Ethiopia: Shelter Manager

Background

DRC has been operational in Gambella region, Ethiopia, since 2014, in response to the influx of South Sudanese refugees. DRC operates in the sectors of livelihoods, protection and shelter, with funding from UNHCR, Danida, BPRM and ECHO. Regionally, DRC is present in Somalia, Yemen, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Uganda, with a regional support and coordination office in Nairobi. Non-operational region wide initiatives focus on durable solutions and mixed migration, which are supported from the Nairobi regional office. DRC Ethiopia/Djibouti supports field offices in Dolo Ado, Jijiga, Shire and Gambella in Ethiopia and Djibouti-Ville and Ali-Sabieh in Djibouti.

More than 45,000 South Sudanese have arrived in Gambella since September 2016, as a combined result of renewed fighting and food shortages in South Sudan, bringing the total number of registered South Sudanese refugees in Gambella to more than 315,000. This influx places exceptional pressure on the services available in these camps, including in the sectors of shelter, water and sanitation, protection and livelihoods. In October 2016, UNHCR and the Ethiopian government announced the establishment of a new camp in Gambella to house those already arrived and incoming arrivals.

DRC is responding by the provision of emergency shelter and construction in several camps. DRC moreover has numerous existing commitments in shelter and community infrastructure construction across Gambella region, in support of the more than 285,000 refugees already present in the area. DRC is currently operational in the shelter and construction sector in 6 locations in the region. DRC is therefore looking for an experienced technically sound Shelter Manager to support its Gambella operation, under the supervision of the Area Manager.

Key responsibilities

Technical and Program Management:

• Responsible for the implementation of all shelter and infrastructure projects in Gambella
• Explore new funding opportunities in Shelter and Infrastructure sector including development of concept notes and proposals
• Lead designing of shelters layout
• Describe and estimate constructions cost
• Preparing of tender documents, drawings and bill of quantities.
• Conduct technical assessment of the land site of construction
• Identifying mitigating measures against technical specific contextual challenges
• Daily monitoring and supervision of the quality of the construction work carried out in the field
• Data collection and obtain detailed locally technical information.
• Supervision of construction projects on site and coordinate the work of the contractor
• Follow up of project costs and follow the financial spending of grants including budget monitoring
• Follow up and ensure that projects are executed within allocated budgets and in conformance to the set design and specifications.

Representation:

• Communicate with and obtain necessary agreements and understanding from ARRA and local authorities in line with the DRC guidelines for communication.
• Represent DRC in relevant technical meetings
• Conduct meeting with community elders on specific shelter needs ensure community participation

Monitoring & Reporting:

• Monitor, evaluate and suggest changes and improvements in the project and materials based on observations and discussions with the DRC team and stakeholders.
• Technical monitoring of the previously built shelters, providing recommendation of the maintenance works to be carried out
• Prepare weekly monitoring reports
• Conduct post distribution monitoring of the shelters handed over to the communities
• Continuously update project documentation and files.
• Prepare technical reports and narratives as required.

Staff management:

• Supervise and provide technical support to the Construction Technical Consultant (01), Team leaders (03 staff) and a shelter and construction team implementing in 6 locations in Gambella
• Set clear objectives for the shelter team and do performance evaluations
• Build capacity of the national staff
• Other relevant duties as directed by the Area Manager and/or Shelter Advisor.

Reporting

The Shelter Manager reports to the Area Manager, Gambella.

Qualifications

• University degree in Structural Engineering or related field of study.
• Minimum 5 years of international experience in shelter management, construction, camp management or similar, preferably in an international NGO
• Practical experience in engineering, including survey, planning and execution of building construction projects.
• Documented skills in project planning and design, drafting, calculation and technical writing.
• Experience managing multiple sites and teams at the same time.
• Demonstrated ability to engage positively with local authorities and partners.
• Good computer skills in programs as: AutoCAD, Word and Excel
• Good in English communication – speaking and writing.
• Past work experience with NGOs is a plus.
• Prior working experience in emergency and/or refugee settings is an advantage.

Conditions

Contract: 6 months’ contract (3 months probationary period), with possibility of extension.
Other employment conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates recruited by the Horn of Africa and Yemen Regional Office. This position is rated as A14 on the DRC salary scale available at www.drc.dk.

Availability: Immediate

Duty Station: Gambella, Ethiopia

GeneralCommitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework.

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk.

Application and CV

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit updated CV and cover letter explaining their motivation and why they are suited for the post.

We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.dk under Vacancies.

Please forward the application and CV, in English through the online application on www.drc.dk under vacancies no later than 10 November 2016.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible