Shelter and infrastructure Specialist

WHO ARE WE?

We 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 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 of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

ABOUT THE JOB

The Infrastructure Specialist is key member of the [West/South/Central/East] Area Office team with 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 and works closely with the Emergency Team Leader and Economic Recovery Team Leader. At Country Office level, the position is technically line managed by the Shelter and Infrastructure Technical Coordinator, and also 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 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 labourers 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 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 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 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 main focal point for irrigation infrastructure/localized watershed management projects, including recruitment and supervision of skilled labourers and regular monitoring and technical support in the field to ensure timely and quality works implementation.
• Coordination with MEAL team to analyse findings of post-distribution monitoring and make improvements in response

Reporting/Coordination  

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

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role you must have:

Experience and technical competencies: 

• At least four years’ experience at manager or supervisor level,  implementing irrigation infrastructure repair and construction activities, with 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 humantiarian 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

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.

We Offer:

• Contract length: to 31st of December 2024 with the possibility of Extension.
• Band: NMG
• Designation of Duty Station: Kandahar with frequent travels to Helmand, Zabul and Nimroz
• DRC has Flexible working hours for Females staff as per DRC Policy.
• 13th month’s salary Will be paid by end of each month with salary.
• Top-up credit card as per office regulations.
• 1+1 Health Insurance will be provided by DRC.
• Eid Bonus.
• DRC provide Transport allowance/ Transportation Facilities for female and people with disability.
• DRC Provides kindergarten/ Day Care allowance for max 2 children – Applicable to female mothers.
• Per diem allowance for employee and her Mahram - Applicable for female 
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the DRC salary scale.

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking the Apply button below.  All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages), Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV-only applications will not be considered.

Note: Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.