HMA Officer (Explosive Ordnance Victim Assistance Officer) – Ukraine

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote sustainable solutions for displaced people.

DRC has been active in Ukraine since 2014. Currently, DRC has over 800 staff in Ukraine and will continue to scale up significantly in 2024 to implement emergency assistance in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, through direct interventions, support to duty-bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue to develop and adapt its portfolio of sustainable solutions to the changing context.

DRC is currently looking for a HMA officer (Explosive Ordnance Victim Assistance Officer) in KievThe role is expected to travel to field locations including Chernigov, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Mykolaiv.

About the track

You will be responsible for supporting the organization of VA WG meetings and Victim Assistance Coordination Roundtables. The role will also contribute to the development of SOPs and other relevant (outreach) materials, VA-relevant assessments, studies and advocacy, as well as awareness campaigns. Your responsibilities will also include providing Targeted Individual Assistance (i.e. cash grants) to victims of explosives in cases where support from DRC teams is requested.

Your main duties and responsibilities are:

Support for the Victim Support Working Group (VA WG)

• Support the organization of VA WG meetings, VA Coordination Roundtables (VA RT) and other public events on the rights and needs of explosives victims and people with disabilities (PwD);
• Contribute to the follow-up of the discussion results of the VA WG and other events;
• Assist in developing guidelines, assessments, information releases, and other products based on the results of the work of VA WGs and VA RTs;
• Ensure collaboration between VA WG members and partners to strengthen cooperation and share experiences, expertise and best practices, contributing to a coordinated and comprehensive VA response in Ukraine.

Research, analysis and advocacy

• Contribute to the development of assessments and research, for example on the needs and stigmatization of victims of violent discrimination and people with disabilities in Ukraine;
• Based on the results of needs assessments, research and stakeholder consultations of the VA WG, support the VA specialist in their work with a media agency to design and launch mass media information campaigns;
• Support the development of advocacy messages and initiatives in consultation with the DRC Advocacy Coordinator and the DRC Legal Aid Unit;
• Ensure that the findings of the assessment and analysis, highlighting the key needs of EO victims and gaps in the VA response in Ukraine, are used in advocacy and external engagement;
• Assist in mapping relationships with government and VA-relevant civil society stakeholders to develop and strengthen referral pathways and procedures for cases requiring specialized and other support services.

Support for victims of explosives, capacity building and other

• Where support from teams in the area is requested, provide targeted individual assistance (i.e. conditional cash grants) to direct and indirect victims of EO/EW accidents, thereby contributing to improving their socio-economic situation;
• Contribute to the development and adaptation of necessary tools, forms, technical manuals and SOPs for DRC VA-related activities and support the VA specialist in developing capacity building materials for DRC staff and partners;
• Support collaboration with other sectors to ensure integration and synergy and identify opportunities for collaboration/better coordination between teams;
• Collaborate with DRC support departments, initiate tenders and ensure their implementation;
• Perform other relevant duties as requested by and in consultation with the HDP Program Manager and VA Specialist.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to: minimum 2 years experiencepreferably in mine victim assistance, disability inclusion, social work, case management, counselling or related humanitarian areas. In addition, we also expect:

• A degree in social work, inclusion, psychology, (special) education or a similar professional qualification is required;
• Technical knowledge of VA and inclusion practices;
• Knowledge of the International Mine Countermeasures Standards (IMAS) and national mine countermeasures standards is an advantage;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with vulnerable individuals, staff and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds;
• Strong research and analytical skills;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities;
• Strong sense of personal integrity and understanding of confidentiality and ethics;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange and Windows operating systems;
• Full professional command of English is required;
• Fluent Ukrainian required.

In this role you will be expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on achieving results while ensuring an efficient process.
• To collaborate: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take responsibility and initiative and strive for innovation.
• Communicate: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrate integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct with respect to our values ​​and code of conduct, including protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract duration: 12 months, with a 3-month trial period.
• Indication of location: Kiev (30% travel).
• Start date: October.
• Salary and employment conditions are in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s employment conditions.

Application procedure

All applicants must upload a motivation letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.

Applications sent by email will not be processed.

Closing date for applications: September 15, 2024.

We review your resume on an ongoing basis. We encourage qualified candidates to apply as soon as possible.

DRC as an employer
Working in DRC, you will join a global workforce of approximately 8,000 employees in 40 countries. We pride ourselves on our:

• Professionalism, impact and expertise
• Humanitarian Approach and the Work We Do
• Purpose, meaningfulness & own contribution
• Culture, values ​​and strong leadership
• Fair pay and continuous development

DRC’s ability to ensure the protection and assistance of refugees, displaced persons and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct with respect to DRC’s values ​​and code of conduct, including protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of its recruitment process.

If you have any questions or experience any issues with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/about-us/job-and-career/support-for-job-seekers.

Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer and we consider all applicants based on individual merit and qualifications, regardless of personal characteristics or attributes. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce, aiming for a 50% gender balance in management positions and ensuring that at least 50% of management positions are filled by national staff. We recognize that a diverse and inclusive team is crucial to achieving our organizational goals and having a positive impact on the communities we serve.