Ethiopia: Shelter Officer

A. Duties and responsibilities:

· Ensuring that UNHCR Field operations are supported in carrying out shelter needs assessments taking into account the current situation, projected population planning figures and the expected scale of returns.

· Development and updating of shelter strategies which are framed by UNHCR’s Global Strategy for Settlement and Shelter (2014-2018)[1] and take into consideration the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection and the availability of local resources, including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure.

· Providing clear guidance on standards for shelter and settlement, including minimum emergency standards to meet basic and essential needs.

· Together with UNHCR's implementing partners, compiling, analysing and mapping available information on shelter options in country taking into account relevant policies adopted by the Government (ARRA). When planning shelter works, ensuring that the technical component reflects UNHCR minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of shelter assistance and is within the budgetary requirements. Due consideration should be given to standards in other relevant sectors such as water and sanitation.

· Ensuring that specifications, bills of quantities and drawings are produced in a technically sound and standardised manner and establish monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure that works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe.

· Design and develop tender documentation for relevant infrastructure such as schools, boarding house, training college and other such facilities.

· Technical supervision of the actual construction work, including quality control and assisting with road construction and road rehabilitation work / inspection of work done by the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA)

· Promoting the sustainability of technical interventions through local capacity building and self-help in collaboration with local partners in the field. Ensure that local communities have been consulted on all activities so as not to create unnecessary tension between the displaced and host populations.

· The position requires regular contact with programme, protection and field staff in country in order to ensure technical support related to shelter and construction activities.

· Close and regular contact with technical and non-technical staff of UN Agencies, Implementing Partners, National and International NGOs and Government Authorities, is essential to discuss matters relating to shelter and infrastructure coordination and provision.

· Maintaining regular contact with the Shelter and Settlement Section in Geneva regarding all technical matters.

B. Education and experience

· University degree in Architecture or Civil Engineering

. At least 8 years relevant experience in the related field, including collaboration with different humanitarian organizations (Field experience in responding to emergencies working with relevant governmental technical departments and various organizations in identifying, designing, delimiting, clearing and developing land allocated to establish site camps.

· Good knowledge of construction standards and international best practice.

· Prior experience in designing and implementation of similar construction projects.

· Prior experience in settlement site planning including layout of shelter plots, roads, communal infrastructures and basic services.

· Prior experience in designing and implementing shelter strategies.

· Knowledge of UNHCR standards and criteria for shelter and settlement planning, including consideration of cross sectorial issues related to protection, WASH, environment, land property issues etc.

· Previous experience in tender processes (including development of all relevant technical documentation) to ensure settlement and shelter development.

· Experience of site construction management (including supervision, monitoring, quality control, evaluation etc.)

Other requirements

· Capacity to work with multi sectorial teams

· Cultural sensitivity to the specific needs of the persons of concern.

· Willingness and ability to work in hardship environments.

· Computer literacy in MS Office, CAD-drafting software (AutoCAD, ArchiCAD etc) and GIS (Mapinfo, Global Mapper, ArcGIS, Googel Earth, etc..) and other relevant software to produce digital maps, site plans, layout and technical drawings.

· Excellent knowledge of English

· Knowledge of another UN language would be an asset

To apply for this vacancy please submit your P11 and motivation letter (no more than 1 page) by 22 September to HQShelter@unhcr.org with the vacancy title in the subject line. Due to the volume of applications recieved, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.