Chemonics Group UK Ltd. is currently seeking to recruit a Maritime Security Partnership (YMSP) Operational Advisor (Embed) to provide hands-on tactical and operational advisory support to the Yemen Coast Guard (YCG), focused on day-to-day operational effectiveness, asset utilization, and rapid improvement of frontline capability.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

The Yemen Maritime Security Partnership (YMSP) Operational Advisor (Embed) provides hands-on tactical and operational advisory support to the Yemen Coast Guard (YCG), focused on day-to-day operational effectiveness, asset utilization, and rapid improvement of frontline capability.

Level of Effort, Deployments, and Location

The YMSP Operational Advisor (Embed) will begin with a short probation phase in the summer of 2026, totaling 30 days ( 6 working weeks) During this period, the Advisor will be embedded in YCG Headquarters .
Should the probation be successful. onward, the role would transition to a part time or role in agreement with the role holder until March 31, 2027. The estimated level of effort for this extended engagement would be 10 to 15 days per month.

Key Responsibilities

1.    Primary responsibility: Operational and Tactical Advisory and Quick-Win Improvements:

a.    Operational Readiness & Performance Management

• Monitor patrol readiness, crew availability, and asset serviceability across bases.
• Support the introduction of simple operational performance indicators (e.g. patrol days achieved vs planned, downtime causes, response times).
• Identify recurring operational bottlenecks and propose practical mitigation measures.

b.    Patrol Planning & Tasking Support

• Advise commanders and operations rooms on patrol planning, task prioritisation, and realistic tasking based on available assets.
• Support the development of simple patrol plans, duty rosters, and deployment cycles.
• Encourage intelligence led and risk-based patrol tasking rather than reactive or ad-hoc deployment.

c.    Operational Procedures & Standardisation

• Support the development, testing, and practical adoption of basic SOPs (patrol conduct, boarding, reporting, incident response).
• Reinforce standard reporting formats, handover routines, and use of logs and checklists.
• Identify where procedures are impractical and feed lessons learned back into revision cycles.

d.    Information Flow & Reporting Discipline

• Reinforce a culture of routine operational reporting from crews to operations rooms and HQ.
• Support the practical use of MDA inputs (AIS, radar, visual reporting) in day-to-day operations.
• Improve feedback loops so frontline units see how their reporting informs decisions.

e.   Asset Integration & Sustainment Support

• Support the operational integration of newly delivered vessels, equipment, and systems into routine YCG use.
• Advise on basic maintenance routines, spares usage, fault reporting, and log-keeping practices.
• Flag sustainment risks early (skills gaps, consumables, misuse) and escalate through Head of the YMSP Results Unit.

f.    Support to the YCG Training Institute

• Support establishing Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of the YCG Training institute.
• Help conduct training needs analysis and syllabus design of the Basic Recruit Course and in Leadership, Maritime Domain Awareness, Engineering and Board and Search.
• Provide

g.    Quick-Win Improvements & Practical Fixes

• Identify low-cost, high-impact improvements that extend operational reach or effectiveness (e.g. basic welfare, fuel handling, spares storage, simple safety upgrades).
• Support rapid implementation of these improvements in coordination with Head of the YMSP Results Unit

2.    Secondary responsibility: YMSP Coordination, Integration & Pledge Tracking

• Act as the in-country operational focal point for monitoring the delivery, integration, and utilisation of YMSP-supported pledges to the YCG.
• Track progress across:
  • Asset delivery and acceptance
  • Operational integration
  • Associated training
  • Early sustainment and usage
• Identify operational risks, delays, or sustainment issues and escalate them promptly to the YMSP Technical Lead.
• Conduct practical verification of donor-provided equipment, focusing on actual operational condition and use, including (where applicable). 
• Report YCG operational success and
• Provide factual, evidence-based inputs to inform strategic decision-making by the YMSP Maritime Security Advisor, without making strategic recommendations independently.

Deliverables

1.    Monthly Operational Performance Inputs: Short, evidence-based inputs submitted through the YMSP Technical Lead to the YMSP Secretariat, Results Unit, and relevant Technical Working Groups, focusing on operational performance, integration status, and emerging risks.
2.    Operational Improvement Briefs: Concise notes documenting implemented quick wins, observed impact, and clearly delineated systemic issues for strategic consideration by YMSP leadership.
3.    Asset Verification & Utilisation Reports: Factual reports on the condition, usage, and operational effectiveness of donor-provided assets, highlighting sustainment risks and training or support gaps.

Authority and Access
The YMSP Operational Advisor (Embed) operates in a strictly advisory, non-command capacity. To fulfil the role effectively, the Advisor shall be granted appropriate access, as agreed with the Yemen Coast Guard (YCG), to relevant headquarters functions, operational coordination rooms, maintenance and logistics facilities, vessels (when in port), operational records, and designated personnel. The Advisor may observe operational processes, readiness procedures, and sustainment practices, but shall not issue orders, task units, or assume any command or control functions.

Risk Management, Safeguarding, and Conflict Sensitivity

The YMSP Operational Advisor (Embed) shall operate in line with risk management, safeguarding, and conflict-sensitivity principles established under the Yemen Flexible Funding Mechanism (YFFM), which are available upon request.

Required Skills and Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the principal duties.

• Experience in maritime, naval, coast guard, or similar operational/security environments.
• Proven experience in operational advisory, mentoring, or embedded field roles.
• Experience supporting operational reporting, and performance monitoring.
• Strong analytical, communication, and coordination skills.
• Experience in fragile or conflict-affected environments (desirable).
• Ability to work in an advisory (non-command) capacity.Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Fluency in Arabic and English required