United Nations Office for Project Services has announced a vacancy for a Senior Technical Advisor to support complex mine action and explosive hazard management operations in Damascus. The position forms part of the organization’s Peace and Security Cluster under the New York Portfolios Office and is expected to play a critical role in advancing humanitarian and post-conflict recovery efforts in high-threat environments.

Applications for the senior-level role are open until May 26, 2026.

Role Positioned Within UNOPS Peace and Security Operations

The vacancy sits within the United Nations Mine Action Service operational framework and supports global mine action initiatives coordinated by the United Nations system.

UNOPS stated that the Senior Technical Advisor will report directly to the Head of Operations and will oversee operational planning, implementation, monitoring, and quality assurance related to explosive hazard management activities.

The role is based in Damascus under an International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) at ICS Level 11, with an initial contract duration of 12 months.

The successful candidate will support operations linked to:

Humanitarian mine action
Explosive ordnance disposal
Improvised explosive device disposal
Weapons and ammunition management
Stockpile destruction
Risk education and victim assistance

Position Supports High-Risk Humanitarian and Post-Conflict Operations

According to UNOPS, the Senior Technical Advisor will contribute to the safe, effective, and efficient execution of mine action programmes implemented in partnership with UNMAS and national authorities.

The advisor will help oversee technical operations in conflict-affected environments where explosive remnants of war continue to threaten civilian populations and humanitarian access.

Core responsibilities include:

Supporting programme and project design from an operational and technical perspective
Monitoring implementation plans, budgets, and operational timelines
Ensuring compliance with international mine action standards
Overseeing quality management and information management systems
Coordinating with national authorities and humanitarian stakeholders
Managing risk registers and operational reporting systems
Leading incident investigations and Boards of Inquiry where necessary

The role also requires active engagement with gender equality, diversity, and inclusion commitments embedded within UNOPS operational frameworks.

UNOPS Emphasizes Inclusive and Ethical Mine Action Programming

UNOPS highlighted that the position contributes to broader organizational priorities linked to diversity, equity, inclusion, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.

The organization stated that the Senior Technical Advisor will be expected to:

Promote inclusive operational planning
Ensure participation of women and underrepresented groups in consultation processes
Foster safe and respectful work environments
Support equitable performance management systems
Integrate disability and gender-disaggregated data into planning and reporting

UNOPS also noted that women, candidates from the Global South, persons with disabilities, and professionals from conflict-affected regions are strongly encouraged to apply due to underrepresentation in technical mine action leadership roles.

Technical Expertise and Certifications Required

Applicants are expected to possess extensive operational experience in mine action or explosive hazard management within military, humanitarian, or development contexts.

Educational requirements include:

Master’s degree with seven years of relevant experience, or
Bachelor’s degree with nine years of relevant experience, or
Secondary education with 13 years of relevant experience

Mandatory technical certifications include:

IMAS-equivalent Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Level 3
EOD Level 3+ certifications in:
- Bulk demolitions
- Guided weapons
- Aerial bombs

Desired additional qualifications include:

Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) Level 2
Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) disposal specialization
Knowledge of International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG)
Familiarity with Modular Small Arms Control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC)

Extensive Field Experience Required

Candidates must demonstrate at least five years of progressive operational experience within the past decade in explosive hazard management or mine action operations.

Required operational experience includes at least three of the following areas:

Humanitarian demining
Battle area clearance
Mechanical mine clearance
Rubble removal operations
IED threat mitigation
Weapons and ammunition management
Stockpile destruction
Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration operations

UNOPS also requires a minimum of three years of leadership experience managing multicultural field teams, including oversight of quality assurance and incident response procedures.

Knowledge Management and Innovation Responsibilities

In addition to operational oversight, the Senior Technical Advisor will support knowledge management and innovation initiatives aimed at improving mine action effectiveness.

Responsibilities include:

Maintaining operational records and documentation
Introducing modern operational tools and technologies
Supporting lessons-learned exercises
Enhancing information management systems
Integrating GIS and IMSMA Core data systems into operational planning

The role also involves mentoring operational personnel and strengthening internal technical capacity across project teams.

Application Deadline and Recruitment Process

The application deadline for the Senior Technical Advisor position is May 26, 2026. UNOPS emphasized that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessments.

The organization reiterated that no fees are charged at any stage of the recruitment process and warned applicants against fraudulent recruitment schemes.

As global humanitarian agencies continue responding to explosive hazards in conflict and post-conflict regions, the role represents a significant opportunity for experienced mine action specialists seeking to contribute to international peacebuilding and civilian protection efforts.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.