Manager, Urban Programs

Job posted by: Habitat for Humanity International - Thu, 23 Oct 2014

Job Details:

Organisation: Habitat for Humanity International

Deadline Mon, 24 Nov 2014

Job type: Permanent

Location: Philippines

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Located in the Operations Department of HFHI’s Area Office for the region of Asia-Pacific (APO) based in Manila, Philippines, this position is responsible for supporting the growth and development of Habitat for Humanity’s urban programs in Asia-Pacific.

The Urban Programs Manager will provide leadership and support to HFH Asia-Pacific National Offices (NOs) in building capacity to implement shelter/housing programs in urban environments, facilitate knowledge exchange between practitioners, build and strengthen urban networks with external agencies and organizations, and support the development of national urban housing strategies (where applicable). This role will work cooperatively with other functional areas in the AP Operations team to achieve a coordinated approach for addressing the challenges of urban shelter, as well as engaging with partner organizations, government agencies and donors for a holistic community-based outcome. The position will also contribute to the shaping of HFHI’s global urban strategy. The ideal candidate will possess a sound working knowledge of low-cost urban planning and related issues as well as low-income housing programs, and will demonstrate significant practical experience in leading initiatives that bring together these two areas of knowledge, including a focus on informal settlements and slum upgrading.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Strategy

  • Lead the development and implementation of a strategy for urban housing solutions in Asia-Pacific, in alignment with other Area and global strategies and priorities; the strategy should include attention to: appropriate housing, land tenure, infrastructure services, recreation and amenities, and taking into account the higher density environment.
  • Identify strategic partnership models that enable the achievement of holistic urban housing solutions that include community formation, social transformation, health, education and livelihoods.
  • Provide technical advice and guidance to National Offices in development of national urban plans and/or strategies
  • Collaborate with other APO staff/teams to ensure that urban shelter programming issues are integrated through functional areas (such as disaster response and risk reduction, advocacy, market development, etc)
  • Contribute to communication and change management processes to support implementation of a regional urban strategy
  • Knowledge Management
  • Document and disseminate learnings, research material, and programming resources throughout Asia-Pacific, working with the HFHI global urban strategy team.
  • Coordinate an urban programs community of practice amongst committed NOs to review, adapt, and pilot new urban shelter/housing programming tools and models
  • Contribute research material, project documentation, synthesis reports, and other resources to the global urban strategy team; encourage and support practitioners and organizational leaders to contribute to the global urban programs community of practice.
  • Lead and coordinate research activities within the region related to the development of appropriate urban housing project models.


Capacity Building

  • Support and advise NOs in the recruitment, orientation and training of suitably qualified and experienced staff to implement urban shelter programs; provide ongoing support to those staff.
  • Assist in the coordination and facilitation of learning events or workshops linked to urban programming issues. Lead individual learning sessions on urban shelter programming within regional forum(s).
  • Support and advise individual NOs and the community of practice members as they trial and implement new urban programming approaches, models, and tools.
  • Internal and External Liaison and Coordination
  • Act as a strategic link and focal point for regional Urban Programming connecting NOs, Global Funding Network offices and the Urban Community of Practice for mutual support.
  • Participate and actively contribute in appropriate HFHI forums, working groups and networks related to urban programs.
  • Build, nurture and maintain strategic relationships with external actors at regional level (e.g. UN-Habitat, World Vision, prominent academic/research institutions) to contribute to organizational learning and build Habitat for Humanity’s credibility and influence in the area of urban programs.


Additional Responsibilities

  • Work closely with the members of the Area Office team promoting mutual learning, support and accountability.
  • Perform any other tasks assigned by the Associate Director, Program Development & Support.


Education and work experience

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Development or other related area; post-graduate qualification preferred
  • Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in developing low cost housing solutions in urban environments.
  • International work experience, with priority on Asian contexts.

Essential other competencies

  • Knowledge of urban development and poverty dynamics, issues, and contributing factors.
  • Knowledge of cost effective construction design for low-income clients – urban, detached houses and multi-unit apartment blocks, with strong background in social/affordable housing designs/renovations.
  • Experience with applied research relevant to urban development issues.
  • Demonstrated experience in project management.
  • Demonstrated experience in program or project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
  • Demonstrated experience with providing training and development of training materials.
  • Consultancy/advisory skills.
  • Strong computer skills – Excel, Word, PowerPoint, CAD.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, oral and written communication.
  • Cross-cultural communication skills. Ability to work with other cultures and nationalities.
  • Ability to work independently; and interdependently within a team, and with other HFH entities or partners.
  • Fluent in written and spoken English.
  • Thorough understanding of HFHI programs and mission preferred.

Preferable competencies:

  • Knowledge of construction technologies and industry in developing economies in the AP region, and/or in the low-income housing context.
  • Knowledge and experience of green building techniques in the residential sector.

Interestd candidates should apply on our website: http://www.habitat.org/job/manager-urban-programs



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