Operations Specialist - Quality Assurance

Peace and Security Cluster

Background Information – UNMAS Syria Response

Operating under the mandate of Security Council Resolutions (2165, 2393 and 2449), UNMAS deployed the Syria Response Programme (SRP) at the request of the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator in August 2015 and subsequently activated the Mine Action Sub Cluster under the Protection Cluster to address the impact of explosive hazards within Syria. UNMAS is the lead agency for the Mine Action Sub Cluster for the Syria Response. 

Established in Damascus since 2018, following the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, UNMAS strives to expand humanitarian mine action in Syria, with the aim to respond 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 ordnance. According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2020 for Syria, 11.3 million people live in communities reporting explosive hazard contamination; men, women, and children, are exposed to the threat of grave injuries and death on a daily basis. Millions of people live with a permanent disability and new conflict-related trauma cases lead to thousands of permanent disabilities requiring long-term and multi-dimensional support.

* Candidates with no UN or UNOPS experience are strongly encouraged to apply! * Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply!

• Oversee all aspects of mine action related activities carried out by staff under your supervision and control

• Implement and monitor technical and national safety standards

• Ensure close and effective interaction and coordination of the integral aspects of mine action, such as Victim Assistance and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education

• When requested, act as the Investigating Officer for Detailed Independent Investigations or Boards of Inquiry for Mine/ERW/IED Accidents or incidents

• Debrief mine action (MA) organizations and other implementing partners on quality assurance (QA) achievements and QA assessments and ensure that all QA assessment data is captured through the appropriate QA documentation and QA tracker

• Implement QA management systems and ensure that the systems are being applied in a fair and equitable manner, and that accreditation, licensing and monitoring does not interrupt or delay MA projects

• Conduct routine on-site QA of MA organization operations (for monitoring and post clearance inspections) and as part of the accreditation process

• Provide guidance and follow up on any specific corrective actions to be taken by organizations, following an inspection, which finds a critical non-conformity

• Ensure proper maintenance of documentation for all inspected land

• Ensure proper storage of explosives in accordance with national and international guidelines and ensure control and security of explosives that are used by implementing mine action organisations within the area of responsibility

• Ensure that MA Organization Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) comply with Syrian Technical Standards and Guidelines, IMAS and IATG standards (where applicable).

• Support the collection of data and the management of information

• Provide advice and input into the development of strategic and procedural documents related to Mine Action activities, coordinated and/or implemented by the UNMAS SRP.

• Support programmatic, project and operational planning and activities as required.

Other Duties

• Represent UNMAS Syria Response Programme as the Officer in Charge in relevant meetings and stakeholder interactions

• Carry out the responsibilities determined by UNOPS rules and regulations embodied in its regulatory framework – Organizational Directives, Administrative Instructions and other documents as periodically issued and updated by UNOPS. 

• Perform other tasks as directed by the Programme Manager and Chief of Operations.

* Candidates with no UN or UNOPS experience are strongly encouraged to apply! * Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply!

• Advanced University Degree (Master's degree or equivalent) with an additional 5 years of relevant experience; or 

• First-level University Degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) with an additional 7 years of relevant experience ; or 

• 11 years of experience in the management of operations within a recognized military, police, humanitarian mine action organization, development organization, or other relevant field experience is required

Experience:

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in operations management;  this experience can be within the fields of either military mine action, commercial mine action, or humanitarian mine action

• Experience in field of explosive threat management, humanitarian mine action, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) or Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD), high risk search or related field is required 

• Experience in training or capacity building is desired

Language: 

• Fluency in English (reading, writing, speaking) is required

1. Contract type: IICA (International Individual Contractual Agreement)
2. Contract level: IICA- 2 (ICS-10)
3. Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.