Shelter Cluster National Coordinator – Palestine

What we are looking for:

A dedicated and experienced professional to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach to perform a dedicated coordination, strategy development and advocacy function. Together with the sub-national coordinators and lead agency, ensure a coherent and effective emergency response by mobilizing groups of agencies, organizations, and NGOs to respond in a strategic manner to the complex humanitarian crises.

What you will do:

• Directly manage and provide team leadership to the two Sub-national Coordinators and the Technical Coordinator, as well as any shorter-term technical positions assigned to the national cluster; mediate discussions and planning between those positions; and act as the HR focal point for those positions.
• Collaborate closely with the WASH cluster, Protection cluster, Housing Land and Property Working Group and the Site Management Working Group, (as well as others) at the national levels, to ensure information sharing and to develop common approaches to challenges faced.
• Facilitate and chair meetings of the National Shelter Cluster, ensuring cross-cutting and related issues are included; work with the two Sub-national Coordinators to collate and synthesise inputs from Gaza and the West Bank for those meetings; and support on the Sub-National cluster meetings where needed
• Provide guidance for the Shelter Cluster Technical Coordinator and the cluster team, to design technical tools and guidance, and to facilitate trainings and workshops, to support the work of cluster partners.
• Ensure cluster partners are supported on needs assessments, coordination, project development and implementation, and utilization of funding opportunities through training and guidance.
• Establish and maintain relationships with relevant national authorities and other key stakeholders at all levels in order to support the shelter response and align with local procedure and customs
• Supported by the sub-cluster coordinators, develop a SC Strategy in a consultative process with SC partners, including the local government and ensure that the shelter response is driven by this strategy.
• Coordinate shelter needs assessments within the SCP or at Inter-Cluster level, including participatory and inclusive methods.
• Guarantee the establishment and maintenance of the Shelter Cluster structure, including the cluster core documents and ensure that the SCP produces timely analytical shelter reports.
• Ensure that the shelter response is informed by appropriate relevant Technical Standards, including among others Sphere, and good practice from the Shelter sector; co-chair Technical Working Groups (TWiGs) when the Technical Coordinator is on leave.
• Update GSC as needed on progress, challenges and support needs
• Lead on the integration of cross-cutting issues in the work of the Shelter Cluster, including age, gender and diversity, as well as protection mainstreaming.
• Ensure that the SC has a functional information management strategy and mechanism to report and share information within the Shelter Cluster, with the other clusters, with the government, with the overall humanitarian community including donors, with NRC internal mechanisms, and with the Global Shelter Cluster.
• Identify core advocacy concerns for the SC through a consultative process, develop initiatives with NRC advocacy or through joint cluster/ inter-cluster initiatives to ensure regular and consistent advocacy.
• Work with OCHA, and lead the Shelter Cluster on standard cluster processes (such as Flash Appeal, HNO, HRP, HF etc)
• Collaborate with OCHA and other NICCG members to develop, review, edit and critique initiatives, documents and guidelines produced for and from the clusters.
• Work with the two Sub-national Coordinators and the Technical Coordinator on an ongoing basis, to identify tasks and responsibilities which should be delegated to those positions.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position. 

What you will bring:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s/ MPhil) in Civil/Structural/Architectural Engineering or another relevant field.
• Minimum 8 years of Professional Experience in Shelter, Non-Food Items, at a managerial level in emergency and conflict and post conflict environments.
• Has experience within the humanitarian architecture (cluster system) and with humanitarian appeals, humanitarian response plans and common humanitarian funds.
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts. Knowledge of Palestine context is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in computer applications (MS Word, Excel). 
• Fluency in English language is must, both written and verbal. 
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile with documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions, meet short deadlines and travel extensively at short notice to support field operations.

What we offer:

• Duty station: Jerusalem with travels to Gaza as situation allows
• Contract: 12 months (renewable conditional on funding and performance)
• Travel: 50% to NRC Palestine field locations.
• Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, 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.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your national identification card. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• This position is open to candidates who have the legal right to work in Palestine. Due to legal restrictions in obtaining visas for some applicants please click on the link to confirm your eligibility before sending your application.  Recruitment will be done on a rolling basis so please send your application at the earliest opportunity.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email [email protected] with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

NRC currently has over 3,000 staff across the Middle East dedicated to assisting people affected by conflict in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya and Palestine. Its humanitarian interventions are based upon its programming expertise in the Core Competencies of Shelter, Education, WASH, Livelihoods and Food Security, and Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) to vulnerable displaced people that were forced to flee.   

Background

NRC is the designated Shelter Cluster (SC) Lead Agency in Palestine, coordinating the National Cluster and the sub-national clusters in Gaza and in the West Bank.

The Shelter Cluster National Coordinator works within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach to perform a dedicated coordination, strategy development and advocacy function. Together with the sub-national coordinators and lead agency they ensure a coherent and effective emergency response by mobilizing groups of agencies, organisations, and NGOs to respond in a strategic manner to the complex humanitarian crises.

S/he also ensures appropriate cross-sectoral coordination with other national level coordination fora. The Shelter Cluster National Coordinator advocates for shelter in the humanitarian response, leads the mainstreaming of early recovery activities in the Shelter Cluster, liaises with donors and other external bodies, and spearheads the integration of cross-cutting issues into the work of the Shelter Cluster, including age, gender and diversity, and protection mainstreaming issues.

 Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

Learn more about NRC’s operations in Palestine here.