Shelter and Settlement Coordinator

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate is to promote and protect durable solutions to conflict and displacement affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 700 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt it durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Shelter and Settlement (Technical) Coordinator to join our team in Kyiv.  

About the job:

You will be responsible for the technical and strategic oversight of DRC Ukraine’s shelter program. You will ensure a high-quality shelter response through the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs), guidelines, and tools, and will support program teams with capacity building and trainings in cooperation with sector managers. You will support in the development of high-quality proposals and concept notes in coordination with the grants teams, Head of Programme (HoP) and other technical coordinators.

In addition, in coordination with the HoP, you will develop DRC’s shelter strategy which takes in account both the humanitarian and development/solutions needs of populations of concern and follow up on the progress of action points related to its implementation/operationalization. You will also support in ensuring that shelter is successfully integrated with other DRC sector responses (e.g. protection, mine action, economic recovery).

Your main responsibilities will be:

Coordination, Programme Development, and Strategy

• Ensure participation in relevant cluster meetings and technical working groups. Have a robust understanding of cluster standards for program development, and support program teams in consistent application during project implementation.
• Support the HoP and grants team to develop high quality shelter projects aligned with DRC Ukraine’s country strategy, identified needs, and donor priorities.
• Support DRC Ukraine to develop and implement strategic objectives and priorities in the shelter and infrastructure sector.
• Support the grants department in submitting high quality reports aligned with donor requirements.
• Coordinate with DRC’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) department to design and implement high quality needs assessments to inform program design, advocacy, and prioritization.

Technical support and quality assurance

• Provide consistent technical support and guidance to program teams, ensuring strong technical implementation of shelter and infrastructure projects.
• Lead on the development and revision of technical tools (in coordination with DRC’s MEAL department) which are aligned with cluster standards, donor requirements, accountability and vulnerability standards and criteria, etc. Engage with DRC’s Information Management (IM) team to ensure that tools are embedded in DRC’s wider IM system.
• In coordination with operations focal points, support in identifying solutions to implementation challenges.
• Undertake regular field visits to DRC areas of operation to closely engage with program teams, provide technical training and support, and identify areas of strengthening within shelter program implementation.
• Ensure integration of sector activities with other DRC sectors such as economic recovery, protection, and humanitarian disarmament and peacebuilding

About you:

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 5 years working experience in similar job across diverse, complex crisis contexts. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Degree in civil engineering or equivalent, or 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience of tendering and managing contracted work.
• Management experience in a construction context.
• Demonstrated skills in problem solving
• Innovative, flexible and high adaptability skills in hardship location
• Excellent analytical skills, commitment to gender equality/equity
• Demonstrated skills in application of humanitarian tools and standard in past works
• Representation skills and excellent communication and reporting writing skills
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential
• Willing to travel regularly to rural/remote project sites
• Ability to work well in unstable security environments, and under significant administrative and programming pressures.

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

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract length: One-year contract (until June 30th, 2025)
• Band: F – non-manager
• Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv
• Start date: July 1st, 2024

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriate or National staff.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. 

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: May 17th, 2024

Please note, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the opening may end early if a suitable candidate is identified.