Shelter Project Technical Assistant -Ethiopia

Position:                                   Shelter Technical Assistant-Engineer

Reports to:                               Shelter Project Manager

Supervision of:             N/A

Duty station:                             Amhara Region (Gonder- North and South)

Role and responsibilities

The main purpose of the position is to ensure effective planning and quality implementation of the Shelter activities in Alemwach and Aftit Refugee Camps across Metema and Dabat Woredas, Amhara Region. The Shelter technical assistant will assist the Shelter Officer in providing technical support in the development of NRC’s Sheter programming for Shelter, infrastructures, and construction activities. He/she will also work closely with the community and the other Project Officers and assistants in the field to ensure the timely delivery of quality Shelter programs and will assist the Shelter Officer in the planning and design of (future) projects.

Generic responsibilities 

1. Ensure adherence to NRC policies, tools, handbooks, and guidelines
2. Implement delegated support function portfolio according to plan of action
3. Prepare and develop status reports as required by shelter Officers
4. Ensure proper filing of documents
5. Promote and share ideas for improvement of the support function
6. Help plan and carry out need assessments, baseline studies periodic studies, and feedback findings to the stakeholders
7. Collect data from the Woreda construction office, community representative/Refugee Centered Committees, and Shelter committees and relevant stakeholders and prepare regular reports on activities and WASH conditions for monitoring
8. Promote safe Shelter practices, including appropriate use and maintenance of Shelters, infrastructure and Civil works
9. Facilitate appropriate community involvement in the design and delivery of essential Shelter infrastructure services and facilities.
10. Supervise Shelter, Civil and infrastructure construction activities in line with relevant standards, codes of conduct, and humanitarian principles.

Specific Responsibilities 

• Establish water distribution points by installing water tanks and fixing pipes and faucets.
• Ensure Shelter and Civil infrastructure construction works inside the refugee camps are executed as per the plan and design.
• Execute Shelter and Civil infrastructure rehabilitation works together with the support from RRS and UNHCR
• Mobilization of beneficiary communities to maintain the established/rehabilitated/protected Shelter and Civil Infrastructure works
• Liaise with the Shelter Officer-Engineer and contribute to the formation/training of Community representatives and committees for the established/rehabilitated/protected civil infrastructure facilities
• Participate in the collection of useful data that are needed for the housing and settlement response
• Together with the Shelter Officer-Engineer, perform compliance inspection of new Shelter and civil infrastructure constructions which pertain to the settlement’s infrastructure system to determine that all facilities are constructed by prescribed standards, plans, and specifications.
• Assist in major repairs and installation of new materials, supplies, machinery and/or equipment
• In charge of monitoring all construction activities of the Shelter project.
• Assess, supervise, and follow the quality of construction and rehabilitation of any settlement related infrastructures (latrines and solid waste disposal pits)
• Mobilize the community for the construction work, whenever needed
• Ensure that Shelter and Civil infrastructures are constructed/rehabilitated in line with design standards, guidelines, and criteria established
• Undertake daily progress monitoring of construction works and workforces (contractors, carpenters, masons, or daily laborers, etc).
• Oversee appropriate management of construction equipment and materials at site/s(such as cement, Iron bars,  wood poles, CI sheets, nails, stones, sand, gravel, and the like) and strictly follow and reduce wastage of construction materials.
• Prepare periodic construction progress and stock reports and submit them to the Shelter Officer-Engineer and logistics.
• Support the NFI distribution processes
• Collaborate with other agencies (Government authorities and IPs) and represent DRC in the implementation area.
• Conduct technical assessment, develop safe and inclusive designs/BOQs, supervision, and prepare actual BOQs, as-built drawings and payment documents for all construction activities conducted by other CCs like WASH, Education, LFS and others.
• Perform any other duty assigned by the immediate supervisor.
• Represent NRC in Shelter meetings and coordination platforms in the absence of senior project team members
• Carry out other related tasks as directed by the line management

Generic professional competencies: 

• BSc degree from a qualified educational institute with Building construction, and (Water Supply installation and networking works (Plumbing and pump installation)-an advantage
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in monitoring and supervision of Shelter and Civil Infrastructure construction projects
• Strong knowledge and experience in engineering and construction projects with related processes such as tendering of works, monitoring of construction sites, etc.
• Previous experience working in complex and volatile contexts
• Report writing skills and computer skills in word processing and spreadsheets. Skills in technical drawing software (preferably AutoCAD) and project management software are desirable.
• Good knowledge of English (speaking and writing)
• Strong organizational skills and ability to coordinate and manage a diverse array of activities and stakeholders
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and mediation skills and ability to work independently
• Good interpersonal and communication skills

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge, and experience: 

• Experience in undertaking hygiene promotion in a relief program is essential.
• Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to explain and present technical information
• Possession of strong administrative and management skills with a willingness to follow relevant policies and procedures
• Experience in capacity building and training of staff and target groups
• Cultural awareness and experience of working where insecurity is a major issue
• Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is essential
• Ability to work independently in a result-oriented multi-tasking and multi-cultural environment and manage conflicting priorities.
• Proven ability to use MS Office software (especially Word and Excel) is essential. Experience with other computer programs such as SAP 2000 and Microsoft Project would be an advantage.

Behavioral competencies 

• Handling insecure environment
• Planning and delivering results
• Empowering and building trust
• Communicating with impact and respect.