Background:

Protracted crisis in Syria has particular impact on the housing stock and living conditions as well as on the critical public infrastructure, including bakeries, schools, individual housing units and WASH facilities because of destruction of water supply and wastewater treatment facilities, energy production facilities, lack of fuel and lack of infrastructure maintenance. Limited access to safe water causes financial strain on already impoverished communities and results in public health hazards, such as cholera. NRC has been providing humanitarian response in Syria, among other sectors, including Shelter and WASH sectors and is seeking to consolidate and further refine its modalities.

Job Purpose:

The Shelter Specialist will provide technical oversight and strategic direction to Country and Area offices to further the development of the Shelter Core Competency (CC). The Specialist will provide quality assurance for all projects, develop a collaborative country strategy, build capacity of staff through mentoring and training and engage in identifying additional funding opportunities to further grow the program.

What you will do: 

• Develop Shelter and Settlements CC strategies, technical guidance and Macro LFAs that are aligned with regional and global strategies and priorities.
• Identify trends, technical standards and donor priorities.
• Provide systematic training and build capacity of Shelter technical staff.
• Responsible for technical quality of Shelter CC in country, holistic programming, consistency and integration with other CCs in line with NRC Programme Policy.
• Take the lead on quality project deliverables to ensure high technical outputs.
• Provide strategic leadership on the development of programming that recognizes the Shelter challenges faced by displacement affected population.
• Lead the process on proposals, budgets, modifications, project reviews and reporting and ensure high technical quality.
• Support programmatic M&E and indicator tracking in conjunction with project teams and M&E department.
• Develop and lead on conducting needs assessments (in collaboration with program and M&E teams), baseline, mid-and end-evaluations.
• Represent NRC with relevant donors and in humanitarian coordination meetings in country.
• Actively promote and operationalize synergies between Shelter and other NRC programmes to move toward integrated programming (in particular, Education and Livelihood and Food Security – LFS).
• Provide support and input to the recruitment processes for Shelter staff.
• Accountable for organisational learning from programme implementation, sharing of best practice and capacity building.
• Responsible for mainstreaming Safe and Inclusive (SIP) programing in Shelter programme design and implementation in line with NRC Protection Policy and guidelines.
• Promote the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy.

Professional Competencies and Qualifications Required

These are skills, knowledge and experience that are important for effective performance.

• Higher education degree in hydraulics, civil engineering, architecture or related fields. Master’s degree is an advantage. Significant experience in the field of Shelter considered in lieu.
• Minimum 5 years of experience within technical expertise area in a humanitarian/ recovery context 2 of which should be in Shelter programming (as Specialist/Technical Adviser/Project Manager or an equivalent)
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts.Familiarity with the context of Syria, neighboring countries / Middle East region.
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile with documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Technical knowledge and experience of the behaviour change process in a humanitarian context
• Technical knowledge and experience of the community engagement process in a humanitarian context
• Understanding of Environmental Minimum Standards is required. Experience conducting a complete (e.g. NEAT+) assessment to identify and help prioritise environmental issues is highly desirable
• Technical knowledge and experience of construction systems and rehabilitation in a humanitarian context
• Experience with alternative Shelter in a humanitarian context an asset
• Experience of working in a co-op/matrix management structure or similar
• Experience of working with partners as well as leading inter-agency coordination and collaboration
• Experience of collaborative working with remotely based colleagues
• Understanding of SPHERE and INEE Minimum Standards is required
• A clear interest and understanding of Protection Mainstreaming (Safe & Inclusive Programming)
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal. Arabic language skills will be considered as an asset.

Behavioural competencies

• Handling insecure environments
• Strategic thinking
• Empowering and building trust
• Influencing
• Initiate action and change
• Analysing

What We Offer

• Damascus, Syria duty station.
• 12-months contract (renewable contract based on availability of funds and performance)
• 40% travel, approximately to areas of Operation
• Grade 9 in NRC’s Salary Scale. NRC offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer and aims to have staffing diversity in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Key Information – Please Take Note When Applying

• We highly encourage you to learn more about the role: please review the full job description here.
• Learn more about NRC’s operation in Syria here.
• To apply as an internal candidate, click on the suitcase icon “I am an employee” on the top right of the page to be redirected to NRC’s internal career site.
• Apply by completing all the system-required fields of your employment history, experience, responsibilities, and education in your application.
• Ensure to attach your latest CV.
• Submit your application and CV in English.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as per your passport.
• Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to give detailed feedback to applicants who have not been shortlisted.
• For any queries, please email us at [email protected] with “Shelter Specialist -Syria Country Office” as the subject line.