Senior Technical Shelter Officer
While responding to people’s urgent need for protection and humanitarian assistance worldwide, one of UNHCR’s primary commitments is to continue to enhance the effective and timely delivery of emergency settlement and shelter solutions while ensuring that all sectoral responses uphold the technical integrity UNHCR strives to achieve and further cemented by the Global Strategy for Settlement and Shelter (2014-2018).
While continuing to deliver thousands of emergency shelters worldwide, UNHCR intends to capitalize on decades of experience in the sector and to continue investment in research and development to explore enhanced and innovative shelter solutions which better suit the needs of people of concern.
Given the evolving nature of shelter technology and associated materials, research and development in the settlement and shelter sector should be continuous, vibrant and flexible. Ultimately, this position will allow UNHCR to remain at the forefront of the shelter innovation process while ensuring the testing, quality control and visual inspection of sectoral responses is systematically undertaken worldwide.
UNHCR established a dedicated Shelter & Settlements Section (SSS) within DPSM in late 2011 to strengthen the organization’s role as a global reference agency for shelter and settlements in conflict-related displacement situations. Over the past two years, SSS has developed the vision, concepts and partnerships and has also achieved progress in building the capacities required to meet the shelter settlement needs of refugees, internally-displaced people and others of concern to the High Commissioner.
UNHCR has recently launched the first Global Strategy for Settlement & Shelter: 2014-2018. The Strategy places people and their need for protection and solutions at the centre of a more integrated and holistic approach to shelter and settlement planning, with the objective of meeting their basic needs and improving their quality of life in a safe, dignified and sustainable way, whether in urban or rural settings.
An intrinsic component of achieving the vision set out in the Global Strategy relies, among other elements, on key partnerships in the area of shelter and settlements which have been significantly developed over the past two years with UN and international organizations, NGOs and government agencies. These fruitful collaborations have led to the organization's increased involvement in the research and development of new and innovative shelter solutions which will be further enhanced in the coming years, working together with foundations, academic institutions and the private sector.
In addition, technical integrity remains a cornerstone of the Global Strategy which UNHCR aims to uphold and ensure that sectoral programmes are fully aligned with the new Strategy and based upon harmonized approaches, evidence-based decision-making and good practice, while also progressively improving the quality and depth of technical expertise and capacity within the organization.
The function will therefore facilitate the implementation of key elements within the new Global Strategy by ensuring that UNHCR responses portray the highest standards of technical integrity, pursue innovative research and development activities in order to diversify the contextually and culturally appropriate shelter solutions available to people of concern worldwide.
The position has a direct reporting line to the Chief of the Shelter and Settlement Section while ensuring linkages with other relevant sectors within DPSM. The function will entail frequent travel to field operations to provide both technical advice and support throughout various operational phases.
Minimum qualifications and professional experience required:
· Advanced university degree in civil engineering including subjects related to structure, planning, design and construction.
· A minimum of 10 years progressively relevant professional working experience in shelter and settlement- related fields in developing countries, with prior experience working for a UN entity
· Experience of structural designing and construction management of shelters and other infrastructure including supervision, monitoring, quality control, structural analysis and technical clearance, tendering and evaluation processes.
· Sound knowledge of UN procurement and quality insurance procedures
· Demonstrated experience in research and development related to shelter and other infrastructure, including cost benefit analysis.
· Proven technical expertise in the area of shelter assessment, testing, revision of technical specifications against structural requirements.
· Prior experience in assessing the suitability of shelter prototypes and monitoring and evaluating testing processes.
· Strong and updated technical awareness, good analytical capacity, ability for innovative thinking combined with practical and solutions oriented skills.
· Good communication skills with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
· Proficient in basic computer software including engineering design tools.
· Team player who is adaptive and flexible to various and complex situations including emergency operations under varied socio-cultural and physical environments.
· Fluent written and spoken English.
More details in the attached document.
How to apply:
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