Colombia: Technical Field Manager

Organization: Norwegian People's Aid
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 08 Jan 2017

Norwegian People's Aid is a humanitarian organisation rooted in the Norwegian Labour Movement. We work with International Development Partnerships, Humanitarian Mine Action, Rescue Service and First Aid, and Asylum and Integration. Norwegian People's Aid has about 12000 members in Norway and 2400 staff worldwide. We work in 36 countries around the world, and in 2016 we will have an expected turnover of 1000 MNOK.

Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) has been involved in humanitarian mine action since 1992 and is one of the leading humanitarian demining organisations worldwide. Together with national authorities and other stakeholders are we working to resolve problems faced by local communities caused by landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). Currently NPA has 26 Humanitarian Disarmament Programmes on-going in the Balkans, Southern Africa, Horn of Africa, Central Asia, South East Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Since 2004 NPA has cooperated with National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) on organizational development and political training. When the Peace Talks began in 2012 the program was expanded and partnerships established with grassroots movements to strengthen rural populations' participation in the peace process.

NPA has over the last year been tasked by the Colombian government and the FARC-EP to lead and coordinate a demining pilot project as part of the ongoing peace negoations; this in order to build trust between the parties and the people of Colombia, in addition to reducing the level of risks that landmines and other UXOs pose. NPA is currently building its national capacity and is looking to strengthen its team. We are therefore seeking an experienced Technical Field Manager(s) (TFM) with the necessary technical background to provide support to NPAs operations and national capacities.

The position is field based in Colombia, and will require extensive travel time and the ability to work and live in remote environments.

Duties and responsibilities:

The TFM will be part of the NPA Humanitarian Disarmament Team in Colombia. We are looking for candidates that can support on all technical and operational matters related to NPAs operations in Colombia, and candidates that have experience in providing support to national authorities, including but not limited to:

  • Lead, prioritise and quality assure survey and clearance operations of landmines and other Explosive Remnants of War; Non-Technical Survey, Technical Survey, Clearence, Battle Area Clearence, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Impact Assessment.
  • Assist in recruitment and training of national staff or partners required for the implementation of the programme.
  • Liaise with local, national and international agencies, represent NPA in a professional manner and brief stakeholders on NPA operations as required.
  • Provide progress reports on technical, operational and administrative matters as required.
  • Any other task or duty as assigned by the Operations Manager or Country Director.

Required qualifications:

Must have an understanding and working experience with the land-release concept in a mine action programme or capacity building of authorities within mine action. Good communication skills are required along with the ability to motivate staff.

  • Relevant higher education or equivalent military qualifications.
  • Proven ability to lead, manage, develop and motivate a team.
  • Experience from setting up Mine Action operations Quality Mangement Systems.
  • Mine Action and/or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) background, with a minimum of two years international experience.
  • Experience from project planning, implementation, follow up and reporting.
  • Experience of managing logistics, finance and human resources is an advantage.
  • Previous working relations with national authorities, military forces, partners and/or donors is an advantage.
  • Written and verbal proficiency in English.
  • Written and verbal proficiency in Spanish is an advantage.
  • Driving licence.

Personal competencies:

  • Good communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to meet deadlines and work calmly under pressure
  • Ability to work in and adapt to difficult and complex cultures and conditions, and work and live in remote areas
  • Excellent health

How to apply:

For more information and how to apply please see NPA's website.

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