Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Shelter Officer conducts comprehensive sectoral needs assessments in liaison with other relevant sectors such as Protection, Programme, Community Services, Public Health, WASH, Administration and Supply. To ensure the most effective response, both quantitative and qualitative data should be gathered on the profile/needs and living conditions of both the displaced population and host community.
Close and regular contact is also maintained with technical and non-technical staff of UN Agencies, Implementing Partners, and Shelter sector members, national and international NGOs and Government Authorities. The incumbent also discusses matters relating to shelter and infrastructure coordination and provision.
Specialized functions to be dealt with by the incumbent in this post include shelter planning/design and construction monitoring including remote monitoring, therefore the person should have a strong academic qualification in civil engineering, architecture or a related discipline.
The Shelter Officer also ensures that the development of shelter strategies takes into account the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection, available resources and skills. In addition, the incumbent ensures that shelter responses within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) evolve according to the changing nature of the situation, progressively working towards more durable solutions and drawing from local building practices and materials.
Within an urban context, it is essential that shelter responses take into consideration urban planning strategies, including an analysis or residential areas, housing affordability and availability. In addition, regardless of the context, shelter assistance should at all times minimize the risk of eviction, exploitation and abuse, overcrowded living conditions, limited access to services and unhygienic conditions.
The Shelter Officer normally reports to the Senior Shelter Officer.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Architecture Engineering;
Civil Engineering;
or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Prior experience of implementing shelter and settlement projects in humanitarian context and large scale emergencies coordinating with operational partners, governmental technical departments. Minimum 2 years of international field experience. Prior experience in designing and implementing a shelter strategy, including host family situations, collective shelter and camp settings, in emergency while considering the transition to more sustainable solutions. Project formulation, planning, supervision and management skills.
Proficient in basic computer software¿s, including engineering (AutoCAD) and site planning design tools (GPS). Previous involvement in implementation processes (including development of bill of quantities, analysis of local capacity and local markets, cost estimations, etc.). Experience of construction management (including site supervision, monitoring, quality control, evaluation etc.) including application of participatory approaches to facilitate active participation of communities into the project cycle and into the construction process. Experience in developing shelter and settlement need assessments and undertaking gap analysis for development of shelter programmes. Experience in building on existing local capacity and transfer knowledge as appropriate.
Desirable:
Knowledge of UNHCR shelter standards, as well as standards related to protection, WASH, environment and land use. Knowledge of a range of shelter assistance options, including sensitivity to cultural and gender specific needs to ensure that the social and cultural background of the refugees is taken into account while designing, developing and implementing shelter options. Familiarity with and considerable Field exposure to UNHCR programme planning and implementation and on humanitarian operations. Ability making the linkages to rehabilitation and development programmes will be an added advantage.
Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy;
SP-Environment Planning;
SP-Design tools such as Global Positioning System (GPS);
SP-Shelter and Site Planning Technical Guidelines and Standards;
SP-Infrastructure Development/Construction Management/Property Management;
EX-Field experience in emergency and/or large-scale settings;
SP-Autocad software;
PR-Global Shelter Cluster Strategy;
SP-Shelter Assessment including survey/implementation/monitoring/evaluation/coordination
MG-Crisis/Emergency Relief Management;
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
This vacancy is archived.