EOD Team Leader

About the role:

The EOD Team Leader is responsible for planning, supervising and safely conducting Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Spot Tasks, Battle Area Clearance (BAC), technical search operations and explosive ordnance disposal activities under MAG Ethiopia’s operational programme. The post holder provides day-to-day leadership of the EOD team, ensuring that all activities are conducted safely, efficiently and in full compliance with MAG Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Ethiopian National Mine Action Standards (NMAS), International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), and MAG safety and quality management requirements. The EOD Team Leader is accountable for operational planning, team discipline, safety management, quality assurance, equipment accountability and operational reporting. The post holder will report to the Technical Field Manager (TFM) Team Leader and manage EOD Operators, EOD team Medic and Drivers.

About you:

The successful candidate will:

• Nationally recognised EOD Team Leader qualification or equivalent.
• IMAS EOD Level 3 qualification or equivalent is desirable.
• Eligible for EMAO operational accreditation as an EOD Team Leader.
• Minimum three years’ experience in humanitarian mine action.
• Demonstrated experience leading EOD or BAC teams.
• Sound knowledge of IMAS and Ethiopian Mine Action Standards (EMAS).
• Experience conducting EOD Spot Tasks and demolition operations.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to plan and supervise multiple operational tasks.
• Computer literacy (MS Word and Excel).
• Good written and spoken English.

EOD Team Leader

Department: Operations

Reports to: Technical Field Manager (TFM) Team Leader

Direct Reports: EOD Operators, Drivers and Medic (or as per approved team structure)

Location: Tigray Region, Ethiopia (with deployment to other operational areas as required)

MAG’s Vision is a safe future for women, men and children affected by violence, conflict and insecurity. People will live in communities where their rights are upheld, with dignity and choice and free from fear from mines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and the impact of small arms and light weapons and ammunition.

MAG’s Mission is to save lives and build safer futures. We will use our core skills and distinctive competence to save lives through the removal of mines and ERW, and reduce the impact of small arms, light weapons and ammunition on people and communities. How we do this is as important as what we do – we work primarily with and for communities, for us ‘it’s all about people’.

MAG’s Values. Our values come to life through our actions, every day. How we act has an impact on others. As someone who works at MAG, you can help to create a positive culture by demonstrating our values through your own behaviour and actions. Everyone has a role to play in shaping our culture. Everyone should understand our values and is encouraged to think how they are relevant to their individual role.

DETERMINED – we work with purpose

EXPERT – through excellence and expertise we build trust

INTEGRITY – we strive to do the right thing

COMPASSION – people come first in everything we do

INCLUSIVE – we are inclusive, and we value diversity

Job Purpose

The EOD Team Leader is responsible for planning, supervising and safely conducting Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Spot Tasks, Battle Area Clearance (BAC), technical search operations and explosive ordnance disposal activities under MAG Ethiopia’s operational programme.

The post holder provides day-to-day leadership of the EOD team, ensuring that all activities are conducted safely, efficiently and in full compliance with MAG Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Ethiopian National Mine Action Standards (NMAS), International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), and MAG safety and quality management requirements.

The EOD Team Leader is accountable for operational planning, team discipline, safety management, quality assurance, equipment accountability and operational reporting.

Principal Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Plan, organise and supervise all daily EOD and BAC activities.
• Conduct daily operational planning based on task orders, risk assessments and operational priorities.
• Brief and deploy the EOD team safely and efficiently.
• Ensure all activities comply with MAG SOPs, NMAS and IMAS.
• Lead EOD Spot Task responses and Battle Area Clearance operations.
• Supervise technical search, excavation, identification and preparation of explosive ordnance for disposal.
• Lead demolition operations within the scope of accreditation and MAG SOPs.
• Ensure operational productivity while maintaining the highest safety standards.
• Coordinate movement between multiple spot tasks where required.

Safety Management

• Maintain safety as the highest operational priority.
• Conduct daily safety briefings before deployment.
• Ensure task-specific risk assessments are completed and implemented.
• Verify that safety distances, demolition sites and evacuation procedures are established.
• Stop operations immediately whenever unsafe conditions exist.
• Investigate and report accidents, incidents and near misses.
• Promote a strong safety culture within the team.

Command and Supervision

• Exercise command and control of all team members.
• Allocate duties according to individual accreditation and competency.
• Supervise and mentor EOD Operators during field operations.
• Monitor staff performance and provide coaching where necessary.
• Maintain discipline and professional conduct within the team.
• Ensure all personnel comply with MAG policies and procedures.

Operational Planning

• Prepare daily work plans.
• Confirm all operational documentation is completed before deployment.
• Ensure equipment, vehicles, communications and medical support are available before commencing work.
• Coordinate logistics requirements with Operations and Logistics staff.
• Adjust work plans in response to operational changes.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

• Conduct routine Quality Assurance (QA) inspections throughout operations.
• Ensure all work meets MAG quality standards.
• Identify and correct operational non-conformities.
• Report quality issues to the Technical Field Manager Team Leader.
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal

• Supervise identification, assessment and disposal of explosive ordnance.
• Ensure demolitions are conducted safely and in accordance with MAG SOPs and NMAS.
• Verify demolition calculations and explosive allocations where applicable.
• Maintain accountability for all explosives and accessories issued to the team.
• Ensure demolition records are accurately completed.

Equipment and Asset Management

• Maintain accountability for all operational equipment assigned to the team.
• Conduct routine inspections of detectors, PPE, demolition stores, communications equipment and vehicles.
• Ensure defective equipment is reported immediately.
• Maintain accurate equipment inventories.
• Ensure operational vehicles are inspected before deployment.

Reporting

• Compile daily operational reports.
• Maintain accurate clearance and EOD records.
• Submit operational outputs and productivity reports.
• Immediately report significant findings, incidents and accidents.
• Support collection of operational data required for IMSMA and MAG reporting systems.

Training and Mentoring

• Mentor EOD Operators to improve competency.
• Conduct toolbox talks and refresher training.
• Identify training needs within the team.
• Support accreditation exercises and operational assessments.
• Promote continuous professional development.

Coordination

• Liaise with the Technical Field Manager Team Leader regarding task progress.
• Coordinate with Community Liaison teams where required.
• Maintain effective communication with EMAO representatives during operations.
• Support operational visits by donors, MAG management and external stakeholders.

General Responsibilities

All MAG staff are expected to:

• Work in accordance with MAG’s values, Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Framework.
• Comply with all MAG policies and procedures.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Protect confidential information.
• Maintain the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
• Participate in mandatory training and professional development.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the position as required.

Person Specification

Essential

• Nationally recognised EOD Team Leader qualification or equivalent.
• Eligible for EMAO operational accreditation as an EOD Team Leader.
• Minimum three years’ experience in humanitarian mine action.
• Demonstrated experience leading EOD or BAC teams.
• Sound knowledge of IMAS and Ethiopian Mine Action Standards (EMAS).
• Experience conducting EOD Spot Tasks and demolition operations.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to plan and supervise multiple operational tasks.
• Computer literacy (MS Word and Excel).
• Good written and spoken English.

Desirable

• IMAS EOD Level 3 qualification or equivalent.
• Previous experience working with international NGOs.
• Experience using IMSMA or similar information management systems.
• First Aid qualification.
• Experience mentoring national EOD staff.

Core Competencies

• Operational leadership
• Technical expertise
• Decision-making
• Safety management
• Planning and organisation
• Team leadership
• Communication
• Accountability
• Problem-solving
• Quality management
• Integrity