Shelter and Settlements Specialist

The Shelter & Settlement Specialist will be responsible for the design and evaluating shelter construction and settlement activities for DRC in Upper Nile state. This includes overseeing shelter activities and the construction of other infrastructure in the state, such as settlement infrastructures, community centers, DRC offices, and any other construction projects requiring technical expertise. He will coordinate with other DRC departments in the development and implementation of shelter and settlement infrastructures.

Responsibilities:

Management

• Responsible for planning, implementing, following-up and supervising DRC shelter construction and settlement activities in Upper Nile state
• Ensure all staff are trained on the skills and values required and contribute to local and national capacity building.
• Ensure that the organization’s financial, supply chain, security and human resources policies and procedures are fully adhered to and implemented.
• Ensure that DRC’s Code of Conduct is respected and implemented by all stakeholders: national staff, casual labor, suppliers.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the area operations through participation in strategy planning meetings and documents.

Administrative, Finance and Procurement Functions

• Make sure the project activities and procedures respect and comply with the internal policies & procedures, donor contractual agreements, grant documents and implementation plans.

Program implementation 

• Identify gaps in shelter and settlement provision to IDP’s and host community, proactively referring those gaps to relevant forums or advocating with government authorities or humanitarian partners for additional support.
• Develop and/or adapt a work plan for construction activities and ensure progress and quality in line with applicable international standards and agreements.
• Construction activities will include, but not be limited to:

• Large-scale construction of family shelters for IDP’s and host community (both emergency and semi-permanent shelters);
• Construction of communal infrastructure (including both traditional structures using local materials and semipermanent).
• Construction of buildings to support other projects, training centers, youth centers, community centres etc.
• Settlement maintenance activities including drainage, water retention dams, dykes, access roads and culverts.

Site planning

• Involve community and their representatives (leaders) in the different stages of construction activities, from planning to implementation and evaluation.
• Provide technical support to community members who are able to construct own shelter, and organize work teams to construct shelter for vulnerable families.
• Supervision of contractors and suppliers, ensuring that deliveries take place according to the quantity and quality agreed.
• Ensure quality supervision of quality of work of any contractors hired for construction activities at all stages of the construction process. 
• Ensure that all documentation related to shelter and settlement activities for works completed, laborers engaged and supplies is completed in a timely manner.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 4 years of professional work experience in managing shelter programs, including at least 2 years with an international organization; 
• Minimum 2 years of humanitarian work in challenging field locations; 
• Ability to Prepare, interpret and implement engineering technical designs
• Excellent project management skills including the design of project management tools; 
• Excellent analytical and communication skills; 
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with local staff and other stakeholders; 
• Proven ability to work and live in basic living conditions in field locations; 
• Ability to work under pressure, with minimal supervision, and in a culturally diverse team; 
• Experience with implementation of large-scale shelter programs in IDP camps or displacement situations is an asset; 
• Experience with preparing BoQs and technical design drawings for new construction. 
• Proficiency in the use of IT Office Tools and AutoCAD drawing software.  
• Experience overseeing implementation of construction projects by external contractors, including quality checking