Shelter & Settlements Manager

Introduction

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a Danish international non-governmental organisation, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world. DRC is present in more than 30 conflict territories around the world assisting displaced people with shelter, food, income-generating activities, and a wide range of other assistance. It is of utmost importance for DRC to work in compliance with the DRC Accountability and Quality Management system and national legislations. Smooth, reliable and effective operational systems are preconditions for DRC to maintain its position as a trustworthy and reliable partner for our donors and an accountable organisation towards our beneficiaries

Background

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015 and has experience working in 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the BAY states. DRC provides life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including IDPs, returnees, and host communities in the sectors of armed violence reduction, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

The operational context in northeastern Nigeria remains challenging, as the ongoing conflict impedes conflict-affected communities’ access to what limited basic services are available, as well as DRC and other humanitarians’ access to persons of concern.

Purpose

The primary objective of the Shelter & Settlement Manager role is to oversee Shelter, NFI, and construction activities in Borno State for DRC. In collaboration with other sector managers, the manager will be responsible for conducting assessments of shelter and infrastructure needs in various IDPs camps, identifying vulnerable households eligible for upgraded emergency shelters, and pinpointing infrastructure needs in these camps. Additionally, the role involves the creation of suitable designs, Bills of Quantities (BoQs), budgets, and Procurement Plans. The Shelter & Settlement Manager will lead and manage the construction of emergency, transitional and permanent shelters, as well as infrastructure projects, ensuring adherence to camp layouts or implementing necessary updates. Moreover, the Shelter & Settlement Manager will work closely with the DRC WASH, camp management, and protection units to ensure that Infrastructure, shelter, and NFI program activities are carried out in conjunction, addressing basic protection concerns comprehensively. The technical line management for this position is under the country WASH & Shelter Coordinator.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Shelter &Settlement Programme Management 

• Responsible for planning, implementing, following-up and supervising DRC shelter, construction activities in Boron state and other emerging area in future; 
• Ensure that adequate staffing is in place for the shelter and NFI activities, and to the extent possible build local construction capacity; 
• Monitor financial commitments and expenditures against construction budgets; 
• Ensure that the organization’s financial, logistics, security and human resources policies and procedures are fully adhered to and implemented in relation to all construction activities. 

​ Shelter &Settlement Program implementation 

• Overall responsible of shelter and all construction works in Borno state
• 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 IDPs/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 centers
• Involve IDP/refugee community in all stages of construction activities, from planning to implementation and evaluation;
• Provide technical support to refugees who can 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;
• Ensure quality 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, laborer engaged and supplies is completed in a timely manner;
• Develop/update maps of the camp as necessary in coordination with site planning officer  - UNHCR/IOM
• Adapt construction activities, as applicable, in close coordination with Area Manager, if/as the context changes; In particular, the shelter manager may be required to significantly scale up construction activities in case of a large IDP/refugee influx and/or redeploy staffing and resources to new camp sites in case of a major influx;
• Any other tasks assigned by the Area Manager to support general camp management operations;
• Other tasks related to infrastructure/construction supervision may also occur.

​ Shelter &Settlement Program development 

• Identify gaps with a view to generating ideas for future projects with strong beneficiary impact, both in IDP and refugee sites and in host communities; 
• Develop concept notes and/or proposals and budgets in close cooperation with the Area Managers and the Country WASH & Shelter Coordinator.

​Representation 

• Participate in CCCM/Shelter coordination meetings (when delegated by WASH & Shelter coordinator), ensuring that IDPs and refugees are regularly updated on construction progress and constraints; 

​Reporting 

• Ensure that all tools are updated and check that of data are reliable before it shared with Area Manager and Shelter Coordinator.
• Report periodically on construction activities to the Area Manager and WASH & Shelter Coordinator for donor reporting on monthly, interim and final reporting stages, as well as weekly activity updates.

Staff management, training & Capacity development:

• Provide technical and programmatic leadership for Shelter & Settlement team and community-based mechanisms in operational areas as needed.
• Conduct regular field visits or as required to ensure tasks are going on as planned and mentoring.
• Ensure objectives for staff are set and that evaluations and performance reviews are conducted on a regular basis for all staff managed.
• Take responsibility for planning and management of leave for all staff managed.
• Identify training and capacity-building opportunities for staff.

Logistics

• Develop a procurement plan at the start of the project cycle to forecast procurement needs.
• Coordinate with the supply chain to facilitate procurement of supplies and services.
• Initiate procurements and ensure their execution.

Other

• The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 4 years of professional work experience in managing shelter programs
• Minimum 3 years of humanitarian work in challenging field locations; 
• Excellent project management skills include the design of project management tools; 
• 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; 
• Experience with preparing BoQs and technical design drawings for new construction. 
• Proficiency in the use of IT Office Tools and AutoCAD drawing software.  
• Experience overseeing implementation of construction projects by external contractors, including quality checking

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering: Architecture, Civil, Construction Engineering, Engineering Geology, or related field

Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills is a must
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humor

We offer

• Contract length:  12 months with the possibility of extension
• Level: M – F2
• Start date: 15th February 2024

General Regulations:

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

Application Process

• All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.
• DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.
• DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.
• Applications submitted after the closing date will not be considered.
• Due to the urgency of the position, DRC has the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline

However, all applicants shall take into consideration that DRC cannot offer an international work contract to a citizen of the country of assignment (in this specific case, Nigeria)

Deadline: Applications close on the 1st of February 2024 at midnight (GMT time).

• Only short-listed applicants will be invited for written tests and oral interviews.
• For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult: www.drc.dk