Lao People's Democratic Republic (the): Operations Manager, Lao PDR

Norwegian People's Aid is a humanitarian organisation rooted in the Norwegian Labour Movement. We work with International Development Partnerships, Humanitarian Mine Action, Rescue Service and First Aid, and Asylum and Integration. Norwegian People's Aid has about 12000 members in Norway and 2400 staff worldwide. We work in 36 countries around the world, and in 2017 we will have an expected turnover of 1000 MNOK.

Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) has been involved in humanitarian mine action since 1992 and is one of the leading humanitarian demining organizations worldwide. NPA works closely with national authorities and other stakeholders on resolving the challenges faced by the local communities caused by landmines and other explosive remnants of war. In 2017, NPA has more than 22 Mine Action Programmes in the Balkans, Southern Africa, the Horn of Africa, Central Asia, South East Asia, and The Middle East.

NPA started in Lao PDR with support to the national UXO operator in 1997, and since 2009 it has also been running its own field operations including survey, clearance and capacity building projects. The programme’s head quarter is located in the capital Vientiane, with a regional office in Saravane province in the south of the country and a joint project with UXO Lao in Luang Prabang Province in the north of the country. The programme is currently employing 253 national staff and 5 expatriate staff, and receives funds from several donor including NMFA, USDOS, DFID and SIDA with an annual turnover of approximately 7 million USD.

NPA is seeking an experienced, technically strong and independent Operations Manager to lead NPA Lao PDR operations. The position is based in Pakse, Champasak Province, with extensive travels to all operational sites in Lao PDR. The position requires participation in relevant national and international meetings when needed.

Key duties and responsibilities:

Specific duties of the Operations Manager include, but are not limited to:

• Hold overall responsibility for all operations and projects within the NPA program in Lao PDR.
• Be responsible for continuous development of the NPA Lao PDR operational procedures, survey and clearance operations, and for providing results to the Country Director (CD) as well as other internal and external stakeholders.
• Be overall responsible for internal and external reporting on operational productivity and results.
• Be responsible for the monitoring and overall management of programme and operational activities according to plans and budgets.
• Be responsible for staff capacity development on a technical level as well as on a managerial level.
• Collaboration and follow-up with the National Operations Manager to increase national capacity to plan and manage operations.
• Be responsible for monthly, quarterly, annual and long-term planning of all operational activities.
• Ensure that support functions are working with efficiency in support of operational activities and objectives.
• Ensure that NPA operational activities are coordinated and in line with the national standards and policies from national authorities.
• Be responsible for the introduction and development of new tools and methodologies.
• Actively contribute to development of national standards in Lao PDR.
• Participate in relevant internal and external operational meetings on global, regional, national and provincial level.
• Be responsible for evaluation and follow up of all international and senior national operational staff.
• Ensure productive and professional relationships and cooperation with national authorities, other Mine Action operators in country as well as regionally/globally, and other relevant stakeholders.
• In co-operation with the CD, secure the planning and facilitation of the implementation of activities according to budgets and plans.
• In co-operation with CD and programme management staff, draft narrative and budgetary plans and reports.

Required qualifications:

• Relevant education or equivalent qualifications (result-focused mine action NGO, commercial EOD work or UN mine action operations, relief and development programmes or military qualifications).
• Proven ability to develop and manage survey and clearance operations, including motivating and leading a team.
• Track record of establishing and maintaining effective professional relations with relevant stakeholders, in particular national and international clearance operators.
• Experience in operational planning and proven analytical skills.
• Good knowledge of Humanitarian Disarmament, IMAS, NMAS, SOPs and land release principles (and/or IATG when relevant).
• Proven experience in drafting technical notes, SOP and training packages is an advantage.
• Hands-on mine action experience with non-technical survey, technical survey, manual demining, EOD, BAC, mechanical and/ or animal detection an advantage.
• Good understanding of management of mine action operations and their support, including logistics, finance and human resources are assets.
• Good communication, cultural understanding and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Good health.
• Written and verbal proficiency in English.
• Experience working internationally.
• Good computer skills (GIS skills are an advantage).
• Driving licence.

Personal competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to cooperate and work in a multicultural/multi-national setting and to be good team player.
• Ability to work in and adapt to difficult and complex cultures and conditions is necessary.
• Solid analytical, structured and innovative skills.
• Be adaptable, flexible, and able to work in a hostile environment and under difficult circumstances.
• Ability work calmly under pressure and with limited supervision.
• Ability to establish efficient professional working relationships with stakeholders, in particular national and provincial authorities (Civilian and Military), UN and International NGOs.

Place of Service: Pakse, Campasak Province, Lao PDR

Starting Date: as soon as possible

Closing date for application: December 23rd 2017

In general:
We emphasize the importance of strong health, cross-cultural communication skills, positive attitude, creativity, integrity and the ability to work under pressure and difficult conditions. One of NPA's overall objectives is to promote gender equality in our organization, and female candidates are encouraged to apply.
NPA offers:
Interesting and challenging work environment, free accommodation, transport and insurance schemes for expatriates. A one-year contract with possibility for renewal will be offered. For more information about NPA, please see NPA's website at www.npaid.org / www.folkehjelp.no

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