Senior Technical Advisor - Capacity Development

Senior Technical Advisor – Capacity Development (Civil Defence), Syrian Arab Republic

The starting salary package for this position is £87,628 GBP including all allowances.

This is a fixed term role for 18 months.

This is an unaccompanied post.

About MAG:

MAG (Mines Advisory Group) is an international humanitarian organisation based in Manchester, UK, and working in 32 countries. We remove landmines and unexploded ordnance to release safe and productive land for communities, and work to reduce the threat of armed violence by supporting governments to safely manage weapons and ammunition. In 1997, MAG was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for our work campaigning for the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

About the role:

Reporting to the Country Director with a technical line to the Technical Director, you will be responsible for Leading MAG’s capacity development partnership with Syria Civil Defence, providing senior technical advice at institutional level and building a nationally owned capacity to plan, manage and deliver explosive ordnance response and risk education safely and to standard. Managing MAG’s embedded capacity development team, ensuring their work is coordinated, technically sound and directed towards agreed capacity development outcomes.

As well as support the Country Director in developing the strategy, plans, proposals and budgets for this workstream, and to manage MAG’s contractual and reporting obligations to the donors funding it. Represent MAG on capacity development matters with Civil Defence, SNMAC, the Ministry, UNMAS, GICHD, donors and the wider mine action sector.

About the Syria programme:

MAG has been responding to the Syria crisis since 2013, working to support development by finding and destroying the explosive remnants of war so that communities can raise their families and pursue their livelihoods in a safe and secure environment, free from fear of death or injury.  In addition to our current programme in the North East, you will also support the safe expansion of initiatives across all of Syria, based on where and how opportunities arise in the future.

Responsibilities:

Institutional Capacity Development and Technical Governance

·       Lead MAG’s technical relationship and capacity development partnership with Civil Defence, agreeing institutional priorities, intended outcomes and a sequenced capacity development plan.

·       Oversee the development and embedding of the systems needed for safe and effective delivery, including training, standard operating procedures, quality management, accreditation and operational information management, aligned with National Mine Action Standards, IMAS and MAG Global Technical Standards.

·       Advise Civil Defence leadership on operational planning, tasking, prioritisation, equipment and resource requirements, and support preparation for accreditation and formal national tasking arrangements.

·       Coordinate the specialist input required from MAG and external partners to address wider institutional capacity needs, avoid duplication and support the mobilisation of appropriate resources.

·       Support Civil Defence participation in relevant standards, technical and sector coordination processes, and promote learning and exchange with other national mine action capacities.

Management of the Capacity Development Team

·       Line manage the Technical Field Managers, Community Liaison Manager and National Technical Coordinator, setting clear objectives, monitoring performance and ensuring their work is integrated and directed towards agreed capacity development outcomes.

·       Ensure that embedded staff mentor and coach rather than substitute for Civil Defence personnel, and oversee the quality of mentoring, on-the-job training and technical support provided to supported teams.

·       Manage, motivate and develop the team, ensuring appropriate recruitment, appraisal and development arrangements and compliance with MAG policies, SOPs, safeguarding requirements and agreed boundaries with Civil Defence.

Community Liaison and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education

·       Provide strategic and technical oversight of the development of Civil Defence’s community liaison and explosive ordnance risk education capacity, including appropriate procedures, training, materials, targeting and delivery methods.

·       Ensure that community liaison supports non-technical survey, task prioritisation and community reporting of hazards, with relevant information incorporated into national systems.

·       Promote coordination with national authorities, UNICEF and the wider sector, and ensure that quality assurance, delivery data and community feedback inform continuous improvement and the transition to Civil Defence-led delivery.

Programme Development, Donor Management and Representation

·       Support the Country Director in developing the strategy, operational plans, proposals, budgets and medium-term resource requirements for the capacity development workstream.

·       Manage MAG’s contractual and reporting obligations to donors funding this work, working with programme funding colleagues and the Programmes Quality Team to ensure compliance and timely, accurate reporting.

·       Represent MAG on capacity development matters with Civil Defence, SNMAC, relevant ministries, UN agencies, donors, technical bodies and sector coordination mechanisms.

·       Keep the Country Director, Technical Director and Programmes Quality Team appropriately briefed on significant technical, operational, relationship and delivery issues.

·       Contribute learning from Syria to MAG’s wider approach to capacity development and localisation, including the development of organisational policy, guidance and standard approaches.

Technical Safety, Risk and Quality

·       Within the authority delegated to the role, ensure that the health and safety of MAG staff working on the project is effectively managed in line with MAG policy and standards.

·       Ensure that MAG’s and Civil Defence’s respective responsibilities, operational boundaries and risk controls are clearly documented, understood and applied in practice.

·       Advise the Country Director on technical, operational and contextual security risks arising from work alongside Civil Defence, and contribute to programme risk management and the country Incident Management Team.

·       Ensure that accidents, incidents and technical non-conformities involving MAG staff or supported Civil Defence teams are reported, investigated and analysed within MAG’s remit, and that corrective actions and learning are followed through.

We’re looking for someone with:

Essential Experience

·       Senior experience of developing, implementing and leading humanitarian mine action operations in conflict-affected contexts, including responsibility for multi-team or multi-asset delivery, staff, resources and budgets.

·       Experience of designing and leading capacity development or localisation programmes with national authorities, national operators or local partner organisations.

·       Experience of developing and embedding technical SOPs, training programmes and quality management arrangements within an organisation.

·       Experience of leading and developing diverse teams and of mentoring and coaching national counterparts to build sustainable capability.

·       Experience of developing and managing institutional donor-funded programmes, including proposals, budgets, reports and contractual obligations.

Essential Skills and Knowledge

·       Strong and current technical knowledge of explosive ordnance, EOD and clearance, with the judgement to translate policies and standards into practical plans, procedures and controls.

·       Strong organisational and strategic planning skills, including the ability to identify capacity gaps, coordinate complex work over the medium to long term and draw in appropriate internal or external expertise.

·       Excellent written and spoken English and strong communication, interpersonal and diplomatic skills, with the ability to influence and build trust with national authorities, partners and donors.

Essential Qualifications

·       Explosive Ordnance Qualification to IMAS Level 3, meeting the requirements established in IMAS 09.30/01/2022, from a recognised military, civilian or humanitarian mine action organisation.

Desirable Experience, Skills and Knowledge

·       Experience in Syria or a comparable Middle Eastern mine action context, ideally involving a civil defence or first-responder organisation.

·       Experience of developing National Mine Action Standards or contributing to relevant technical working groups.

·       Knowledge and experience of community liaison, EORE, non-technical survey and mine action information-management systems, including IMSMA or comparable systems.

·       Experience of integrated land release, EOD and clearance in an urban environment.

·       Written and spoken Arabic language skills.

Desirable Qualifications

·       Explosive Ordnance Qualification to IMAS Level 3+ and/or IEDD Level 3+ from a recognised military, civilian or humanitarian mine action organisation.

·       Formal accident and incident investigation training, a recognised programme or project management qualification, or a degree in a relevant subject.

Please note that as part of MAG's commitment to safeguarding, this post is subject to background checks before an offer of employment is confirmed. For more information on MAG’s approach to safeguarding and background checks on our website.

MAG is committed to the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion. If you think you would be suited to one of our roles we would welcome your application regardless of your background. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all employees feel respected and supported in fulfilling their potential.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

•      Renumeration Package:£87,628 per annum including basic salary and all allowances and this increases with service.

•      Accommodation: MAG will provide accommodation in-country.

•      Leave: We recognize our staff work hard and need the appropriate time out to stay motivated. You'll have a minimum of eight weeks out of the programme per year.

•      Flights: MAG provides four international flights home per year.

•      Insurance: Internationally contracted, programme based staff are automatically covered by MAG's comprehensive insurance package including: Personal accident and medical expenses insurance; Death by natural causes insurance and access to 24-hour medical assistance.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply by submitting an application detailing your suitability for the role through the link below before the closing date ofMidday, Thursday 15th October 2026.

MAG will support the successful applicant with any visa or work permit required, including application, administration and costs, however applicants will need to be able to obtain these within a reasonable time period to be considered for the role, due to programme needs.