Shelter and Settlements Officer at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Purpose

• The Shelter and Settlement Officer is responsible for supervising and implementing shelter and settlement projects in line with cluster standards and organizational guidelines.
• This role involves working closely with affected communities, local authorities, and partner organizations to design, plan, and manage shelter interventions that meet the needs of displaced populations and ensure their safety and comfort.
• Undertaking technical and practical operational tasks to ensure smooth, safe and efficient operation of Shelter and Settlement activities in accordance with laid down procedures and supervising Assistants.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Programming

Duties and Responsibilities General Programming & Operations :

• Carrying out Shelter needs assessment for returning refugees and IDPs and using results in designing intervention measures.
• Carrying out the selection, design and construction of durable shelter solutions in use by DRC.
• Mobilization of beneficiary communities to maintain the established/rehabilitated shelters.
• To formulate and implement capacity building plans for teams and individuals that will be involved in implementation of shelter activities.
• Ensure efficient and Effective program implementation while following the budget and work plan.
• Conducting technical feasibility assessments for rehabilitation and construction works in DRC operational areas prior to implementation.
• Design Bill of Quantities (BoQs) and annotated diagrams for structures to be rehabilitated or constructed.
• Vetting and selection of community builders to facilitate construction activities.
• Train and guide community builders on construction tasks required during rehabilitations or new constructions.
• Design of work norms for skilled and unskilled workers during cash for work activities.
• Manage the utilisation of construction materials during constructions to ensure high quality structures are constructed.
• Monitor constructions and ensure timely completion of constructions within the project timeframe.
• Mobilise communities to provide sufficient labour for construction or rehabilitations in liaison with the Shelter and Settlement Team Leader.
• Ensure efficient and effective program implementation while following the budget and work plan. 
• Participate in preparing monthly, quarterly, annual reports for donors.   
• Participate in providing technical information required for proposals and budgets.

Reporting:

• Contribute to the production of quality and timely reports on program activities.
• Provide weekly/monthly reports to the Shelter and Settlement Team Leader, including accurate figures of distributions/referrals done and challenges encountered, in the agreed format.

Representation and coordination:

• Ensure good representation and reputation of Shelter & Settlement in the sector at field levels.
• Represent DRC at Shelter & Settlement technical working group meetings and other relevant technical coordination meetings as agreed with the Shelter & Settlement team leader.
• Maintain a local operational communications network and good relations with local authorities.
• Maintain coordination with other departments (i.e. Protection, MEAL, Procurement and Finance etc).

Project Development:

• Assist in developing project plans and budgets for funding
• Assist in the development of the projects’ M&E tools
• Assist in the management of Shelter & Settlement project grants through PR and PO tracking
• Monitor and Evaluate Shelter & Settlement Projects in the field level
• Ensure quality control during the implementation of Shelter & Settlement activities in accordance with Sphere and National standards.

Operations:

• Contribute to the effective implementation of all operations support activities, including those related to administration, finances and logistics, so as to ensure smooth project implementation. In all matters, comply with internal directives and policies as communicated by the Area Manager, Head of Programme and/or the relevant support departments

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support in implementing the project monitoring and evaluation plan, and timely submission of reports and other document requirements.
• Provide feedback on project implementation modality, assist in achieving maximum efficiency in project delivery, and inform the development/update of DRC’s Shelter and Settlement strategy in Nigeria.

Logistics

• Conducting technical feasibility assessments for rehabilitation and construction works in DRC operational areas prior to implementation.
• Work with the OfficeShelter & Settlement Team Leader(s) in identification and selection of community assets for rehabilitation or construction on the DRC programme.
• Design Bill of Quantities (BoQs) and annotated diagrams for community structures to be rehabilitated or constructed
• Formulate and implement capacity building plans for teams and individuals that will be involved in implementation of construction activities.
• Vetting and selection of community builders to facilitate construction activities.
• Train and guide community builders on construction tasks required during rehabilitations or new constructions.
• Design of work norms for skilled and unskilled workers during cash for work activities.
• Design of construction work schedules for cash for work rehabilitation or new construction activities.
• Mobilise and guide communities to source locally available resources for construction to complement the construction materials provided by DRC.
• Manage the utilisation of construction materials during constructions to ensure high quality structures are constructed.
• Monitor constructions and ensure timely completion of constructions within the project timeframe.
• Mobilise communities to provide sufficient labour for construction or rehabilitations in liaison with the Office and Shelter & Settlement Team Leader(s).
• Ensure efficient and effective program implementation while following the budget and work plan.
• Participate in preparing monthly, quarterly, annual reports for donors.  
• Participate in providing technical information required for proposals and budgets.
• Mobilization of beneficiary communities to maintain the established or rehabilitated community structures.

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:

Essential:

• At least 3 years experience in planning, implementing and evaluating Shelter and Settlement projects.
• IT skills: Good knowledge of Office software: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Data collection and analysis software.
• Practical knowledge on the use of construction instruments such as Theodolites, callipers and other precision instruments is a major requirement.
• Proficient in AutoCAD or any suitable design software.
• Highly self-driven while striving for perfection under minimum supervision.
• Thorough knowledge of SPHERE in emergency shelter standards.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to maintain good communication channels with relevant stakeholders. 

Desirable:

• Project-related skills: added advantage.
• Experience working in emergency response with NGOs, preferably in a humanitarian context.
• Proficient in AutoCAD or suitable design software.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Fluency in Hausa or Kanuri is a requirement.