Head of Humanitarian Mine Action

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate for and promote durable solutions for displacement-affected populations. DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014 and currently employs over 800 staff implementing emergency and recovery programming across the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors through direct interventions and support to duty bearers and civil society organisations (CSOs).

DRC’s programming is based on an integrated approach in which sectors are designed to complement and reinforce one another to maximise impact for conflict-affected communities. Within this model, humanitarian mine action is not viewed solely through clearance outputs such as square metres released, but as an enabler for recovery and durable solutions. The focus is on outcomes for communities — whether land can safely be cultivated again, infrastructure restored, services resumed and displaced populations supported to rebuild their lives.

DRC implements this approach through a decentralised operational model in which most of the programme delivery, coordination and day-to-day decision-making takes place through its area offices rather than the Country Office. The Country Office provides strategic coordination, technical guidance, oversight and support services to enable field operations. This structure is intended to ensure that programmes remain closely connected to local realities and community needs while maintaining coherent technical and operational standards across the response.

This integrated and outcome-oriented approach differentiates DRC from other mine action operators. The Head of HMA, while focused on the responsibilities outlined below, is therefore expected to work across functions and sectors to enable integrated, area-based programming and support operational decision-making that contributes to broader recovery outcomes for conflict-affected communities.

Overall purpose of the role :

The role of the Head of Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) is to provide the overall leadership, management and oversight of the delivery of DRC’s HMA portfolio in Ukraine.

The Head of HMA works under the supervision of the Head of Operations (HoO) and in close collaboration with the Head of Programs and Country Director (CD). The Head of HMA will cut across the Programme and Operations departments of DRC Ukraine and have responsibilities across both areas of work. Engagement on any programmatic elements will be in consultation with the Head of Programme (HoP) while engagement on operational elements with the Head of Operations (HoO). 

The role of the Head of HMA is to guide the development of the HMA Programme Strategy, serve as the focal point for external engagement and fundraising on HMA and provide the overall leadership, management and oversight of the delivery of DRC’s HMA portfolio in Ukraine. The role also leads the liaison with Mine Action Authorities at central level and drives the capacity building and nationalization strategy for HMA staff.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

People Management

• Lead and line manage direct reports (including people planning, development, performance appraisal and well-being) in line with DRC policies and national legislation.
• Maintain strong oversight of the HMA team structure at Country and Area Office levels. Ensure sound management practices are in place within the team. Advise the management on critical positions and flag challenges.
• Drive capacity building of key HMA staff in technical functions and oversee the development and implementation of nationalisation plans for key roles within the HMA teams.

Strategic Leadership and Programme Oversight

• Sets the strategic direction of the HMA Programme in alignment with DRC Ukraine country and area strategies.
• Leads the design, review, and updating of the HMA strategy in coordination with the HoP.
• Ensures HMA priorities are aligned with national mine action strategies, donor priorities, and DRC global technical standards.
• Represent HMA in extended SMT.
• Work closely with Protection and VA teams to identify synergies and conflict-sensitive, people-centred programming opportunities.
• Identify and promote opportunities for integration between HMA and other DRC sectors (Protection, Shelter, Economic Recovery) and support joint analysis and integrated responses based on protection monitoring and community needs.

Programme Design and Development

• Participates in relevant Go/No-Go decision-making processes for HMA funding opportunities.
• Leads all HMA technical inputs to concept notes and proposals, including setting targets, outputs and indicators and developing budgets and workplans for both direct and partner-led implementation
• Conduct technical review of partner proposals and budgets in coordination with Grants, MEAL and Partnerships.

Programme Reporting, Monitoring & Communications

• Ensures quality and timely HMA inputs are provided to donor reports and communication products.
• Provides technical review of all HMA-related reporting before submission.
• Oversees data collection and management in line with IMSMA standards, in coordination with the Deputy Head of Programme and MEAL Manager.

Localisation and Partnership Development

• Lead the HMA localisation strategy under the coordination of the HoP.
• Ensures capacity assessments inform the selection of national HMA partners and that capacity development plans are designed in line with DRC's strategy.
• Ensures partner-led implementation and partners' capacity development meet DRC's technical and quality standards.

Operational Delivery

• Holds overall responsibility for the planning and delivery of DRC's HMA portfolio in Ukraine, ensuring workplans and technical implementation plans are followed throughout project implementation, with regular updates and adjustments as needed.
• Oversee all phases of implementation and closure for both direct and partner-led activities.
• With the support of the HMA Operations Manager, ensures operational planning for the delivery of clearance, survey, and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education activities.
• Ensure Training and Quality Management take place and are followed up.
• Ensure that priorities set by the NMAA, MAC, Oblast authorities and the donors are taken into consideration in the planning and implementation of operational activities.
• Ensure that HMA projects adhere to operational Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and National and International Mine Action Standards in the field.
• Accountable for centralized and country level initiatives including procurements, certifications, partners capacity building, team training etc. in close coordination with the relevant colleagues.
• Ensure regular monitoring and quality assurance are provided including direct and partner led implementation including monitoring report and support to corrective actions.
• Regularly follow up with IM, MEAL and Grants to ensure achievements are understood and reported
• In close coordination with the Head of Safety, ensure coordination with Safety and Management takes place at area level regarding the selection of training areas and polygons. Coordinate regularly with the HoS to discuss any challenges faced in the area

Finance, budget, Supply Chain & Procurement – in close cooperation with the Humanitarian Mine Action Operations Manager

• Prepares and updates monthly budget forecasts, workplans, and procurement plans for country office-level lines and initiatives
• Ensure all country office-level HMA procurements are planned, initiated and followed up.

External Engagement

Donors:

• Serve as the focal point for HMA donor engagement in close coordination with the HoP and CD.
• Prepare technical talking points for donor meetings, visits, and events.
• Contribute to donor relationship management, including participation in donor visits and sector events, in coordination with HoP and CD.

Authorities

• Ensures coherent and high-quality technical engagement with national and local mine action authorities.
• Maintains oversight of technical communication with authorities and inform SMT of key developments, policy changes, or risks.

Mine Action Actors and UN System

• Represent DRC Ukraine in mine action coordination mechanisms (e.g. AoR, technical working groups).
• Engages with other HMA actors to promote coordination, learning, and best practice sharing.

About you

To be successful in this role, we expect you to bring deep technical expertise and a strong track record in operations and people management. You are a confident and structured manager, able to lead diverse teams while keeping a clear focus on capacity building and the nationalisation of roles. Diplomatic, patient and persistent, you build lasting professional relationships with national authorities and other mine action actors while holding the line on technical and operational standards. A genuine team player, you approach challenges with a constructive, cooperative and problem-solving mindset.

Beyond technical excellence, you bring a genuine interest in integrated programming and are comfortable working across functions and sectors to contribute to broader recovery outcomes for conflict-affected communities.

We also expect the following:

• Minimum 7 years of working experience with strong knowledge in the HMA sector at senior level, evidenced by recognised technical qualifications. EOD qualifications are an asset but not a requirement.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing and leading multi-disciplinary teams in complex humanitarian contexts, including experience of working in conflict settings.
• Demonstrated experience in programme strategy design and development, including proposal writing and budget management for multiple concurrent grants.
• Solid understanding of HMA programme cycle management, including IMAS/NMAS compliance.
• Experience in external engagement with donors, Mine Action Authorities and UN coordination bodies.
• Experience in partner and localisation management, including capacity development of national partners.
• Experience coordinating across departments (Programme, Operations, Finance, Supply Chain, HR) at field and country office level.
• Demonstrated commitment to DRC's integrated and outcome-oriented programming approach.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract length : 12 months fixed-term contract with the possibility of extension depending on performance and availability of funding after successful completion of a 3-month probationary period
• Band : E1 – Manager
• Designation of Duty Station : Kyiv, non-family duty station 
• Start date: ASAP

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national and international employees; please refer to our website .

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. A pplications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: October 20th, 2026

We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified.