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 Par