HMA Operations Manager

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in1956 that works in 40 countries throughout the world. DRC is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

In Lebanon, DRC focuses on improving the protective environment and the living conditions of displacement-affected populations as well as contributing to the achievement of durable solutions. DRC has been delivering humanitarian programming in response to various humanitarian crises in Lebanon since 2004, working with Palestinian, Iraqi and Syrian refugees, and with vulnerable host Lebanese populations, including those affected by the Beirut Port Explosion in 2020. More recently, DRC is providing support to displaced and conflict-affected populations following the emergency in Lebanon. DRC's programming has focused on Protection and Economic Recovery, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peace Building, while maintaining emergency response capacity countrywide through direct and indirect implementation with local actors.

DRC implements EORE and NTS directly with own teams in northern Lebanon and Bekaa and will partner with a local organization on the delivery of EORE and NTS in Beirut Mount Lebanon and the South.

Overall purpose of the role: As an HMA Operations Manager you will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of technical trainings to field staff, ensuring high-quality delivery of activities, rolling out technical standard operating procedures where needed, technically supporting and overseeing the work of DRC's HMA local partners to support an effective, sustainable, and increasingly nationalized HMA operation. The role requires close collaboration with the Head of Programme to support the scale up of HMA operations, along with other DRC Technical Coordinators, the Area Programme Manager to ensure integration and operational support, and with the Lebanese Mine Action Center (LMAC).

Responsibilities:

Operational Delivery

• Ensure the highest possible standards of safety and quality are maintained in all HMA operations.
• Update and/or develop new HMA related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and secure re-accreditation from local authorities in Lebanon in line with HQ global standards as may be required by LMAC.
• Lead the planning of HMA activities within the area of responsibility, aligning with DRC's strategies, donor requirements, and priorities of authorities and communities.
• Oversee and ensure timely and quality implementation of all HMA activities including those of the local partners.
• Ensure the availability and serviceability of equipment; plan for procurement and replacement as needed in collaboration with the HMA team and DRC Supply Chain.
• Support procurement planning by ensuring timely submission of purchase requests aligned with operational needs and procurement timelines.
• Ensure that the HMA budget lines are forecasted , working closely with the Area Programme Manager, and Finance teams. Raise any concerns or opportunities as needed.
• Collaborate with the Country Safety Focal Point and Area Programme Manager on safety and access issues, ensuring compliance with DRC safety protocols.
• Actively participate with other functions in project cycle management (PCM) processes, including kick-off, planning, monitoring, budget reviews, and close-out meetings, to ensure compliance with procedures and enhance program integration and impact.
• Contribute technical input to HMA donor reports as required, in accordance with DRC reporting standards and donor requirements.
• Conduct technical capacity assessment of selected local partner on ability to implement EORE, NTS, BAC, MMC and EOD according to IMAS standards and in line with DRC quality standards.
• Support DRC Head of Programme in expanding and scaling up HMA operations.
  
  Technical Training and Capacity Building
• Provide technical management, supervision, and mentoring to DRC staff and local partners staff to ensure compliance with IMAS, NMAS, and DRC HMA SOPs.
• Supervise operational activities of local partners and DRC staff, to ensure safe and high-quality land release and EORE operations.
• Deliver and track training to enhance the technical capacity of staff and local partners.
• Monitor productivity and provide actionable recommendations for improvement.
• Ensure regular coordination with DRC HQ HMA staff as per DRC global requirements.
  
  Technical Monitoring and Quality Management
• Conduct regular internal quality assurance (QA) as well as external QC of local partners demining, EOD, BAC, NTS, and EORE teams and activities, implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Support QA reviews by the Country Office MEAL team, ensuring timely implementation of their recommendations.
• Facilitate external QA processes and follow up on resulting recommendations to ensure compliance and improvements.
  
  External Engagement
• Represent DRC in area-level HMA-related meetings with stakeholders, including LMAC and local authorities, mine action actors, and donors. Representation should be coordinated with the Head of Programme, and Area Programme Manager unless otherwise agreed.
• Coordinate with local HMA partners and duty bearers in line with project requirements.
• Develop a professional collaborative relationship with LMAC and other agencies involved in mine action, and related fields of interest.
• Ensure the prioritisation by LMAC, and ongoing activities of other operators and stakeholders, is taken into account during strategic planning and operational workplan processes.
  
  Project Development
• Contribute to the design and development of the area-level HMA strategy, identifying contextual opportunities and challenges in collaboration with the Head of Programme, and Area Programme Manager.

Staff Management

• Manage, monitor, and supervise the HMA staff ensuring that they carry out their duties and responsibilities in accordance with their job descriptions and as tasked.
• Conduct annual appraisals of staff as directed by DRC Lebanon HR procedures.
• Ensure staff well-being and capacity building as needed.
• Conduct a training needs analysis and create a capacity-building strategy based on the findings of the analysis.

To succeed in this role, we expect you to have the following:

• At least 3 to 4 years of experience in Humanitarian Mine Action within an international context (e.g. NGO, UN).
• Master's degree in international relations, social work, law or another relevant field
• IMAS EOD Level 3 certification is required. IMAS EOD Level 3+ preferred.
• Proven expertise and operational knowledge of a wide range of HMA equipment used in Land Release operations.
• Demonstrated experience in the technical planning of Non-Technical Survey (NTS),Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Land Release operations .
• Proven experience in supervising staff conducting NTS, EORE, EOD and Land Release activities in the field.
• Demonstrated ability to train and build the capacity of national HMA staff in EORE, EOD and Land Release operations.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic with excellent writing skills required.
• Experience with project management including budget and planning processes in a humanitarian context.
• Experience working with organizational functions such as HR (e.g., appraisals, workforce planning), logistics and procurement (e.g., equipment and asset management), finance (e.g., budget follow-up), and security.
• Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Experience with ERP systems is an asset.
• Proven commitment to quality management standards and continuous improvement.
• Ability to adapt effectively to diverse cultural and political contexts.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative and positive attitude.
• Proven ability to build and maintain constructive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Willingness to live and work in remote or austere environments.
• Physically and mentally fit to meet the demands of field-based HMA responsibilities.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC' five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract length: 12 months (renewable based on performance and budget availability).
• Band: E-2 Management
• Duty Station: Beirut
• Start date: November 2026

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council's Terms of Employment for Nationals; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies . For questions regarding the vacancy please contact [email protected]

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. A pplications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 16th of September 2026.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo .