Mobile Shelter Manager

We are looking for highly qualified, self-motivated Mobile Shelter - NFI Manager who is able to work with diverse teams of both national and international staff as well as local government authorities, UN agencies, I/NGOs and other partners under difficult, stressful and sometimes insecure conditions.  

 Who are we?  

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1956 that works in more than 30 countries through-out the world, including South Sudan. DRC/DDG fulfills its mandate by providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations, including refugees, internally displaced people and host communities. Under its mandate, the organization focuses on emergency humanitarian response, rehabilitation, post-conflict recovery and humanitarian mine-action.  

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in conjunction with Danish Demining Group (DDG) has been operating in South Sudan since 2005 initially concentrating on providing safe and supportive conditions for refugees returning from neighboring countries after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed.  

In 2012 - 2013, DRC opened its operations in Upper Nile and Unity States to respond to the large influx of refugees coming from Blue Nile State and South Kordofan (Sudan). In addition to the refugee response and since 2014, DRC has been then actively engaged in responding to the humanitarian needs of IDPs affected by the internal conflict through the provision of integrated approaches.  

With a total of 450 national staff, 55 expatriate staff and an annual budget of USD 20 million, we are currently implementing multi-sectorial interventions through the provision of humanitarian services focused on CCCM, Protection, SGBV, FSL, Shelter and Infrastructure to both internally displaced persons and refugees across 5 field sites (Ajuong Thok, Bentiu, Maban, Malakal and Aburoc).  

About the job

The Mobile Shelter-NFI Manager will be responsible for Shelter, NFI and construction activities for DRC in locations prioritized by the Country Director, in coordination with the DCD Programmes and the Shelter Coordinator.

This includes:

• Conduct shelter/infrastructure assessments in different IDPs/refugee camps/PoC sites/collective centers where DRC is operating - Malakal, Bentiu, Maban, Pariang etc.
• Identify vulnerable households eligible to benefit an upgrade to a robust emergency shelters
• Identify Infrastructure needs in the different IDPs/refugee camps/PoC sites/collective centers
• Create appropriate design, BoQs, budgets and Procurement Plans
• Lead constructions of the emergency shelters/robust emergency shelters and infrastructure
• Ensuring camp layouts are respected or updated as necessary.
• Ensure that Infrastructure, shelter and NFI programme activities in those locations are conducted jointly with DRC camp management and protection units to ensure basic protection concerns are considered. 

Responsibilities:

Management 

• Responsible for planning, implementing, following-up and supervising DRC shelter, construction and NFI activities in Upper Nile; 
• Ensure that adequate staffing is in place for the shelter and NFI activities, and to the extent possible build local construction capacity; 
• Monitor financial commitments and expenditures against construction budgets; 
• Ensure that the organisations’ financial, logistics, security and human resources policies and procedures are fully adhered to and implemented in relation to all construction activities. 

Program implementation 

• Provide support in supervision of all construction works and NFI activities in various field offices; 
• Develop a work plan for construction and NFI activities and ensure progress and quality in line with applicable international standards and agreements.  
• Conducting shelter and NFI assessments in different IDP and Refugees sites; 
• Large-scale construction of emergency shelters/robust emergency shelters;  
• Involve IDPs and refugees in all stages of construction activities including when the new shelter solution is designed, giving beneficiaries a chance to choose the model and/or recommending minor adjustments which can be accommodated in the budget limits;  
• Provide technical training to IDPs and refugees as well as host communities for capacity building and organize teams to construct shelter for vulnerable families; 
• Provide support in 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 activities for works completed, labourers engaged and supplies is completed in a timely manner;
• Adapt construction activities, as applicable, in close coordination with the Shelter Coordinator, if/as the context changes; In particular, the shelter manager may be required to significantly scale up construction activities in case of a large IDPs influx and/or redeploy staffing and resources to new camp sites in case of a major influx;
• Any other tasks assigned by the Shelter Coordinator to support general camp management operations;
• Other tasks related to infrastructure/construction supervision may also occur. 

Program development 

• Identify gaps with a view to generating ideas for future projects with strong beneficiary impact, both in IDP and refugee sites and in host communities; 
• Develop concept notes and/or proposals and budgets in close cooperation with the Area Managers and the Shelter Coordinator.

Representation 

• Participate in camp coordination meetings, ensuring that IDPs and refugees are regularly updated on construction progress and constraints; 
• The Mobile Shelter-NFI Manager may be asked to substitute for any other Shelter Manager at any other location in his/her absence. 

Reporting 

Report periodically on construction activities to the Area Managers and Shelter Coordinator for donor reporting on monthly, interim and final reporting stages, as well as weekly activity.

About You

To be successful in this role you must have the following:

Experience and technical competencies:

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction or related field
• Minimum 3 years of professional work experience in managing shelter programs, including at least 2 years at the international level; 
• Minimum 3 years of humanitarian work in challenging field locations; 
• Excellent project management skills include 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 very basic living conditions in deep 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
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Prior experience in South Sudan an added advantage;
• Self-motivated and able to work with a minimum of guidance and supervision;
• Experience working in security-sensitive environments and enforcement of team security protocols is an asset. 

We offer  

Contract: 6 months contract renewable dependent on both funding and performance  

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level A14.  

Application process  

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button.  

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English. CV only applications will not be considered.  

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

Applications close on 21st March, 2018.  Due to the urgency in filling up this position, recruitment maybe finalized before closing date of applications

Need further information?  

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.dk