contribute to strategic planning documents, programme reviews, and donor reporting related to mine action operations and quality management.

• Prepare mission reports, briefing notes, technical papers, and operational analyses.

• Support identification of emerging risks, operational challenges, and mitigation measures, including GESI and PSEAH risks, and support their reflection in the programme risk register..

• Capture and disseminate lessons learned and good practices.

Reporting Lines

• Reports to: Capacity Building Advisor 

• Second reporting line: Head of Operations

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience is required, or

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with 9 years of relevant experience, or

• Secondary School with 13 years of relevant experience.

• Minimum IMAS-equivalent EOD L3 aligned with Test and Evaluation Protocol 09.30/01/2022, from a recognised training establishment is required.

Required

• Minimum seven years of progressively responsible experience in mine action, EOD, or related operational fields is required, including:

  • Demonstrated experience managing land release operations at project, programme or national level, including operational planning, tasking, and prioritisation.

  • Experience managing capacity development and developing operational management and quality management systems for national authorities.

  • Experience developing standards, SOPs, operational frameworks, and governance systems.

  • Experience in managing training packages.

Desired

• Experience working in post-conflict or complex humanitarian environments is desired.

• Experience mentoring national authorities or national mine action institutions is desired.

• Previous experience with UN, international NGOs, or national mine action authorities is highly desirable.

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