Shelter and Infrastructure Specialist

WHO ARE WE?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunities 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 fulfillment 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 our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, honesty, and transparency.

ABOUT THE JOB

The overall purpose of the role:

The Infrastructure Specialist is a key member of the [West/South/Central/East] Area Office team with the responsibility to ensure strong technical quality of all DRC activities in the relevant office that include infrastructure rehabilitation, repair, or construction component, in close consultation with country office technical coordinators and specialists. DRC activities that include infrastructure components include shelter repair and shelter construction, and irrigation infrastructure construction or repair. The position is supervised by the Area Program Manager who works closely with the Emergency Team Leader and Economic Recovery Team Leader. At the Country Office level, the position is technically line-managed by the Shelter and Infrastructure Technical Coordinator and works with the Economic Recovery Technical Coordinator and Emergency Technical Coordinator, as needed. The position includes identification, feasibility assessment, and design of infrastructure projects, especially irrigation infrastructure and complementary activities in line with a localized, sustainable watershed management approach, and technical supervision and advice to teams implementing activities. It includes regular follow-up at the field level to check works are being done correctly and with quality, especially for large-scale infrastructure and watershed management implementation, as well as to recruit and supervise skilled laborers and make sure works are on-track and completed on time. This may include may have overnight stays in remote areas with basic accommodation, which the candidate should be comfortable with.  

Responsibilities:

Technical documentation and activity design

• Identification, feasibility assessment, and design of localized watershed management projects including irrigation infrastructure repair and construction, including preparation of technical documents.
• Review and provide technical support to the design of Bills of Quantity (BoQs), technical drawings, and other technical documents as required and helpful to Emergency and Economic Recovery teams, including focusing on value for money and high-quality implementation of works through the strengthening of traditional construction techniques and locally available materials.

Training and capacity-building

• Conduct regular training and capacity-building of DRC engineers and other DRC staff involved in the implementation of activities that include infrastructure components, in close coordination and collaboration with the Shelter and Infrastructure Technical Coordinator.
• Provide regular ad-hoc technical guidance to implementing teams as needed

Technical monitoring

• Act as the main focal point for irrigation infrastructure/localized watershed management projects, including recruitment and supervision of skilled laborers and regular monitoring and technical support in the field to ensure timely and quality works implementation.
• Coordination with MEAL team to analyze findings of post-distribution monitoring and make improvements in response

Reporting/Coordination  

• At the discretion of the supervisor and relevant Area Office, meet with external stakeholders, including authorities and community leadership, to explain DRC shelter activities and make necessary coordination
• Any other duties that may be designated by the supervisor (APM) and technical supervisor (Shelter and Infrastructure TC) depending on need and capacity.

Key Deliverables:

• Technically sound, relevant, and quality localized watershed management project design; timely and high-quality works implementation
• Clear, realistic, and technically strong guidance and capacity building to DRC engineers/emergency officers and other staff, including delivered through formal training.
• Infrastructure components of activities are completed in a timely manner and in line with DRC and donor requirements.

Key stakeholders:

• Internal: Area Program Manager, Shelter and Infrastructure Technical Coordinator, Shelter and Infrastructure Specialist, Emergency Technical Coordinator, Emergency Specialist, Economic Recovery Technical Coordinator, and Specialist, Emergency Team Leader, Economic Recovery Team Leader, and Manager, Engineers/Emergency Officers, MEAL Manager, Team Leader, and Specialists.  
• External: regional and national ESNFI cluster focal points and partners.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role you must have:

Experience:

• At least four years’ experience at the manager or supervisor level, implementing irrigation infrastructure repair and construction activities, with a strong preference for familiarity with watershed management approaches. Experience with humanitarian or development I/NGO preferred.
• Experience with humanitarian shelter activities (such as shelter repair and construction) is preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience with humanitarian WASH activities is preferred but not mandatory.
• Strong experience working with remote, rural communities in Afghanistan. Experience in Central, South-East, East, South, and West regions is an asset but not essential.

Education/qualifications:

• BsC in Civil Engineering

Languages:

• Excellent spoken and written Pashto is essential
• Good command of English, especially reading and writing for translation of technical documents written in English into Pashto and Dari

We Offer:

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the DRC salary scale

Application process:

Interested? When applying for this position, all applicants must send a letter of motivation and a DRC Job Application form, you can access our job application form from the below link.

DRC Job Application form link: https://www.acbar.org/Document/8060869251.docx 

Note: Please attach the completed application form instead of your CV along with your letter of motivation to the official DRC Job portal address mentioned in the job vacancy, Only the DRC Job application form will be considered, please do not attach your CVs.

Females are highly encouraged to apply.