Senior Technical Officer (Shelter / WASH)

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior Technical Officer (Shelter / WASH)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Syrian refugees¿ response in Lebanon is now into its seventh year and it has reached an important junction towards sustainability and cost-efficiency, and hence it is imperative that it be aligned with changing needs and operational capacities, building on strengths of major actors and opportunities in the operation context of the country.

UNHCR response is managed at country-level by its office in Beirut and at field-level by its four field-based locations in Mount Lebanon, Tripoli, Tyr and Bekaa by dedicated staff inclusive of coordination support.  

In light of the magnitude and the specificity of the crisis, UNHCR had to separate its tasks between the coordination of the response all operational partner and the implementation of its own programmatic response. To facilitate this approach, the sector specialists have been divided between those in charge of the implementation reporting to the Assistant Representative (Programme) and those in charge of the coordination reporting to the Senior Inter-Agency Coordinator.

The Senior Technical Officer (Shelter/WASH) will be responsible of the overall management and implementation of the Shelter and WASH component of UNHCR programme and report directly to the Assistant Representative (Programme). The incumbent will have direct supervisory responsibility for a team of three to four staff (WASH and Shelter) and responsible for the overall supervision of the Shelter/WASH Unit. He/she will provide functional guidance in Shelter and WASH to the team in Beirut as well as to the Shelter and WASH teams in the field offices.

The Senior Technical Officer (Shelter/WASH) will work in close collaboration with the Shelter Coordinator and with the Programme Unit.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- UNHCR Shelter and WASH programmes are planned, implemented and monitored based on updated needs assessments, strategies and priorities in a coherent and effective way.
- UNHCR Shelter and WASH programmes are planned and implemented based on priorities, resource availability, technical soundness and in compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.
- Multi-year UNHCR Strategy(ies) in WASH and Shelter developed/updated as necessary with a consistent implementation plan and monitoring over its progress.
- WASH and Shelter technical guidelines and tools are updated/developed as necessary and available to the field operations.
- Strong coordination, communication and support to the field operations is in place.
- Lessons learnt and good practises in WASH and Shelter of UNHCR programmes are documented and disseminated.
- Quality and evidence-based analysis of need of refugees in WASH and Shelter available to inform UNHCR's prioritisation and in advocacy in influencing programmes of other actors.
- Broad partnerships in WASH and Shelter are developed and maintained with key stakeholders in order to maximize the response to finding solutions of problems affecting the refugees and host communities.
- The fundraising actions are fully supported by information on needs and priorities for funding submissions, appeals and reports.
- The Shelter and WASH team is effectively managed.

Responsibility
- Ensure that UNHCR field operations are supported in carrying out Shelter and WASH needs assessments taking into account the current situation and projected population planning figures.
- Develop/update country level Shelter and WASH strategies which are framed by UNHCR¿s Global Strategy for Settlement and Shelter and in Public Health and take into consideration the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection and the availability of local resources, including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure. Ensure that the country level strategies, implementation and monitoring is reflective of the specificities of each field location in the country.
- Provide clear guidance on standards for shelter and settlement, and for WASH including minimum emergency standards to meet basic and essential needs. Develop and update as necessary operational guidance notes in WASH and Shelter.
- Manage Shelter and WASH team in Beirut; establish/manage communication and coordination with the WASH and Shelter teams in all field locations. Provide required technical support to the field operations.
- Organise and provide trainings in techniques and practices leading to more durable solutions and drawing from local practices and materials and capacities of the displaced populations and host communities.
- Together with key stakeholders among partners and field based staff compile, analyse and map available information on Shelter and WASH options in country taking into account relevant policies adopted by the government and programmes of UN agencies and development actors.
- When planning, ensure that the technical component reflects UNHCR minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of Shelter and WASH assistance and is within the budgetary requirements.
- Ensure the Shelter and WASH strategy is periodically reviewed to reflect the evolving situation in country and progressively transitioning to more sustainable solutions.
- Ensure that specifications, bills of quantities and drawings are produced in a technically sound and standardised manner and ensure that monitoring of programme performance is undertaken in a consistent manner.
- Promote the sustainability of technical interventions through local capacity building and self-help in collaboration with partners and field operations. Ensure that local communities have been consulted on all activities so as not to create unnecessary tension between the displaced and host populations.
- Ensure coordination with Shelter and WASH teams based in the field and create a consultative environment for a consistent Shelter and WASH programmes in all field locations.
- Perform other duties as required.

Authority
- Set and enforce parameters, criteria and deadlines for the design, review and report of WASH and Shelter operations and in consistency with UNHCR's Operations Management Cycle.
- Clear the submission of the WASH and Shelter components in the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as of funding submissions, appeals and report in a consultative way with the field/sub-offices.
- Engage in negotiations with implementing partner agreements and with operational partners.
- Represent UNHCR in UN and other fora on operations management and programmes concerning Shelter and WASH.
- Enforce compliance with UNHCR¿s global strategies, protocols and guidelines in Shelter and WASH.
- Approve recommendations and advice on the technical capacity required of UNHCR and its partners.
- Approve BOQs and technical designs, participate in compiling the tender documentation in relation to WASH and Shelter items.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate (Equivalent of a BA/BS) degree in Shelter & WASH-related sciences (e.g. Civil Engineering or Architecture, Public Health Engineering, Environmental Studies, Hydrology or Water resources development).
- Minimum 9 years of progressive job experience relevant to the function in managing shelter or water and sanitation or both (8 years in case of graduate (equivalent of Master's) degree). At least 3 years of this experience should be in a capacity directly relevant to the current position in an international organisation dealing with a large scale displaced/refugee situation.
- Prior experience in designing and implementing a Shelter or WASH strategy, in collective shelter, settlement and camp settings, in emergency or post-emergency situations and transition to sustainable solutions.
- 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 programme management cycle.
- Experience in developing shelter and settlement need assessments, undertaking gap analysis and monitoring of shelter programmes.
- Extensive knowledge of shelter and camp-related technical guidelines and standards.
- Demonstrated experiences in organising and conducting trainings on shelter and/or WASH related issues.
-       Experience in coordinating with a range of diverse actors and activities.
- Proficiency in basic computer software such as MS Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, water or shelter modelling software(s), GIS.
- Excellent knowledge of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Knowledge of UNHCR standards related to protection, WASH, environment and land use.
- Knowledge of a range of shelter and WASH assistance options, including sensitivity to cultural and gender specific needs to ensure that the social and cultural background of refugees is taken into account while designing and developing shelter and WASH options.
- Technical expertise in the area of WASH (e.g. assessment including in conducting surveys, planning, implementation, monitoring and coordination).
- Experience in managing shelter and/or WASH programmes in out of camp and urban setting and in a middle income countries.
- Knowledge of UNHCR's Operations Management Cycle.
- Knowledge of Arabic or French. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X004L3 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3

Before applying to this position, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific FAQs information leaflets which can be found  on the Intranet under Staff Resources > Duty of Care. The information leaflets are specifically designed to answer some of the key questions potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. 

UNHCR is the lead agency for the Syrian refugee response responsible for cross-sectoral coordination and leadership to ensure protection, livelihood, to improve health and well-being of the refugees through the achievement of basic living standards and sustained access to asylum, basic rights and services. In Lebanon over one million Syrian refugees live in over 2,100 locations scattered in various accommodation types all over the country, making it difficult to target them with essential services such as adequate shelter, safe water supply and wastewater management. Ensuring adequate protection, and finding durable solutions for the approximately 20,000 refugees of other nationalities (mainly Iraqis) is similarly difficult.

The displacement of refugees into Lebanon occurs in the context of inadequate human and financial resources by national institutions and deteriorating water supply, wastewater, solid waste and environmental systems.

Syrian refugees¿ response in Lebanon is now into its seventh year and it has reached an important junction towards sustainability and cost-efficiency, and hence it is imperative that it be aligned with changing needs and operational capacities, building on strengths of major actors and opportunities in the operation context of the country. UNHCR response is managed at country-level by its office in Beirut and at field-level by its four field-based locations in Mount Lebanon, Tripoli, Tyr and Bekaa by dedicated staff inclusive of coordination support.  

In light of the magnitude and the specificity of the crisis, UNHCR had to separate its tasks between the coordination of the response all operational partner and the implementation of its own programmatic response. To facilitate this approach, the sector specialists have been divided between those in charge of the implementation reporting to the Assistant Representative (Programme) and those in charge of the coordination reporting to the Senior Inter-Agency Coordinator.

The Senior Technical Officer will be responsible of the overall management and implementation of the Shelter and WASH component of UNHCR programme and report directly to the Assistant Representative (Programme). The incumbent will have direct supervisory responsibility for a team of three to four staff (WASH and Shelter) and responsible for the overall supervision of the Shelter/WASH Unit. He/she will provide functional guidance in Shelter and WASH to the team in Beirut as well as to the Shelter and WASH teams in the field offices.
The Senior Technical Officer will work in close collaboration with the Shelter Coordinator and with the Programme Unit. There are currently more than one million Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR in Lebanon, which makes Lebanon the highest refugee-hosting country per capita in the world. There are no approved camps in the country, and refugees are living in more than 1,700 locations across the country. The refugee response is led by the Government and local actors, supported by the international community. As the designated lead agency in the refugee response, UNHCR has established a sector-based structure in Beirut and in the field. The structure brings together over 100 UN agencies, national and international NGO partners in identifying and agreeing on the strategic priorities to address the needs of Syrian refugees and other affected populations. The Lebanon national response falls under the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), whereby UNHCR guides the refugee response and UNDP facilitates the resilience and stabilization component.

The UNHCR operational response in Lebanon is the largest for the organization, with a total budget of over USD 534 million for 2017. Media attention and the frequency of influential high-profile visitors is high. The Office currently has some 730 staff located in Beirut, Zahle, Tripoli, Tyre, and Qobayat. Beirut is classified as a "B" family duty station with average education, health (private) and recreational facilities. Category B.  The duty station is featured with volatile and fluent security situation, frequent cases of civil unrest and occasional armed clashes in certain areas, usually quickly contained by security forces. Proliferation of weapons among local civilians is widespread. Beirut South Suburbs is an area of elevated threat and is not recommended for regular UN activities. No formal curfew in Beirut, however, UN International staff are not advised to move alone on foot after darkness. Restrictions for use of private taxis and public transport are in place. Only a few vetted taxi companies are recommended for UN International staff. Criminality rate decreased slightly recently. Beirut was affected by armed conflict with Israel in 2006. Main UN office (ESCWA) was attacked and looted by a violent mob in 2006. All UN staff is advised to remain vigilant at all times. Ideally candidate should have:
- 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 and developing shelter options.
- proven experience in managing and overseeing shelter and WASH programmes in humanitarian and development contexts, in out of camp and urban setting and in middle income countries.;
- good inter-personal, communication, coordination and negotiations skills;
- proven project management skills;
- knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2017 Compendium is Monday 6 November 2017 (midnight Geneva time).