Вакансія: Community Liaison Supervisor

MAG’s Vision is a safe future for women, men and children affected by violence, conflict and insecurity. People will live in communities where their rights are upheld, with dignity and choice and free from fear from explosive ordnance and the impact of small arms and light weapons and ammunition.

MAG’s Mission is to save lives and build safer futures. We will use our core skills and distinctive competence to save lives through the removal of explosive ordnance, and reduce the impact of small arms, light weapons and ammunition on people and communities.

MAG in Ukraine: MAG is starting a Humanitarian Mine Action programme putting its experience at service of Ukraine and implementing activities such as: EORE – Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, NTS – Non-technical survey, EOD – Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Clearance. Whilst registration and certification process is ongoing, MAG will launch Community Liaison activities through local partners with extensive experience in country and continue building close coordination with other actors, key partners, and national authorities in country.

Job Purpose:  

• Assist the Senior Management Team in country to ensure that MAG’s approach to community participation in mine action is integrated into the planning and implementation of programme activities.
• Undertake the management, training, assessment and monitoring of Community Liaison (CL) staff (MAG and implementing Partners) and activities in the field, and recommend improvements to the Community Liaison Manager (CLM), Technical Operations Manager (TOM), Country Director (CD), or other MAG managers as appropriate.
• Manage CL resources and be responsible for the gathering and dissemination of relevant and accurate information to enable informed decision making, maximisation of impact and the achievement of MAG’s vision, mission and key aims.

Job Description

         Techniсal

• Provide research and analysis of relevant socio-economic data in order to help prioritise social target groups and geographical areas for Community Liaison activities: Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), Non-Technical Survey (NTS), Impact Assessment (IA) and liaison for land release.
• Advise on safe and effective management of all aspects of CL and related tasks in the country of operation, in accordance with relevant IMAS, MAG Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines, and others if consistent with MAG’s policies and mandate.
• Support with the set-up of a Quality Management (QM) system and tools to assess needs in capacity building in CL-related topics (including but not limited to RE, NTS and impact assessment activities) to plan and deliver training accordingly.
• Monitor and evaluate the on-going performance of CL activities in the field for reporting and quality purpose.
• Stay informed by reading national and international publications, papers, standards linked with the HMA sector and particularly Community Liaison.
• EORE: Assist in the design and implementation of programmes to mitigate the risk communities living with explosive ordnance face (including both child and adult-oriented risk education programmes)
• NTS: Ensure non-technical survey activities follow due process, adopting an evidence-based approach, using tools at your disposal accurately and following safety measures in place.
• IA: Coordinate among operations the impact assessment of MAG’s activities on communities and other relevant stakeholders. Where appropriate, design and apply relevant measurement tools and indicators jointly with CLM/CL ODT. Ensure the capture of data on the outcomes and impact of MAG’s work and the communication of this data to relevant internal and external stakeholders.

Coordination and Reporting

• Plan, prioritise and coordinate all CL activities in order to achieve maximum community engagement and understanding during all stages of land release activities.
• Where MAG is implementing CL via implementing partners ensure regular and cordial partnership relations.
• Plan CL activities efficiently to ensure project outcomes are met in a cost-efficient manner benefiting to the donor, beneficiaries and affected communities in general.
• Maintain regular liaison with TOM and technical operations to coordinate the deployment planning for CL teams, exchange information on operations, assess tasks from survey to completion and plan support to land release activities when required. (non-exhaustive list)
• Assist and support the development of the country programme strategy, plans, proposals and budgets with regard to CL activities in line with MAG’s mission and mandate.
• Develop a good capacity in the use of MAG Global Operations Management Information System and/or any system in place to collect data and analyse information for reporting, strategic planning and impact assessment purposes.
• Assist in setting-up an M&E system for CL related initiatives (at project level) and partners management
• Provide clear and accurate reports for donor and HQ purposes.

Liaison and communication

• Conduct on-going liaison with all relevant stakeholders (government, UN, INGOs, national NGOs, mine action centres, the military, health care providers etc.); establish and maintain networks for information exchange.
• Assist in the liaison with National Authorities, key Stakeholders and other operators to provide technical expertise, promote coordination and plan to avoid duplication.
• When required to do so: participate actively to working groups, sub-cluster and other coordination meetings.
• Conduct assessments, including on-site interviews with beneficiaries, and other technical missions on behalf of MAG as required
• Plan and collect information for MAG HQ case studies and oral testimonies, showing the variety of experience of living with conflict and explosive ordnance, impact of land release/MAG activities. Where required, undertake recording and documenting of CL resources (photographs, reports, RE materials, etc.)

Capacity Building and HR

• Direct, supervise and manage CL team leaders and CL teams as required.
• Build and maintain good working relationships with all national staff and partners to maximise results and objectives.
• Build and sustain acceptance and commitment for work in line with humanitarian principles and standards.
• Be a team player: work collaboratively and inclusively to manage and develop your own and other teams.
• Assist with the recruitment and selection of national CL staff. Ensure Job Descriptions for CL staff are up to date and in line with MAG standards.
• Support in setting objectives to MAG CL staff according to their positions and conduct appraisals of CL and any other line reports in line with MAG procedures.
• Plan and conduct relevant training activities for national staff where required, including RE/NTS/IA, participatory learning techniques, communication skills and facilitation skills based on continuous training needs assessment.

All staff are expected to undertake the following general duties:

• Work within the framework of MAG’s core values, promoting its ethos and mission statement.
• Work towards achieving programme and/or department business plan objectives.
• Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all MAG policies and procedures and keep informed of MAG activities.
• Undertake and apply learning from appropriate training and development programmes.
• Undertake role in developing countries and areas in conflict where standards of living may be basic.
• Undertake the role in a manner appropriate to the cultural context and within the local legal framework.
• Identify and communicate risks and threats, and mitigates these for self and organisation.
• Take measures to do no harm and to minimise risks for partners and crisis-affected people.
• Understand and uphold the standards outlined in MAG’s Safeguarding Framework, acting with due care and attention to safeguard the wellbeing of anyone that comes into contact with MAG’s work and reporting concerns if they do arise.

Person Specification

Essential Experience
• Experience of working in community and/or educational development activities.
• Experience of conducting needs or risk assessments in order to design and implement appropriate interventions.
• Experience in the monitoring and evaluation of development and humanitarian projects.
• Experience in the design and delivery of formal or informal training and transfer of skills to others.
• Experience of leading, motivating and managing a diverse range of people:
• Experience of participatory research techniques and community-based approach in a working context.
• Experience of working independently for extended periods of time in ‘stand-alone’ environments with minimal supervision.

Essential Skills and Knowledge
• Understanding of humanitarian response and risk reduction.
• Understanding of gender, diversity and inclusion
• Understanding of political and cultural context and underlying causes of humanitarian crises
• Strong information management skills
• Good negotiation skills
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to plan and coordinate activities and projects, in line with accountability principles and standard
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills: inspires confidence in others, influence positively to achieve goals, demonstrates active listening to encourage team collaboration
• Excellent people management and coordination skills
• Sound understanding of relevant IHL/Conventions and international development issues
• Relevant IT and numeracy skills (conversant with IT, Office and use of tablets)
• Desired: Knowledge in mapping and understanding of geo-positioning system
• Good spoken and written English language skills
• Mandatory fluency in local languages: Ukrainian and Russian

Essential Aptitude
• Ability to establish effective working relationships at all levels internally and externally
• Self-motivated, flexible and enthusiastic approach to work
• Innovative, creative and pro-active with an analytical and solution-oriented approach
• Ability to represent and promote MAG values, mission and vision.
• Do-no-harm approach: Cultural sensitivity and adaptability
• Strong commitment to humanitarian and capacity building principles
• Commitment to MAG’s humanitarian mandate
Qualifications
• Higher education in Social sciences; Communication: Management, Education; Public Health or similar areas

Please share your CV and cover letter in English language to Milena Vara Ruiz, [email protected]. The deadline for this vacancy is 1st of September.