Unit Commander - Angola

Location: Mavinga, Angola

Hours:  Full Time

Contract Type: Permanent

Reports To: Operations Manager

Direct Reports: Field Officers/ Sub Unit Commanders

Key Internal Contacts/Relationships:  Sub Unit Commanders, Operations Manager

Key External Contacts/Relationships:  Local Authorities and ANAM

Job Purpose: The Unit Commander (UC) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight within the assigned Area of Responsibility (AoR). They ensure the safe and effective deployment of operational teams, oversee clearance and survey activities, and maintain compliance with organizational standards. Working closely with the Location Manager, the Unit Commander also oversees the support functions within the location, ensuring operational capacity and project deliverables are achieved.  

About HALO:

HALO is the leading global NGO addressing the impact and drivers of conflict in 30 countries and territories, with over 8,000 staff. Most of our staff are local employees and include a growing number of women.

Our primary duty is to serve people affected by conflict, clearing landmines and the explosive remnants of war that threaten lives and livelihoods long after fighting has finished. We make land safe where war has ended, while also assisting those affected by active conflict and endemic violence.

HALO addresses human suffering caused by armed violence in some of the world’s most fragile places, securing weapons and ammunition and working with both state and community actors to reduce the prevalence of armed violence.

HALO’s work in Angola focuses on reducing the impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war, improving safety, enabling access to land, and supporting long-term recovery and development.

About the role:

The Unit Commander plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safe, effective, and strategic delivery of HALO’s operations within their Area of Responsibility (AoR). They provide leadership and oversight to operational teams, directing clearance and survey activities while maintaining compliance with organizational standards and donor requirements.

With the Location Manager, the Unit Commander also oversees the support functions within the location, ensuring that logistics, fleet, finance and HR are working to location and programme priorities.

Beyond operational management, the Unit Commander acts as a key liaison with local authorities, and local stakeholders. They lead contract management at the location level, monitor progress against operational and financial targets, communicating both challenges and successes to the wider projects team.

The role demands strong leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to manage a project across multiple disciplines as we re-establish the Unit after it closing at the end of GOA 1.

Please note this role is dependent on funding.

Responsibilities:

Establish Location

• Plan and implement the opening of the Mavinga Unit/Location including recruitment and training of support departments and operational teams as well as ensuring the necessary stores/systems and processes and infrastructure is also to the required standard.

Operations Management

• Conduct regular Quality Assurance (QA) visits to all tasks within the AoR, ensuring comprehensive oversight on a cyclical basis.
• Review and approve clearance plans from Sub Unit Commanders and direct necessary resources accordingly.
• Track operational efficiency, collaborating with relevant staff to create action plans addressing any inefficiencies.
• Direct deployment of non-technical survey and operational teams, ensuring tasks are well-coordinated and safely executed.
• Ensure timely and thorough completion of Road Anti-Tank Threat Assessments by Sub Unit Commanders for present and planned tasks

Work Planning

• Develop and implement comprehensive monthly deployment plans for the AoR in collaboration with Sub Unit Commanders and the Location Manager.
• Review and approve clearance plans from Sub Unit commanders and direct necessary resources accordingly.
• Coordinate workplans among Sub Unit Commanders, directing focus on high-priority operational areas.
• Develop workplans for NTS teams, identifying necessary survey priorities linked to the locations operational plan.

Data Management

• Regularly review daily, weekly, and monthly statistics provided by the teams to monitor progress and performance.

Liaison and Relationship Management

• Host any national authority visits to operational tasks.
• Assist in hosting visits from internal and external stakeholders, ensuring positive interactions with local authorities.

Donor Management

• Lead contract management at the location level, coordinating with other contract leaders to ensure donor expectations are met.
• Monitor and report on progress related to donor funding targets, proactively addressing any issues that arise.

Logistics

• Advise on logistics requirements for operational capacity and conduct stores checks in line with programme requirements.
• Carry out inspections of explosive stores, reporting any inconsistencies to logistics and senior operations staff.

Personnel Management

• Line Manage and mentor Sub Unit Commanders and the Location Manager, ensuring operational standards, safety, and clearance outputs are delivered in line with programme priorities and donor requirements. Caring for their professional development and wellbeing.

 General:

• Uphold HALO’s core values and standards, promoting its ethos and mission statement.
• Ensure familiarity with and adherence to all HALO policies and procedures, especially the code of conduct and safeguarding

• Strong leadership and decision-making skills in challenging environments.

• Critical thinking and analytical abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proactive approach to personnel management and mentorship.
• Willingness to adapt and work in remote and often challenging conditions
• HALO International Operations Training.
• Experience in minefield clearance management.
• Proficient in strategic decision-making related to minefield management.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office applications.
• Fluent in English.
• IMAS EOD Level One (minimum).

Desirable Requirements:

• Understanding of the Angola context and culture
• Fluency in Portuguese (or a strong willingness to learn)
• Experience in areas such as Project Management, Finance, Logistics, HR

Travel Requirements

• Regular

To Apply:

Please submit a CV (no more than 2 pages) and a cover letter (no more than 1 page) outlining how your experience matches the key skills and competencies required by 4/08/2026.

Applications without a cover letter tailored to this position will not be considered.

We reserve the right to amend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.

The HALO Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

The HALO Trust is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining talented individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

The HALO Trust is committed to ensuring that it provides a safe and trusted environment which safeguards and promotes the welfare and wellbeing of anyone who comes into contact with, or is part of, the Charity, with a zero-tolerance approach to behaviours which challenge this.