Ammunition & Weapons Management Advisor - Peace and Security Cluster (ICS-11)

The UNOPS Peace and Security Cluster (PSC) within the Global Portfolio Services Office is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Cluster is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations. It is headed by the Cluster Director who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Cluster on behalf of its clients.

One of the main objectives of the Peace and Security Cluster is to rapidly deploy project personnel to the field. To accomplish this, it has established a Pool of Experts, from which it deploys and re-deploys personnel in order to fulfil personnel vacancies.  A Pool of Experts is a roster of specialists whose technical knowledge and personal suitability has been evaluated and approved in advance, allowing them to be deployed on short notice and in short order.   Pool members can be deployed on any of UNOPS contract modalities: FTA, TA, or I-ICA (International Individual Contractor Agreement).

• Review national Physical Security & Stockpile Management (PSSM) standards with the national authorities and security forces, considering technical guidance from implementing partners, using best practice identified in the international ammunition technical guidelines (IATGs) as a baseline;
• Manage the operational tasking process for all contracts, including assessments and rehabilitation activities for PSSM;
• Review PSSM workplans and requests for non-PSSM assistance, especially regarding explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and support to disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation (DDR) weapons disposal;
• Jointly prioritize tasks with the national authorities and security forces;
• Issue tasks to implementing partners and review their reports upon completion;
• Monitor and evaluate through field inspections, and reviews of task reports by implementing partners, to measure progress against issued tasks, national work plans and adherence to standards;
• Manage operational assets including vehicles and explosives stocks;
• Supervise operational personnel, including international and national personnel;
• Provide relevant information on achievements and challenges to the Programme Manager, programme and support services staff;
• Advise the Programme Manager on any non-compliance with contractual requirements by implementing agencies, and recommend remedial action;
• Take part in any Boards of Inquiry initiated by the Programme Manager;
• Act as the principle technical advisor to the national authority and military regarding management of ERW clearance and the weapon and ammunition security and safety components of PSSM;
• Ensure that the organizations funded through the UN work according to contract specifications and or Memorandums of Agreement and maintain good relations with the national authorities, security forces, contractors, NGOs and other UN agencies in the region;
• Any other duties or tasks as identified by the Programme Manager.

• Advanced University Degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; or a First Level University Degree (Bachelors Degree or equivalent) with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience; or Military Experience (or relevant Police Experience) at the Senior NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) or Officer level (or equivalent) with a minimum of 13 years of relevant experience;
• At least 7 years work experience in a relevant field is essential, of which 2 should involve management responsibility for field work;
• Senior Ammunition Technical Officer level experience required;
• Ammunition Technical Officer Qualification (or equivalent) required; (Those who do not list this in the certificates section of their profile will not be considered)
• Understanding of related subjects such as disarmament, security sector reform, mine action, small arms and light weapons is desirable;
• Experience of working with UN peacekeeping missions is desirable;
• Internationally recognized driving license is required;
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required;
• Fluency in spoken and written French or Arabic is desirable;
• Knowledge of any other official UN language an asset.