The Shelter and Construction Specialist in the Humanitarian Surge Team will generally be deployed as a field-level technical coordinator in an emergency program, or provide advice and initiate construction activities in support of humanitarian and/or development programs. On occasion, they may also be asked to gap fill a field-level technical coordinator role in a chronic humanitarian country program or sudden onset disaster. The Shelter and Construction Specialist will be expected to lead on sectoral assessment, project planning and budgeting, coordination, support recruitment, procurement, provide technical input on proposal development, and support US HQ.
The post holder will receive a context specific terms of reference (ToR) for each deployment, which will draw upon the responsibilities outlined below.
Areas of Responsibility:
For construction deployments
- Support the recruitment of qualified construction staff and ensure that the structure and allocation of roles within the construction team to those capable of delivering quality, timely and good value construction.
- Support the engagement with communities on issues of design, contractor management and maintenance planning.
- Contribute to the review and development of building designs to ensure fitness for purpose, structural safety and feasibility. Ensure that best practice hazard mitigation measures are incorporated into buildings to resist earthquakes, high wind and flooding.
- Develop implementation and quality assurance plans for procurement and construction management of the building process
- Assess the quality of buildings both during and after completion and advise on necessary improvements that are safety critical.
For shelter deployments:
- Lead technical assessments at field level in coordination with other SCUS thematic areas and/or external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings are documented and include analysis of children’s needs.
- With support from the lead Shelter Adviser and/or other senior program staff contribute to proposal development, procurement plans, project plans, budgets, contributing towards an overall thematic program plan and master budget.
- Prepare and oversee project implementation to ensure timely delivery of project activities (monitoring against log frames, individual performance management work plans).
- With support from the Lead Shelter Adviser or other senior program staff, prepare timely program and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.
- With support from the HR team, identify technical staffing needs for emergency programs and support rapid recruitment, induction and training of new staff.
- With support from the MEAL team put in place an M & E plan for your project, ensuring this links to reporting requirements, and feedback from children and families is considered
- To ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct.
Capacity Building
- Identify learning and training opportunities for project staff and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff.
- Deliver training at country office level on construction and shelter
Representation & Advocacy & Organizational Learning:
- Ensure that Save the Children's work is coordinated with efforts of other stakeholders, support Interagency Coordination forums, advocating for the specific needs of children. This includes supporting coordination-working groups.
- With support from the lead Shelter Advisor, assist in advocacy activities that target decision-makers in country.
- In collaboration with the Humanitarian Technical Unit and feed in learning experiences and evidence/data to relevant global advocacy and technical development objectives.
- Contribute to fundraising, communications and media work as required.
General:
- Deliver high quality results in line with the terms of reference in a manner that maintains the positive reputation of SCUS.
- Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.
- Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects Save the Children's commitment to Child Safeguarding Policy and commitment to Save the Children’s vision, mission, values and approach.
Educational Background:
Qualification to suitable level (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in Architecture, Planning, Civil or Structural engineering, or other building environment profession;
Skills/Experience:
- Fluency in written and spoken English;
- An ability to deploy globally anywhere in the world for assignments up to six-nine months of the year;
- Significant experience (3-5 years) of working overseas in humanitarian (emergency) shelter programs;
- Experience as a construction professional, preferably in a relevant context;
- Experience of shelter and settlements modalities including technical design, host family support, collective centers and camps;
- Awareness of public health issues in emergency shelter or settlements, with attention to specific needs of women and children;
- Previous experience in running non-food item (NFI) distribution programs;
- Previous experience of managing a team and project management;
- Experience of, and commitment to, working through systems of community participation and accountability;
- Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation;
- Experience of training and capacity building staff;
- Some experience of representation of an organization in external forums;
- Knowledge of institutional donors and experience of developing proposals; and,
- Able and willing to travel 65-70% of the time on short notice for up to three month periods, often to hardship posts around the globe.
Preferred Qualifications
- Additional language skills in French, Spanish, Portuguese, and/or Arabic;
- Specific experience of managing USAID/OFDA, DFID, and/or ECHO projects; and,
- Knowledge of consortia working.
Personal Skills:
- Establishes clear objectives with teams and individuals and monitors progress and performance
- Addresses difficult situations and makes tough decisions confidently and calmly that considers the short and long-term impact.
- Cultivates open and honest work atmosphere that encourages team work
Compensation/Benefits:
- Meaningful work that positively influences the lives of children around the world
- Highly collaborative and innovative teams
- Generous paid vacation days, holidays, family leave days, and sick time
- Healthcare plans including medical, dental, and life insurance
- Retirement savings account with matching company contributions
- Structured and formalized management development and coaching programs for mid and senior level managers
- Extensive e-learning opportunities on a variety of topics offered through our affiliation with several prestigious universities as well as language learning
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Jul 14 2018
Active Until:
Aug 14 2018
Hiring Organization:
Save the Children US
industry:
Nonprofit