Operations Manager At APOPO

Context

APOPO is an international NGO with over 20 years of experience in humanitarian Mine Action. Globally so far, APOPO has cleared and released over 64 million square meters of land and destroyed over 140.000 landmines and explosive items in five countries, helping more than one million people gain access to safe land for productive use.

APOPO has been operating in Zimbabwe since 2021. Today, it is one of APOPO’s leading Mine Action Programmes, which has surveyed, cleared and released over 2 million m2 and destroyed more than 9000 landmines. APOPO deploys manual teams in the Gonarezhou National Park, in Zimbabwe’s South-East Lowveld along the border to Mozambique. The Operations Manager’s duty station is Camp Sango with occasional visits to Harare.

The programme in Zimbabwe has over 100 staff members. Country head offices are situated in Harare.

Role

APOPO seeks an experienced Operations Manager to manage all operational activities in Zimbabwe. Our operational capacity currently consists of five manual teams and one mine risk education team.

Key duties and responsibilities

The Operations Manager has the overall responsibility for all operational aspects of the APOPO MA programme’s projects, including quality management, information management and impact assessment.

The direct supervision and control of all operations and technical activities includes:

• Planning, execution and quality management of all activities.
• Ensure that operations are conducted in accordance with overall plans, Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs), International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and NMAS.
• Provide support and assist national authorities in establishing and reviewing NMAS when needed.
• Plan and implement training of local staff in survey, impact assessment, clearance techniques and procedures in accordance with IMAS/NMAS and APOPO’s Zimbabwe SOPs.
• Develop and implement a capacity-building plan of national staff.
• Implement and maintain a functional operations room with technical and operational planning- and reporting systems.
• Submit progress reports on technical, operational and administrative matters.
• Represent APOPO in relevant forums and brief stakeholders on APOPO operations when needed.
• Act as deputy for the Programme Manager when required.

Qualifications and experience:

• Minimum 5 years of working experience in Humanitarian Mine Action.
• Previous experience as an Operations Manager and full understanding of the technical requirements.
• IMAS Level 3 Certificate or equivalent qualifications (result focused mine action NGO or commercial EOD work, relief and development programmes or military qualifications).
• Proven ability to develop and manage survey and clearance operations, including motivating and leading a team.
• Experience in operational planning and proven analytical skills.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining effective professional relations with relevant stakeholders, in particular national authorities and international clearance operators.
• Good knowledge of IMAS, NMAS, SOPs and land release principles.
• Operational mine action experience with non-technical survey, technical survey, manual demining, and EOD.
• Proven experience in drafting technical notes, SOPs and training packages is an advantage.

Personal Competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Spoken and written language skills in English and in one of the following languages: Shona, Shangani or Ndebele.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work calmly under pressure with limited supervision.
• Ability to work in, and adapt to, difficult and complex cultures and conditions.
• GIS skills are an advantage.
• A valid international driving permit.
• It is important to be in good health condition.

Our offer

An interesting, challenging work environment and a competitive salary package which includes country specific allowances in a one-year contract with the possibility of renewal. You will be covered by our comprehensive insurance scheme and we offer five weeks annual holiday.