Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) is seeking a Programme Manager for our Mine Action and Disarmament Programme in Palestine.

Wars and armed conflicts come to an end; however, the remnants of war continue to impact millions of people for decades to follow. Mine Action and Disarmament’s vision is a world where people and communities are safe, resilient and protected before, during and after armed conflict. Together with national authorities and other stakeholders, we are working to resolve problems faced by local communities caused by Explosive Ordnance (EO). NPA has more than 20 Mine Action Programmes ongoing in Africa, Asia, Latin America, South East Europe and the Middle East. NPA Palestine is a Mine Action and Disarmament programme that is complementary to a DHC programme. Together, these two programmes seek to address the complex needs of Palestinians at this time.

Do you want to join our professional and committed global team in our mission to protect civilians from explosive weapons?

Do you have management experience from humanitarian mine action and disarmament? Are you motivated for a role in developing and managing the NPA mine action programme in Palestine? If so, you might be the candidate we are looking for! Palestine is one of the most challenging and globally highlighted and pressing humanitarian contexts. You will bring your experience and expertise to help support the programme in a strategic and responsive growth period.

Duty Station: At the time of posting and recruiting, the duty station is the Gaza Strip, with an operational duty station in Amman, Jordan until NPA has accessed safe, relevant and timely access inside Gaza, meeting conditions that allow for safe and secure work in the sector.

What we offer:

• The opportunity to be part of a well-established country programme with a strong reputation and a wide portfolio of programme activities and partners at a historical time of humanitarian response and highly technical and inter-connected thematic needs on the ground – a context that will shape the trajectory of policy, coordination, and response trends moving into this century. As a key member of the SMT, you will be central to contributing to the continuous, timely and relevant development of the country programme as well as being responsible for the Mine Action and Disarmament programme for NPA Palestine.
• Comprehensive salary package including country-specific allowances and insurance scheme.
• R&R and respective allowances will be provided for this position given that the duty station is in the Gaza Strip, and will be formulated on a) mechanism for access into Gaza as per UN and INGO expat processes and conditions, b) will reflect both hardship and risk in terms of living and working conditions inside Gaza, and c) will be situated on a suitable timeframe for number of weeks inside Gaza, weeks working remotely from Amman on Gaza and time out of duty station for R and R. At time of posting, access into the Gaza Strip has been severely disrupted by both active conflict, closed or limited border access from Israel into Gaza as well as security breaches that have resulted in the closure of land border crossings between Jordan and Israel which is the overland corridor for rotating convoys for UN and INGO expats. The NPA country office is closely monitoring the overall access situation while remaining committed to a professional R&R package associated with the position.
• Five weeks’ annual holiday plus one additional week off for expats.
• Three international flights home per contract year.
• A two-year expatriate contract* with potential for renewal, under the Norwegian Working Environment Act’s and the Special Agreement’s favourable conditions.

Requirements

Must have:

• Three years of senior management experience or equivalent responsibility from Mine Action
• Solid and sound knowledge and understanding of humanitarian Mine Action.
• Experience in strategically managing and directing large scale projects including implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation, risk assessment, mitigation and contract compliance
• Experience developing and maintaining relationships and negotiating with donors, international stakeholders, government bodies, NGOs, and local partners.
• Experience working closely with logistics, finance, HR and other support functions if and as required
• Gender awareness including safeguarding
• Written and verbal proficiency in English

Desirable:

• EOD L3 or equivalent military qualifications are highly desirable
• Strong knowledge of CPP and EORE
• Experience in and exposure to integrated protection including community mobilisation and capacity building, training and coaching in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, including community members and leaders
• Safety and security management experience
• Media, comms and advocacy experience

We are looking for a value-based programme manager who is highly resilient and flexible, can cope under constant pressure, and is adaptable to changing contexts and corresponding responsibilities. You are culturally sensitive, with good communication and interpersonal skills. And have strong people management experience with a proven ability to lead and manage a multidisciplinary and multicultural team, also remotely and in the spirit of collaboration across diverse stakeholders and colleagues. Additionally, you manage to work independently and proactively with minimum supervision and can assess, plan, structure, and manage multiple activities.

Key responsibilities:

• To scale up and lead a comprehensive and complex mine action programme, coordinating with various stakeholders, including governmental bodies and other mine action operators, to facilitate the delivery of CPP/EORE and safe clearance of EO across Palestine. Ability to work with stakeholders that may be positioned in ad hoc or interim governance roles if and as required.
• Provide strategic leadership in coordination with the Country Director and representation of NPA MAD in Palestine. Maintain robust oversight of the programme to ensure quality delivery of NPA’s activities.
• Work with CD and PM – HUM Response at the SMT level for joint areas of work including integrated protection, communications and advocacy, strategic and responsive work planning, and joint staff and partner capacity-building initiatives as suitable and relevant.
• Ensure the effective integration of strategic, programmatic and operational management to maintain relevance, quality and impact of all mine action activities in the country.
• Accountable to the NPA Head Office for the delivery, effective management, monitoring and evaluation of NPA’s activities in the MAD Programme in Palestine.

About the recruitment process:

The application deadline for applicants is 01st October 2024.

Please note that we may shortlist and conduct interviews before the deadline.

*Validity of the offer and contract depends on a satisfactory medical certificate, full vaccination, valid travel visa and necessary permits for service and residency in the country of service. The offer and contract also depend on continued donor funding and might be subject to donor approval.

Please be aware that working in Palestine involves various restrictions on access depending on your citizenship.

Our standard recruitment process consists of a screening phase, first interview, final interview (case task and Alva Labs personality assessment) and reference checks.

We work continuously for more diversity and inclusion throughout the organisation and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

Do you have any questions about the position? Are you motivated for the role but unsure if you meet all the requirements? Please contact Jon Juul Jensen at the following e-mail: [email protected]

We kindly ask you to carefully read NPA’s Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy, and Anti-Corruption Policy before you submit your application. If you are the selected candidate for this position, you will be asked to complete and sign a Safeguarding self-declaration and our Code of Conduct.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Please apply online as instructed on this website. Due to capacity reasons we are only able to process applications sent through our recruitment portal.

Contact person

Jon J. Jensen

Section Manager

+47 479 72 021

[email protected]