Shelter & Infrastructure Specialist – Construction Quality Assurance

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.  
The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.  
All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency. 
In 2003, following the start of foreign military operations in Iraq, DRC became one of the first organisations to provide humanitarian assistance in the country, and now operates in 11 governorates, including Anbar, Baghdad, Babel, Diyala, Duhok, Erbil, Karbala, Kirkuk, Najaf, Ninewa and Salah-al-Din. 
 

Overall purpose of the role: The Shelter & Infrastructure (S&I) specialist will provide technical expertise and grow DRC’s quality assurance processes for construction and construction projects throughout Ninewa. Drawing on a proven technical background and previous experience of managing medium to large scale construction projects in Iraq, they will provide expertise on technical project design and calculations, quality assurance, site and contractor management, as well as working with S&I area and country leadership to further develop compliant processes and build capacity to ensure DRC is delivering high quality, safe and efficient construction projects to assist people of concern.

Responsibilities:

• Being the technical reference point for all construction projects across Ninewa, developing, processing and providing hands-on input to bolster quality assurance of projects.
  • S&I activities include
    • Shelter: rehabilitation of private housing, emergency shelter solutions, distribution of emergency shelter kits
    • WASH: Water infrastructure rehabilitation (e.g. water treatment plants, pipelines, pumping stations, boreholes, etc.); Drainage rehabilitation; Solid waste management; Capacity building of government directorates such as DoM, DoW; Hygiene promotion as an integral part to Shelter & WASH activities.
    • Public infrastructure: rehabilitation / reconstruction of public buildings and facilities (e.g. markets, roads, schools, parks etc.).
    • S&I team works through cash-based, contractor-led, owner driven and participatory / community-driven modalities.
• Supporting projects and project teams with technical input, review and expertise, including but not limited to:
  • Providing input and technical advice during project selection and design.
  • Assist in the coordination and study of needs and market assessments, as well as social cohesion and stakeholder mapping.
  • Reviewing design drawings and BoQ’s for technical quality and completeness and collaborating with project focal points to improve these.
  • Supporting the team to, and/or independently carrying out, engineering calculations of structural and civil engineering designs.
• Working closely with the S&I Technical Coordinator (Country Office) to develop Standard Operating Procedures relating to data management tools and quality improvement initiatives, as well as support the harmonizing of approaches of S&I teams throughout the DRC Iraq mission.
• Identify opportunities to apply DRC’s Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM) agenda, as well as conflict sensitivity in S&I programming. Develop and implement improvements to programmes with support and approval from S&I Manager.
• Working closely with the S&I Team Leaders to identify and deliver capacity building to the S&I team.
• Identify technical challenges to programme implementation, develop and implement solutions through collaboratively and constructively working with all relevant stakeholders, understanding the needs of all teams and working around these, with engagement from S&I Manager.

In addition, the S&I specialist will be expected to

• Ensure implementation of programming in compliance with donor guidelines, regulations and rules, and with DRC Operation Handbook and relevant guidelines / standard operating procedures.
• Providing additional site and project management as required
• Providing input to donor reports and supporting the S&I PM and TL in conducting donor visits.
• Any other duties as may be assigned

Other

• Conduct duties in accordance with DRC Iraq Programme Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
• Conduct duties in accordance with DRC Code of Conduct.

Reporting to: Shelter & Infrastructure Manager

Experience and technical competencies:  

• Minimum 10 years’ experience of engineering in construction, including minimum 5 years managing medium – large scale construction projects, ideally including with a private construction company in Iraq
• Minimum 3 years working in a humanitarian organisation. Sound understanding of humanitarian principles and protection mainstreaming.
• Knowledge of international and Iraq building codes and standards
• Knowledge of government approval process for construction projects and experience working closely with authorities
• Strong technical knowledge of engineering principles and calculations, including design programmes such as AutoCad.
• Team worker with a desire to teach others, attention to detail, questioning of first principles, commitment to quality.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to collaborate within a team to achieve joint objectives
• Ability to act with utmost transparency and integrity
• Demonstrated ability to identify challenges, problem-solving skills, and ability to develop and implement strategies.
• Willingness and capacity to work onsite and in the field and to travel frequently across the district to project sites is crucial and a must.

Education:

Relevant university degree or similar education – University or

Technical College degree

Languages:

• English (Fluent)
• Arabic (Fluent)
• Kurdish and/or Turkmeni, an asset