Land Liberation Operations Officer- Northeast Antioquia At Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion

The Land Clearance Operations Officer (OdO), under the supervision of the Field Technical Manager (GTT), ensures the technical execution of demining operations (ENT, Clearance, EOD) in the locations assigned to him/her. , and in that territory, plans, organizes, monitors/supervises, carries out control & quality assurance of operations, directing the demining teams and taking into account the established objectives, with the aim of maintaining the quality required by HI and the Approved Operational Procedures (POA) from a point of view of comprehensive approach in comprehensive action against antipersonnel mines and explosive remains of war.

Specific Missions & Responsibilities

Mission 1: Operational implementation – contribute to ensuring the measurable scope of the objectives established for the projects under responsibility within the framework of internal and external requirements

Responsibility 1: Planning and supervision of the execution of demining activities and Non-Technical Study, to ensure the achievement of the established goals of the project and in accordance with the HI POA, internal policies and from a comprehensive approach

Main tasks:

• Assist in the creation and guarantee the execution of work plans for Community Liaison, ENT, Clearance and Deactivation of Explosive Ordnance operations and readjust deployment plans as needed and in accordance with the instructions of the Field Technical Manager.
• Supervise and lead the deployment of ENT and low clearance teams, taking into account the security instructions provided by the GTT, Community Liaison, JdP and/or security unit at the time.
• Lead or participate with GTT and/or JdP in weekly planning meetings with the teams.
• Monitor the progress of the teams in the field in accordance with the established plans in accordance with the plans established with the GTT.
• Ensure the reduction of “dead time” in the operation.
• Supervise and lead the management and monitoring of accurate and consistent data to feed the national database.
• Attend meetings with the community and guarantee regular reports to local authorities, in accordance with the Colombian Technical Standards – AICMA (NTC-AICMA).
• Alert the GTT and JdP about their compliance obligations with the NTC-AICMA (reports, meetings, links, permits, etc.).

Responsibility 2: Handling and destruction/neutralization of explosive devices, in accordance with POA and HI internal regulations

Main tasks:

• In coordination with the GTT or the Operations Manager, you must ensure that all explosive device neutralization tasks are carried out in total safety and in accordance with the HI and NTC-AICMA POAs.
• It is necessary to ensure that community liaison, risk education and risk analysis for any explosive device deactivation operation are carried out in accordance with the POAs and Technical Standards.
• Carry out the neutralization, combustion, deflagration and/or total destruction of MAP, MSE and other REG, in accordance with the POA and other internal HI regulations/indications.
• Ensure that all disposal procedures are carried out in a safe and timely manner.
• Inform the GTT, JdP, Operations Manager and/or the defined operational structure, of any AE about which you have doubts or do not have certification for its destruction or deactivation.
• For AEs that cannot be destroyed by HI, guarantee Non-Destruction reports correctly and within the times established in the NTC-AICMA and coordinate with external operators when required.
• (under HI national operational coordination) if it cannot be destroyed by HI.

Responsibility 3: Contribute to ensuring the correct application of quality control

Main tasks:

• In coordination with the GTT if it exists, National Operational Leadership and the quality team, carry out operational and documentary quality management, guaranteeing that the reports and information comply with what is established in the POA and NTC-AICMA.
• Ensure through 100% monitoring that supervisors/team leaders in the field carry out Quality Control & Assurance in accordance with the HI POA.
• Guarantee that all personnel under their responsibility know and comply with all the requirements of the POAs and Colombian Technical Standards for the DH.
• Guarantee the implementation of the quality control & assurance system defined by HI for demining work in Colombia.
• Fill out all the Quality Control & Assurance forms of your responsibility, respecting the times and regularities defined in the HI POAs.
• Inform the GTT, JdP and/or Operations Manager (or officially delegated persons) of any observed non-conformity and recommend corrective measures.
• Record all non-conformities detected in equipment under your direct or delegated responsibility.
• Propose and/or implement Preventive and/or Corrective measures for Non-Conformities.
• Correct immediate non-conformities directly in the field.
• Seek continuous quality improvement, particularly in terms of efficiency, giving recommendations to the GTT and/or Operations Manager.
• Prepare and accompany quality control visits by the national authority and external monitoring component (CEM) in the absence or in coordination with the GTT.
• By delegation, perform specific Quality Control and Assurance tasks to Training/Retraining or in other territories assigned to HI.
• Provide support for the correct completion of the databases corresponding to both ENT, clearance and EOD operations.

Responsibility 4: Report and inform GTT and/or JdP about progress, events and difficulties

Main tasks:

• Compile daily, weekly and monthly reports, according to the instructions of the GTT, JdP and Operations Manager.
• Ensure that the teams under your responsibility comply with all required internal reports and external reporting formats.
• Maintain regular technical meetings with the GTT and/or JdP.
• Support with the preparation of internal reports, to the authorities and to donors as needed.
• Collaborate if necessary with requests for visibility and communication activities about the project, collaborating, as appropriate, with the HI communication manager and with journalists.
• Represent HI externally under the coordination of JdP, GTT or coordinated by operational management.
• Receive and assist in the organization of visits to operations and internal and external monitoring.
• Report weekly security protocol on deployment of operations.

Responsibility 5: Training of personnel to ensure that teams have the necessary capabilities and accreditations, in coordination with the Land Release Operations Manager

Main tasks:

• Identify the training needs of your teams.
• Design, organize and execute skills (updating) sessions as needed.
• Support the preparation and execution of training and accreditations organized by the Operations Manager.
• Participate in the performance analysis of personnel under your operational supervision.
• Act as an instructor when required, in your territory of responsibility or another.

Responsibility 6: Support in logistical and administrative tasks, ensuring that all the necessary materials and tools in accordance with the POA and internal HI standards are available, in coordination with the GTT, JdP and/or the corresponding support areas

Main tasks:

• Support the logistics team in the identification and acquisition of the required equipment and tools, respecting logistical and administrative procedures.
• Ensure the good use and adequate storage of the tools and equipment of your teams.
• Ensure compliance with HI and donor logistics procedures.
• Guarantee and ensure the correct handling, storage and use of explosives and tools for destroying explosive devices.
• Carry out regular inventory checks on demining material and tools for operations under your responsibility.
• Collaborate with the JdP in the evaluation of costs vs quality of material and tools for demining.
• Collaborate with the JdP on budget adjustments to improve the operational efficiency of demining

Mission 2: Leadership & personnel management – ​​ensure that the personnel under your responsibility achieve their highest performance and well-being at work

Responsibilities:

• Be a leader as a role model: embody the values ​​and competencies defined by HI on a daily basis
• Be a leader like a coach: understand the strategy, make it explicit, translate it into operational objectives for your team, lead the necessary changes. Give meaning to each management action. Promote inter- and intradepartmental exchanges of practices. Encourage innovation and risk taking.
• Being an operational leader: organizes the operational management of your team, structures work around identified processes, guides performance and facilitates problem resolution.
• Be a first administrative/HR focal point for your team: contribute to the development of your staff, creating the conditions for their commitment, professionalism and attachment to HI. Ensure compliance with the code of conduct and institutional policies, mentality and expected individual and collective behavior.

Main tasks:

• In the case of being a team leader, apply and identify the scope of the objectives and behaviors expected of a manager within HI, according to the “manager 2.0” approach.
• If required, get involved in the hiring of operational members of the location.
• In the case of being a team supervisor, establish the annual objectives of the personnel under your charge and ensure that the teams under your charge establish them.
• In the case of being a team supervisor, carry out annual evaluations of the personnel under your charge and ensure that the teams under your charge carry them out.
• Address the needs of the location’s operational teams.
• Ensure that teams, partners and consultants know, understand, apply and respect HI institutional policies.
• Report staff misconduct/infractions to HI management and participate in disciplinary processes.
• Actively participate in the investigation of accidents and incidents.
• In collaboration with the national medical officer and the paramedical staff of the location, ensure the physical and mental well-being of the personnel under their supervision.
• Transmit safety conditions and precautions to be followed to team leaders/supervisors, ensuring that instructions from HI management are followed.
• If required, identify personnel needs and lead the hiring and induction process of new personnel.

Mission 3: Strategic contribution

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the implementation of the HI program strategy in Colombia
• Contribute to the definition and management of common issues in demining in Colombia
• Contribute to development of project proposals

Main tasks:

• Participate in strategic, thematic and planning workshops of HI Colombia.
• Provide input for the development of project proposals, particularly demining.
• Provide contributions for the definition, management and solution of common issues in demining in Colombia
• Participate in the research and design of intervention plans for new assignments, under the coordination of the national operational management.

Mission 4: Emergency Preparedness and Response

Responsibilities:

• Support emergency preparedness actions
• In case of emergency, reorganize your team’s priorities according to the humanitarian priority, in order to guarantee a rapid and efficient response by HI, under the direction of the JdP or national management

Main tasks:

• In accordance with the Emergency Response Plan defined for Colombia, implement the necessary actions in case of emergency.
• Support the implementation of the Minimum Emergency Preparedness Measures, as well as other related actions.
• Contribute to updating and improving the Emergency Response Plan.