Country: Switzerland
Closing date: 31 Mar 2016
Location
Geneva, Switzerland (with frequent travel)
Start Date
April 2016 or ASAP, Staff position on a long-term contract.
Division
Standards implementation
Work percentage
100%, full-time
Context
National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) are issued by a National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) to regulate mine action programme and to guide the management and implementation of mine action projects in their country in a safe, coordinated and efficient manner. NMAS are not International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) with just an acronym switch: effective NMAS reflect the situation of the national landmine and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) threat, the national response to that threat, the situation of survivors and victims and the long term legislation enacted or planned to support a strategic response to the threat.The main areas of focus within the context of Standards are: strengthening national ownership, land release and operational efficiency, quality management, information management, handover and liability issues of released land, safety and occupational health, and management of residual risk.
On behalf of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the GICHD develops, maintains and promotes the IMAS that are the framework for the development of NMAS. The GICHD provides training and advice on the design and development of initial NMAS, or the review and revision of the existing ones on request. The GICHD support varies according to the specific needs of the country and includes training services on the establishment of the relevant chapters and their content. On request, the GICHD also reviews respective countries' NMAS and provides feedback on how they stand in relation to the IMAS.
Description
The Standards Implementation division is one of three divisions under the Director of Operations. Focusing attention and technical expertise on all subjects related to mines and ERWs, the Advisors of the three divisions provide technical assistance, training and capacity development and engage in research and the development of guidelines and publications. They also develop tools and work methods to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the mine action response in accordance with IMAS’ requirements. In this context, the National Mine Action Standards Advisor will be leading the Centre’s NMAS support to NMAA and other stakeholders. S/he will:
- Establish a global baseline for NMAS.
- Provide technical support and training to NMAA, other governmental and non-governmental bodies on
- mine action standards and on the design, development, implementation and revision of the NMAS, in order to improve the operational efficiency of ERW survey and clearance in their specific national context
- quality management systems for mine action to ensure safety and confidence.
- Promote improved land release, information management and quality management systems and practices through workshops, knowledge-sharing and working groups or in-country visits.
- Ensure the provision of assistance and guidance for the conduct of national reviews and evaluations of the mine action programme.
- Set up and manage advisory groups when appropriate, for guidance on national mine action standards.
- Ensure that the obligations set out in the relevant conventions related to mine action (e.g. APMBC and CCM) are integrated at all stages of project planning, implementation and monitoring and that the Centre’s outreach activities are conducive to meeting these obligations.
- Foster and provide guidance on the mainstreaming of gender and diversity considerations in all aspects of the advisory and training activities.
- Facilitate the sharing of knowledge and good practice within the community, for instance through the publication of a guide book, case studies and other print and online information.
- Provide results-based reporting and measure progress towards bringing the NMAS of different countries/programmes closer to IMAS compliance.
- Provide input for the review and revision of the IMAS and participate in IMAS Review Board meetings.
- Manage project finances and staff, including ad hoc consultants and the Junior Programme Officers, delegating responsibilities to achieve the research and outreach objectives.
- Prepare funding proposals in response to requests for proposals issued for NMAS development.
In order to ensure comprehensive support to the affected countries, members of the Standards Implementation division work in close collaboration with the Advisors in the Risk Management and Information Management divisions who specialise in mine action survey and clearance, operational efficiency, ammunition safety management, residual contamination and information management.
The Advisors are also expected to represent GICHD in international events; provide general or technical presentations to partners and diplomatic representatives; and play an active role in project management, in the organisation’s strategic management and in the reporting to GICHD’s governance and donor institutions.
Profile requirements
Technical competencies & experience
- Substantial experience in the formulation and implementation of international standards, preferably in post-conflict / development / humanitarian action areas.
- Applied knowledge in quality management systems specific to mine action operations.
- Applied knowledge of IMAS, their related Technical Notes, Test & Evaluation Protocols, and International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). Competency in the review and development of NMAS.
- Experience in survey and clearance operations management and/or mine action programme management is preferred.
- Combined experience of 5-10 years in the above-mentioned domains in an international context.
- Competency in capacity development and in training and mentoring adults from different cultures.
- Competency in project cycle management, budget planning and monitoring, reporting to international donor institutions. Understanding of the concept of Results-based management.
Education & Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent higher education in a relevant field of study; a post-graduate degree or diploma is preferred.
Language competencies
- Excellent verbal and written English, including skills to write conceptual and non-technical documents
- Working knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese or another language practised in mine-ERW affected countries is required.
Behavioural competencies
- Results-focus: strive to reach project goals and expected outcomes
- Trust and credibility: build strong relationships in- and outside the organisation
- Assertiveness: strong inter-personal and communication skills to foster the adoption of new approaches and to guide their implementation
- Communication: ability to communicate clearly and constructively with a wide range of stakeholders from diverse cultures
- Commitment to the continuous improvement of individual and organisation-wide results
- Knowledge –sharing and lateral cooperation: collaborate towards a common goal while keeping a consistent multi-way information flow.
How to apply:
Applications
Please provide your application in English and include a detailed CV (max 5 pages), a letter of motivation, your earliest date of availability and any other material that you deem useful to provide in support of your candidacy. Send these materials to GICHD Human Resources: hr(at)gichd.org.
The GICHD implements a Gender and Diversity policy and is an equal opportunities employer. Applications are encouraged from women and men, nationals of mine-affected countries and individuals with a disability or special needs, who meet the above profile requirements.