Background

Today Ukraine is facing its most serious challenges since achieving independence in 1991. The ongoing war has already resulted in significant loss of life, unprecedented displacement, internally and towards neighboring countries, and devastating destruction of infrastructure. The UN Ukraine Flash Appeal shows that at least 15.7 million people are in immediate need of emergency assistance and protection. Early projections indicate that if the war should continue in the medium to long term, up to 90% of the Ukrainian population could face poverty and extreme economic vulnerability, and the country’s socio-economic progress could be set-back by almost 20 years. 

In addition, the country faces losses of many people’s lives and devastative destruction of infrastructures and economic bases. Currently, more than 50% of the energy infrastructure damaged, causing the massive disruption of energy supply nationwide with millions of people experiencing power outages and challenges in heating. Extensive scale of destruction of infrastructure, rehabilitating or constructing infrastructures and installing equipment with necessary supply of the materials is urgently required to restore or maintain life-line and key basic services, followed by removal or mines and explosives as well as debris.

The widespread presence of landmines, cluster munitions, and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) in Ukraine pose a considerable and mounting threat. To address the emergency needs in the country, and meet long-term goals for Ukraine, UNDP is scaling-up Mine Action interventions through its a multi-donor funded Mine Action project which enhances the national capacity of Mine Action authorities and emergency service responders, establishes normative frameworks and links Mine Action with sustainable development outcomes.

In this context, UNDP in Ukraine invites applications from highly qualified and experienced Ukrainian professionals for the post of the Mine Action Specialist who will be responsible for the co-ordination of Mine Action activities across the five pillars of Mine Action, namely land release, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), victim assistance, stockpile destruction (when able), and advocacy towards compliance with international treaties. 

The incumbent will prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment within all implementations and promote UNDPs mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Mine Action Specialist is expected to be responsible for ensuring technical backstopping of projects implementation within the framework of Mine Action, and for achieving the projects’ results (outputs) as defined in the approved project document, and in the annual work plans, through timely implementation, and quality monitoring of the projects’ activities. The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities.

Leadership and Management of the Explosive Ordnance (EO) Technical and Operational Teams:

Lead, manage mine action I/Ps and other staff dedicated to the implementation of projects as directed by the MAP Technical Specialist. Contribute to the setting of operational priorities, and advise on the cost effective Mine Action operations. Promulgate continuous learning, ensuring the development of personnel knowledge and skills as part of their professional advancement.

Lead Mine Action Field Operations

Provide technical expertise, and support to national implementors/operators on land release activities, including Non-Technical Survey (NTS), Technical Survey and clearance activities, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), spot-tasks and associated quality management (QM) mechanisms and information management (IM) systems. Provide technical expertise to planning, prioritization, and tasking requirements, including solutions for non-common situations involving a combination of different methods of survey and clearances such as manual, mechanical, and animal detection systems. Provide technical advice on the Explosive Ordnance survey requirements, and the quality management processes for UNDP workstreams related to debris removal and demolition sites on the former frontline and newly liberated areas. Oversee the procurement of specialised vehicles and equipment, including heavy machinery, ensuring that it meets operations’ requirements, as well as adheres to the unification of brands and types among Mine Action operators. Provide guidance and recommendations on the procurement of goods that may fall under import control. Oversee capacity development support to National Mine Action Centers (NMAC) and other national Mine Action operators accredited to undertake Mine Action activities in Ukraine, including the use of mechanical, manual, and animal detection systems for survey and clearance, and operational capacity across accreditation, tasking, IM and QM requirements. Provide oversight, and delivery where required, of mine action operational projects and support activities under UNDP projects and programmes, including safety training to other humanitarian and development actors. 

Ensure Project Development, Coordination, and Monitoring

Monitor Mine Action contract performances, provide advice as required, maintain records of contract delivery results for reference, and contribute to the negotiations of the contract and contract amendment processes. Oversee the quality requirements, ensuring that management practices and operational procedures are being applied appropriately, to achieve the stated requirement in a safe, effective, and efficient manners.  Contribute to the project’s annual work plans, relevant project documents, and lead the development and maintenance of associated monitoring mechanisms as needed for the implementation of the project, ensuring activities reflect in-house capacity, budget, agreed areas of project interventions, and the internal tools and knowledge resources. Monitor the achievement of relevant financial targets and provide continuous feedback to the Technical Specialist on the rate of financial deliveries, advising and proposing prompt actions in case of under-delivery. Identify changes in the external environment, and propose necessary solutions/actions. Ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality considerations in Mine Action, promotion of a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behavior, and gender-responsive communications based on corporate principles. Plan and execute field missions, and maintain quality assurance of field activities.

Partnerships, and Inter-agency Collaboration:

Support the establishment of relationships with other UN agencies, international and national organizations, donors, government, and Mine Action stakeholders for the purposes of facilitating activities and improving the quality and relevance of project implementation, with a focus on Ukrainian national organizations in line with sector’s long-term sustainability and directives provided by the UNDP Mine Action Programme Manager. Explore and build relationships with new, non-traditional partners, such as educational institutions, community-based organizations, private sector etc., to expand UNDP Mine Action Project recognition in Ukraine. Establish new partnerships, and develop synergies that maximize the project’s and Mine Action’s impact, as well as identify possible new funding sources. Participate in, contribute to, and report on the relevant inter-agency, UN, donor, and inter- governmental coordination meetings in consultation with the relevant technical specialists, when required.  Support the design, coordination, and dissemination of public information products, and communication activities, such as public events to raise awareness.  Support in the preparations, and take part in the official meetings, events, briefings, and field visits, as well as prepare talking points, briefing notes, presentations, and speeches for the Programme Manager and Senior UNDP officials.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area

Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.  Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application.  Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance from, and the supervision of the Technical Specialist, the Mine Action Specialist will be responsible for facilitating a process aimed at ensuring the achievement of the above-mentioned results (outputs). The incumbent will work in close partnership with the Mine Research and Development / Capacity Building Specialist, Mine Action Specialist and Senior Medical Specialist as well as Local Coordinators of the project’s area of operation. May supervise personnel in the project.

Competencies

Core Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion

 inclusivity

People Management - UNDP People Management Competencies is found in the dedicated .

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area Name Definition Business Direction & Strategy

System Thinking 

Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system. Business Development Knowledge Generation

 Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and

new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations

Business Management Risk Management Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks. Business Management Customer Satisfaction/Client Management Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Business Management Operations Management Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanism. Partnership management Relationship management Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility Mine Action

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Project Management or Public Administration, or Business Administration, or Social Sciences, or Economics, or Jurisprudence, or Military Engineering or any other related fields is required, OR  A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master ́s degree. Min. years of relevant work experience  Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience, at national or international level, in coordination / management of mine action field operations with quality management functions.  Required skills  Computer literacy with good knowledge of MS Office (Word/Power Point/Excel).  Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section Experience in training design for mine action related fields in compliance with IMAS is a strong asset. Experience with Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) is an asset.  Experience of training delivery for NTS and EORE in compliance with IMAS is desired.  Experience in UN and/or international organizations is an asset. Experience to work in crises situations is an asset. Required Language(s)  Fluency in Ukrainian and English is required. Professional Certificates EOD level 3 certificate in compliance with IMAS obtained from internationally recognized organization or educational entity is an asset. Other mine action certificates in compliance with IMAS obtained from internationally recognized organization or educational entity will be considered as an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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