Contract: Full Time,12 month fixed term contract
Location: Forward Based (Gaza or Syria)
Salary: Competitive
About us:
HALO is the leading global NGO addressing the impact and drivers of conflict in more than 30 countries and territories, with over 8,000 staff. Most of our staff are local employees and include a growing number of women. Our primary duty is to serve people affected by conflict, clearing landmines and the explosive remnants of war that threaten lives and livelihoods long after fighting has finished. We make land safe where war has ended, while also assisting those affected by active conflict and endemic violence, creating more durable solutions to support stability. HALO addresses human suffering caused by armed violence in some of the world’s most fragile places, securing weapons and ammunition, and working with both state and community actors to reduce the prevalence of armed violence. In recent years HALO has grown significantly. With our financial strength and strong partnerships with corporates, governments and private donors, HALO is uniquely positioned to help build more resilient and prosperous communities; better equipped to respond to the interconnected global challenges of war, climate change, disease, political and economic instability. As a result, the nature of our programming is diversifying to increase the impact we can have.
No two days working for HALO are ever the same. Life is rarely dull, but working for HALO can be tough. However, if you genuinely want to make a difference to people's lives, it could be the job for you.
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity to join us as a Technical Advisor (EOD & IEDD). This is a forward based role which entails living and working permanently within a HALO programme providing training and operational support related to the disposal of explosive ordnance and improvised explosive devices.
The successful individual will be responsible for providing mentoring and operational support to programme teams on EOD and IEDD operations, acting as part of the referral chain, as well conducting quality assurance of EOD/IEDD operations, and delivering high-quality EOD and IEDD training that conforms to the relevant IMAS qualification frameworks and national standards (where applicable) in conjunction with HALO’s global EOD/IEDD technical advisors. In addition, they are also required to ensure the safety and compliance of the programme’s explosive store houses and central demolitions sites.
Although this recruitment is for specific requirements in Syria and Gaza, applicants who pass initial screening may be offered the option for their details to be kept on file for similar roles in the future.
*PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ROLE IS BASED ON-SITE IN SYRIA OR GAZA, AND CANNOT BE CONDUCTED REMOTELY*
Responsibilities:
Training
- Plan and deliver EOD and IEDD training courses in conjunction with HALO’s global EOD/IEDD technical advisory team.
- Ensure that courses are delivered in accordance with the budget.
- Ensure the welfare, safety and security of training participants.
- Prepare and submit course reports.
- Maintain all materials and records in SharePoint and on Confluence as appropriate.
Operations
- Ensure programme EOD/IEDD operations are conducted in compliance with HALO’s global standard operating procedures for EOD and IEDD.
- Support programme EOD/IEDD teams in the planning and implementation of EOD and IEDD tasks, including regular field deployment to task sites.
- Conduct quality assurance visits to EOD & IEDD operational tasks.
- Conduct digital quality assurance of EOD & IEDD operations and statistical data using HALO’s global operations management information system.
- Provide advice to programme teams on complex disposal operations and supervise the development of task-specific procedures where required.
- Act as part of the task referral chain.
- If required, conduct EOD/IEDD operations directly.
- Provide technical expertise to support accident, incident and near miss investigations as required in conjunction with HALO’s Head of Training and Standards.
- Research new or new to HALO explosive ordnance hazards and produce technical briefings and documentation to support HALO’s operations in conjunction with HALO’s global EOD/IEDD technical advisory team.
- Conduct trials and produce reports on EOD/IEDD tools or methodology for consideration for adoption by HALO in conjunction with HALO’s global EOD/IEDD technical advisory team.
- Ensure safety and compliance of programme explosive store houses, central demolition sites, and free from explosives training aids.
- Any other tasks required and defined by the Programme Manager.
Other
- Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all HALO policies and procedures.
- Undertake the role in a manner appropriate to the cultural context and within the local legal framework.
- Understand and uphold the standards outlined in HALO’s safeguarding policy, acting with due care and attention to safeguard the well-being of anyone that comes into contact with HALO’s work and reporting concerns if they arise.
- Discharge duties and responsibilities under HALO’s health and safety procedures.
- Carry out any other duties as directed to meet programme standards and operational requirements.
HALO has six values that all staff are expected to live by:
- ·Courage
- Discipline
- Integrity
- Respect for Others
- ·Loyalty
- Selfless Commitment
If you want to join HALO you must confirm you can meet these values.
Requirements
- An extensive background in conducting EOD and IEDD operations and relevant military and/or civilian qualifications.
- Experience conducting EOD and IEDD operations in war damaged, urban environments
- Experience with disposal of improvised "conventional" munitions (e.g. improvised / craft made / augmented rockets/mortars, barrel bombs etc.)
- Experience delivering EOD and IEDD training. Previous involvement in the delivery of training courses based on IMAS EOD and IEDD competencies is desirable.
- Strong IT and general computer skills (particularly Microsoft Office).
- Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English.
- Excellent interpersonal skills – you will need to quickly slot into established teams and work with and train people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures.
- The resiliency and stamina to cope with physically demanding and basic conditions.
- The proactive nature to be able to identify problems and address them, remain self-motivated, and work independently.
- The flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and short notice requests.
- The personal organisation to successfully manage multiple workstreams and projects.
In addition, the following are not required, but are advantageous:
- Knowledge of Arabic.
- EOD IMAS 3+
- Chemical Ordnance
- Aerial Bombs
- Bulk Demolitions
- Guided Weapons
- Previous experience working in the Middle East.
- Experience using data analytics tools such as Power BI.
- Ammunition storage experience or a technical qualification in ammunition management.
All HALO staff are expected to undertake the following general duties:
- Work within the framework of HALO’s core values, promoting its ethos and mission statement.
- Work towards achieving programme and/or group business plan objectives.
- Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all HALO policies and procedures and keep informed of HALO activities.
- To discharge duties and responsibilities under HALO’s Health and Safety Procedures which may include Risk and COSHH Assessments and participation in evacuation procedures as necessary.
Benefits
- Living overseas allowance.
- Shared accommodation in a rented HALO apartment or house, provided at nil cost plus food allowance.
- 49 days annual leave per year, increasing to 56 days after 2 years’ service.
- Three economy return flights to the member’s official home address (or an alternative location up to an equivalent cost).
- Private medical health cover.
- Insurance package: life assurance and emergency medical insurance, including evacuation and repatriation.
How to Apply
Please submit a CV (no more than 2 pages) and a cover letter (no more than 1 page) in English outlining how your experience matches the requirements above by midnight (UK time) on Sunday 19 October 2025 (UK time). Should we receive a high volume of applicants, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early.
The HALO Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, colour, national origin, disability, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or marriage or civil partnership/domestic partnership status. The HALO Trust is committed to a culture that is both diverse and inclusive and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.