Are you ready to pursue an exciting opportunity to join a progressive humanitarian organization where you can really make a difference to the future of the South Sudan people?
DRC is looking for an energetic, dedicated and experienced Shelter Manager to join our team in Ajuong Thok, Unity State, South Sudan.
Who are we?
The Danish Refugee Council has been in South Sudan since 2004 working with refugees, internally displaced people and returnees. In 2012, DRC opened its operations in Upper Nile State (Maban County) to respond to the large influx of refugees coming from Blue Nile State in Sudan and in early 2013 DRC expanded its operations to Unity State and is currently managing a refugee camp (Ajoung Thok) for new refugees from South Kordofan. In additional DRC is responding to the current humanitarian crisis of internal displacement. DRC is the camp manager of several camps in the northern states of South Sudan and has also been working closely with humanitarian partners in relation to the coordination of humanitarian assistance and advocacy issues. DRC also has activities in the sectors of community services, protection, GBV, livelihoods, shelter and infrastructure and logistics in the IDP/refugee areas. In returnee areas DRC is implementing food security and livelihood activities to support durable solutions.
About the Job
Under the supervision of the Team Leader, the Shelter Manager will be responsible for all shelter and construction activities for DRC in Ajuong Thok. This includes a component of large scale development of technical specifications for and construction of permanent or semi-permanent communal buildings, distributions of shelter kits, and support to refugee families with shelter construction, as well as ensuring camp layouts are respected or updated as necessary. The Shelter Manager will also be responsible for overseeing the construction of semi-permanent mud-brick shelters and communal structures in close consultation with UNHCR and beneficiaries.
Ajuong Thok is a refugee camp for Sudanese refugees from South Kordofan, located in Pariang County, Unity State. The current population is 30,000 refugees, however continuous new arrivals from South Kordofan, as well as from Yida is expected to result in a population of 40,000 refugees by the end of 2015. DRC has been present in Ajuong Thok since its inception in March. As camp managers DRC are responsible for the overall management, coordination, emergency shelter provision, reception of arrivals, distribution of NFIs, management and coordination of camp leadership and committees and other related tasks. As the shelter actor we are also responsible for the provision of improved shelters for the population. DRC has also taken on FSL activities such as kitchen gardening, youth activities and vocational trainings.
Key responsibilities:
Management
- Responsible for supervision and management of DRC’s construction activities in Ajuong Thok;
- Ensure that adequate staffing is in place for the shelter 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
- Direct supervision of all construction works in Ajuong Thok;
- Develop a work plan for construction activities and ensure progress and quality in line with applicable international standards and agreements. Construction activities will include but not be limited to:
- Large-scale construction of family shelters for refugees (both emergency and semi-permanent shelters).
- Construction of communal infrastructure (including both traditional structures using local materials and semi-permanent, mud-brick buildings).
- Construction of buildings to support other projects such as classrooms and training centres.
- Involve refugee communities in all stages of the construction activities, from planning to implementation and evaluation;
- Provide technical training to refugees who are able to construct own shelter and organize work teams to construct shelter for vulnerable families;
- Supervision of contractors and suppliers, ensuring that deliveries take place according to the quantity and quality agreed;
- 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;
- Develop/update maps of the camp as necessary in coordination with Site Surveyor and UNHCR.
- Adapt construction activities, as applicable, in close coordination with Camp Manager and Head of Office, if/as the context changes. In particular, the Shelter Manager may be required to significantly scale up construction activities in case of a large refugee influx and/or redeploy staffing and resources to new camp sites in case of a major influx;
- Any other tasks assigned by the Team Leader 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 refugee camps and in host communities;
- Develop concept notes and/or proposals and budgets in close cooperation with the Team Leader and senior management.
- Representation
- Participate in camp coordination meetings, ensuring that refugees are regularly updated on construction progress and constraints;
- The Shelter Manager may be asked to substitute for the Camp Manager in his/her absence.
Reporting
- Report periodically on construction activities to the Team Leader for donor reporting on monthly, interim and final reporting stages, as well as weekly activity updates.
About you
To be successful in this role you must have:
- Minimum 3 years of humanitarian work in deep field locations.
- Degree in 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;
- Experience with preparing BoQs and technical design drawings for new construction.
- Experience overseeing implementation of construction projects by external contractors, including quality checking.
- 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.
We offer
DRC will offer the successful applicant a one-year contract renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work immediately and be willing to live in basic accommodation. Ajuong Thok is a non-family duty station, and is subject to Rest and Recreation (R&R) every 6 weeks as per DRC policy on Rest and Recreation. The position is at A11 in DRC’s salary scale. 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.
Application process
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.
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.
Applications close August 31st, 2015. Please note, as this position is urgent, applicants may be shortlisted and interviewed prior to the closing date.
Need further information?
For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.dk.
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply here