Quality Management Expert

Job Posting Organization:
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an international humanitarian organization founded in Denmark in 195

• With a mission to assist refugees and internally displaced persons globally, DRC provides emergency aid, advocates for their rights, and works towards sustainable solutions for a brighter future. The organization has grown to employ over 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers, operating in multiple countries and focusing on conflict-affected areas. DRC's vision is to ensure a dignified life for all displaced individuals, guided by core values such as humanity, respect, independence, neutrality, participation, honesty, and transparency. In Syria, DRC has been active since 2008, initially addressing the Iraqi refugee crisis and later expanding its efforts to respond to the ongoing Syria crisis since 201
• DRC Syria employs an area-based approach to support internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities across various sectors, including Economic Recovery and Resilience, Protection, WASH, Shelter and Infrastructure, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding. The organization is committed to rapid response mechanisms to address emerging crises and ensure sustainable solutions for fragile communities, with active programs in neighboring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Türkiye, and Iraq, facilitating a cross-border response to the Syria crisis through protection monitoring and advocacy.

Job Overview:
The Quality Management Expert will be seconded to the National Mine Action Center (NMAC) to aid in the development and operationalization of a nationally owned, IMAS-aligned Quality Management System (QMS) for humanitarian mine action in Syria. This role emphasizes institutional capacity building, focusing on the establishment of structured systems, procedures, and oversight mechanisms. The expert will enhance the technical capacities of NMAC's Quality Management staff through mentoring and on-the-job coaching, ensuring effective implementation of quality assurance and control functions. The position requires a comprehensive understanding of quality management systems, particularly in the context of humanitarian mine action, and the ability to align national systems with international standards. The expert will also be responsible for developing key performance indicators and ensuring that the QMS is functional and sustainable beyond the assignment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Quality Management Expert will undertake several key responsibilities, including:

• Developing a structured, documented, and functional national Quality Management System (QMS) for humanitarian mine action.
• Conducting a comprehensive gap analysis of quality management and humanitarian mine action systems, producing an inception report that includes the analysis and a work plan.
• Strengthening the technical oversight and non-conformity management mechanisms of the Syrian National Mine Action Center (SNMAC).
• Drafting and revising essential documents such as the National QM policy framework, quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) standard operating procedures (SOPs), accreditation frameworks, post-clearance inspection procedures, internal audit mechanisms, and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) procedures.
• Developing standardized QA/QC documentation templates and digital tracking tools.
• Supporting the establishment of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for national mine action quality oversight.
• Ensuring alignment of national QMS with IMAS and relevant national technical standards.
• Liaising with various stakeholders, including GICHD, Mine Action Area of Responsibility, UNMAS, and other humanitarian mine action actors to coordinate activities and share information.
• Strengthening the integration between QA/QC findings and information management systems, including the development of data-driven quality monitoring dashboards. 1
• Providing structured mentoring and on-the-job coaching to SNMAC (QM) staff and developing a sustainability roadmap for the internalization and operationalization of systems and tools beyond the assignment.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 5 years of experience in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) with a qualification of EOD Level 3+ or higher, along with operational experience. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of experience in management or operational roles related to Mine Action, including Non-Technical Survey (NTS) and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE). Experience in challenging environments is essential, as is proficiency in MS Office and communication applications. Candidates should have extensive experience in Quality Management systems within the context of mine action, demonstrated experience in implementing IMAS and developing national standards, and proven experience in accreditation, quality assurance, quality control, and audit systems. Strong institutional capacity-building skills, diplomatic engagement, stakeholder management, and the ability to translate technical standards into practical systems are also required. Excellent mentoring and coaching skills are essential for this role.

Educational Background:
The educational requirements for this position include IMAS EOD Level 3+ certification, which encompasses all six modules, as well as IMAS IEDD Level 3+ qualification. Candidates should also possess NTS/EORE certificates, MMC/BAC certificates, and a QM in Mine Action certificate. A Training of Trainers certificate is desirable, along with a degree-level education, which is considered an advantage. A valid driving license is also required for this position.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in the field of humanitarian mine action, particularly in roles related to quality management systems, operational management, and capacity building. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in challenging environments and should be adept at developing and implementing quality management frameworks and procedures. Experience in supporting or advising National Mine Action Authorities is highly valued, as is familiarity with survey, clearance, and land release methodologies. Candidates should also demonstrate strong skills in mentoring and coaching, with the ability to effectively engage with stakeholders and facilitate the internalization of quality management systems.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is mandatory for this position. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively in both languages, as they will be required to engage with diverse stakeholders and produce documentation in these languages. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but English and Arabic are the primary languages required for this role.

Additional Notes:
The contract for this position is expected to last between 4 to 5 months, with the possibility of extension based on performance and organizational needs. The salary band for this role is classified as E (Non-Management). The position is based in Damascus, Syria, with frequent travel required to various operational sites. The expected start date for this role is June 1, 202

• Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting a cover letter and an updated CV, both of which must be in the same language as the vacancy note. Applications must be submitted before the closing date of May 7, 202
• The Danish Refugee Council reserves the right to conduct tests and interviews prior to the closing date and may close the advertisement earlier if a suitable candidate is found.