Shelter and Settlements Coordinator

We are looking for a highly qualified, self-motivated Shelter & Settlements Coordinator who is able to coordinate all shelter and settlements activities and work with diverse teams of both national and international staff.

Background

DRC ‘s 2025 Strategy, focusses on intenzifing its fight against systemic inequality and structural discrimination of conflict- and displacement-affected persons by redoubling its focus on the two breakthroughs that guide its work. DRC is focusing on increased protection and enhanced inclusion to be at the centre of all strategic decisions and tactical implementations.

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been operational in South Sudan since 2005, working with the overall aim of achieving durable solutions for displaced populations DRC primarily operates across Upper Nile and Unity states, both of which are heavily affected by conflict and experience high numbers of internally displaced populations as well as refugees in need of humanitarian assistance. DRC has operational bases in Maban, Malakal and Kodok in Upper Nile and in Bentiu, Mayom, Koch and Ajuong Thok in Unity state, supported by a country-office in Juba.

DRC has a multi-sectorial mobile response team based in Juba able to rapidly respond to new and urgent humanitarian situations countrywide at short notice to conduct assessments and responses. DRC also has a Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding sector which operates across various locations in the country.

Purpose of the post

Reporting to the Head of Programmes, the Shelter and Settlements Coordinator will provide strategic vision, guidance, and sectorial technical support to DRC Shelter staff and Area Managers ensuring that DRC provides high-quality Shelter and Settlement responses across intervention areas. The Shelter and Settlements Technical Coordinator will lead the design of shelter components of project proposals. This is a roving position with regular travel between all locations with DRC presence and practical hands-on technical assistance to Shelter teams.

Shelter & Settlements is a core sector for DRC globally with the overall objective to deliver solutions and provide basic services in both emergency situations and protracted displacement. The Shelter & Settlements Coordinator will lead needs assessment activities, technical shelter surveys, land demarcation, planning drainage systems, production of visual maps, etc. The role will be responsible for constantly improving programme quality and relevance, by coordinating with other Technical Coordinators and peers from other agencies, including close coordination with the Shelter/NFI Cluster. The Shelter and Settlements Coordinator will supervise Shelter and Settlements staff in Area Offices and Mobile Response teams to ensure timely, cost-efficient execution of project implementation. The role will also be responsible for the mentoring, capacity building and training of all Shelter and Settlements staff

Responsibilities

Technical Advice and Strategy

• Provide technical advice to programme managers and staff on implementation of Shelter & Settlements activities in accordance with international standards and best practice;
• Work with Shelter Managers & Team Leaders to ensure programme methodology, beneficiary selection criteria, monitoring tools, BoQs and designs are in place.
• Ensure that selection of sites for displaced populations are based on approved technical guidelines, considering relevant factors like land availability, accessibility, security, water resources, and absorption capacity.
• Conduct technical feasibility studies (site assessments) to identify adequate sites in close coordination with all relevant stakeholders
• Put in place mechanisms to ensure and track quality of work for all construction and shelter activities.
• In close coordination with implementing partners and other concerned parties, create settlement plans and their implementation modalities, including planning for construction/rehabilitation of communal infrastructures (pathways, latrines, water points, etc.), considering the overall needs of target groups and their cultural preferences the concerns of the local communities.
• Support Shelter Managers & Team Leaders to strengthen communication with communities, identify beneficiary information needs and provide guidance in developing information and awareness-raising materials and activities with community participation
• Work closely with complaints and feedback mechanisms to ensure prompt follow-up of shelter and infrastructure related complaints
• Advise on matters related to the procurement of sector related materials or equipment, including the development of technical specifications for bid documents, technical evaluation of bids, review/inspection of the quality of products/works.
• Work with Camp Managers to ensure engagement with governance and leadership structures, and improve capacity and accountability of Camp Management Committees and other community groups on Shelter & Settlements interventions through trainings, workshops and regular coordination.
• Identify opportunities to increase scope and quality of DRC Shelter and Settlements programming in South Sudan

Coordination

• Responsible for ensuring quality of project activities related to Shelter & Settlements components across the portfolio in DRC South Sudan
• Coordinate information collection and collation across different camps and camp like settings.
• Ensure that minimum standards of quality programming, including humanitarian principles, protection mainstreaming, and conflict-sensitivity, are adhered to across all DRC Shelter & Settlements activities in all locations.
• Improve communication and coordination between Shelter & Settlements staff based in different locations.
• Ensure integration of Shelter and Settlements activities with other DRC core sectors including Economic Recovery, Protection/SGBV, CCCM and Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding
• Provide technical guidance and advice to Shelter and Settlements Managers, Team Leaders and Staff in all relevant programme locations
• Technically support Shelter and Settlements colleagues, by reviewing technical documents (including drawings and bill of quantities), proposals, and reports to ensure that DRC is providing high quality Shelter & Settlements activities in accordance with international standards and best practice.
• Ensure Housing, Land and Property issues are identified and considered in any Shelter & Settlements programming.

Staff capacity building

• Provide onsite mentoring and capacity building in each area office and with mobile response teams through regular and extended missions
• Identify needs and gaps in technical capacity of DRC staff and partners and prepare a training plan to address these;
• Ensure roll out of the agreed plan in all sites including preparation of materials and training reports and follow up to the trainings.
• Provide ad-hoc training to Shelter and Settlements staff based on requests and/or identified needs.
• Provide induction training for new staff on Shelter & Settlements portfolio in South Sudan.
• Support engagement of meaningful, long-term partnerships with national organisations on Shelter & NFI responses

External Relations

• Represent DRC at the Shelter/NFI cluster in Juba on a regular basis and establish strong links with all S-NFI actors and stakeholders;
• Stay up to date with donor strategies and practices within South Sudan and provide technical advice to the HoP in donor relations;
• Maintain close collaboration and good relations as required with donors and partners.

Business Development

• Promotion of learning from relevant best practices internally and externally;
• Support review of donor reports for Shelter and Settlements components for submission.
• Ensure program standardization and sharing of experiences, lessons learned, and good practices across DRC-managed sites and with mobile response teams
• Participate in gathering information and contribute to Shelter and Settlements proposal development, including working with teams to ensure accurate assessments, planning of suitable activities, and preparation of log frames

About You

• Bachelor or Master’s degree in Architecture, or Civil-Engineering
• 4 years’ experience working with an NGO in an emergency response setting is an advantage
• Excellent interpersonal skills, cross-cultural communication and ease working in multi-ethnic team, with a constructive and cooperative problem-solving approach
• Strong knowledge of site surveying and site identification (including topography, hydrology, land use, physical planning, environment impacts, engineering, etc.).
• Prior experience in settlement site planning including layout of shelter plots, roads, communal infrastructures and basic services.
• Prior experience in designing and implementing shelter strategies.
• Sound knowledge on use and application of design software including but not limited to ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Civil 3D
• Proven coordination skills and experience engaging with cluster system
• Previous shelter experience in South Sudan is a significant advantage

Desirable qualifications

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Self-motivated and able to work with a minimum of guidance and supervision.
• Experience working in security-sensitive environments and enforcement of team security protocols is an asset.

Key stakeholders:

• Head of Programmes
• Other Technical Coordinators
• Area Managers
• Programme managers
• Mobile Response teams
• Camp Managers

Commitments

DRC adheres to the Core Humanitarian Standards. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of these standards

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate each of DRC’ five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results through the Regional team both to position DRC and ensure excellence in all deliverable.
• Collaborating: You lead regional initiatives and processes by involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen to other stakeholders and staff; and you communicate concisely and persuasively.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values.

Conditions

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at Employment Band – G (Non Management).