Global Special Advisor Capacity Development At Norwegian People’s Aid

Norwegian People’s Aid is seeking a Global Special Advisor Capacity Development

NPA is implementing Mine Action and Disarmament Programmes in more than 20 countries that focuses on EORE, survey and clearance of Explosive Ordnance in addition to Capacity Development (CD) of National Mine Action Authorities (NMAAs) and national Implementing Partners (IPs).

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

The Global Special Advisor Capacity Development (GSACD) is the thematic lead for the NPA’s global portfolio for the CD of the NMAAs and local Implementing Partners (IPs). The function will provide guidance and continually improve the NPA policies and practices globally, regionally, and at country levels. S/he will advise and support the NPA in-country teams, manage knowledge, training and development of the NPA’s CD Advisors on all aspects of the CD. S/he is also responsible for the promotion of the NPA’s CD component globally and expanding partnership with donors and partner organisations.

Duty station: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the possibility of being based in Oslo, Norway.

In this position your main responsibilities will be:

• Management of the overall CD portfolio within NPA Mine Action and Disarmament and ensuring that the portfolio is staffed with competent, motivated and skilled people
• To ensure CD toward NMAAs and local IPs in the programmes are carried out in a sustainable manner where national ownership is respected
• Improve NPA’s sustainable CD framework, guidelines, and tools and ensure consistency in its implementation across NPA MAD country offices, primarily at the institutional (enabling environment) and at the organisational levels
• Provide advise to in-country CD advisors on projects to facilitate their performance, learning, coordinating, monitoring and management of CD initiatives with NMAAs and local IPs
• Ensure NPA’s CD activities across the global portfolio is as standardised as possible
• Ensure that professional relations are maintained with related internal and external stakeholders
• Represent NPA and brief stakeholders on NPA CD approach
• Liaise with national authorities, national and international mine action operators and other relevant stakeholders as required
• Assess, together with CD advisors, multiple CD entry points in respective NMAAs and local IPs and map out areas for strategic support and enhancement
• Based on CD activities in different country offices, explore opportunities for greater coordination, synergies, information sharing and knowledge management
• Coordinate the in-country CD advisors in order to explore mutual beneficial strategies and programmes aimed at accelerating CD within NMAAs and local IPs
• Identify and communicate challenges, bottlenecks and deficiencies within NMAAs and local IPs to relevant NPA country offices and suggest solutions.

To be succesful in this role you must have:

• Master degree in relevant studies or relevant military education and professional experience
• Minimum 10 years relevant work experience in mine action operation and thematic areas
• Experience working with NMAAs and senior governmental and military officials
• Sound understanding of mine action programme management, operational planning and prioritisation, information management and quality management in mine action
• Sound knowledge of the IMAS, convention requirements and Oslo/Lausanne action plans
• Prior experience in developing national policies, strategies, standards and SOPs
• Excellent English language proficiency.

We consider it an advantage if you also have:

• Previous experience working with NGO or UN agencies
• Previous experience in working in advisory or capacity development roles with NMAAs or similar
• Excellent understanding of capacity development approaches
• Experience working for INGOs or international organizations is preferable.

In this position, the following personal competencies are required: Excellent interpersonal, facilitation and communication skills, with the ability to cooperate and work in a multi-cultural / multi-national setting. We are looking for someone with the ability to work efficiently under pressure and to meet set deadlines, while being able to adapt and remain flexible as plans change. The preferred candidate should be innovative with solid analytical skills, and be able to communicate through interpretation from national staff. The ability to travel extensively and with short notice is also a requirement.

Preferred starting date: As soon as possible

Before you apply:
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 as well as our Code of Conduct.

In return we offer: A position in the labour movement’s global humanitarian solidarity organisation. NPA strives for diversity and gender equality, and encourages candidates of all nationalities, backgrounds and gender to apply. We strive to provide an inclusive working environment where all employees feel respected and supported. In addition, we are aiming to reduce our environmental impact in all our interventions.

We offer a comprehensive salary package. You will be covered by our comprehensive insurance scheme. We offer five weeks’ annual holiday.

* Please note that salary and allowances are subject to income tax according to NPA’s Tax Policy.
** Terms for annual leave follow the Norwegian Annual Holidays Act
*** Terms apply according to NPA’s internal regulations

For more information about NPA, please see our website or visit us on Facebook or Twitter.

Please note that due to the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the recruitment process and/or the start-date might be delayed.