Shelter Advisor

Provide technical advice and support to the field management and the shelter staff. Develop, lead, monitor and evaluate the shelter aspects of the country programme. This will include coordinating and networking at a senior level with national and regional authorities and other NGOs, providing capacity building for national and international staff, championing best practices (international and Medair) in the shelter programmes and contributing to the overall management of the country programme.

Take a look at Medair’s Shelter & Infrastructure work.

Project Overview

Medair is operating in Nepal in response to the destruction caused by the earthquake on 25th April 2015. Provide community engagement and technical training and assistances for stonemasons engaged in the reconstruction of housing shelters. Help the Nepalese people “build back better”. Be involved in the process of setting strategy for the country programme into the future.

Medair

Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired and motivated by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. As signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, we believe that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of political, social or religious viewpoint. We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. We provide a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition; safe water, sanitation, and hygiene; shelter and infrastructure. Internationally recruited field and headquarters staff lead the organisation, supported by nationally recruited staff to implement programmes locally.

Workplace         

Kathmandu, Nepal. Take a look at Medair’s work in Nepal.

Starting Date

As soon as possible

Initial Contract Details

Full time, minimum contract of 18 months

Key Activity Areas

Shelter Project Management  

• Maintain an overview of the country shelter programme and of the regional context, with a view to strategically developing new projects in current sites and / or in surrounding regions.
• Give technical advice to field managers and HQ on potential involvement in new shelter interventions and internal shelter capacity for implementation.
• Define appropriate policies, guidelines and protocols for the shelter aspects of Medair’s work in country, in consultation with other field managers and in line with relevant government, Sphere and WHO guidelines.

Representation

• Develop and maintain relationships with UN, NGOs, donors, partners and other stakeholders, with the objective of raising public awareness of Medair and ensuring good co-operation and partnerships.
• Seek out relevant networks or task groups on specific shelter-related humanitarian aid issues and actively participate, if possible.

Staff Management

• Be involved in the recruitment of shelter staff for the country programme, providing advice on technical skills and experience as requested.
• Ensure that all shelter staff are adequately trained and, if necessary, create possibilities for capacity building, mentoring and coaching, within budget constraints. Plan and develop training material as required.

Financial Management

• Work with the relevant field managers and HQ staff to plan and construct shelter budgets.

Quality Management

• Regularly assess and provide feedback and recommendations on the quality of shelter programmes and interventions during field visits and at other relevant times.

Field - Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Live, work and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings.
• Instigate and contribute to prayer times within internationally recruited staff and HQ teams.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international programmes and HQ prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organisational needs.

Qualifications

• BSc / BEng in a technical field, preferably in civil engineering or in another relevant field such as architecture / engineering / construction management
• Postgraduate degree in relevant subject desirable

Languages

• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)

Experience / Competencies

• Relevant post-qualification professional experience, in a management position
• Knowledge of Humanitarian Essentials, Sphere and HAP Standards and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols
• Advanced planning, assessment and analytical skills
• Good report and proposal writing skills
• Advanced leadership and project management skills
• Committed to consultative and servant leadership
• Committed to team-building and able to develop and support other team members
• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels

Profiles sought for Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) roles in the field

Relief experience

• Professionals with 12 months or more relevant relief or development experience (Experienced Relief Workers)
• Professionals with less than 12 months relevant relief or development experience (New Relief Workers)

Professional

• Experienced professionals in a relevant Medair sector of expertise
• Overseas intercultural experience

Values

• Fully committed to the Medair values; to reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, and external contacts

Language

• Strong working knowledge of English, spoken and written
• Working knowledge of French, spoken and written, for French-speaking field programmes

Personal qualities

• Able to live and work in a multicultural team under difficult conditions
• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit

Availability

• Single or married (with no children under 18). If married, your spouse must also apply.

Final selection

• All potential candidates for field positions must successfully complete the Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC). Information, dates and related costs can be found via this link.

The benefits package provided to all Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS)

• Comprehensive briefing at our Swiss Headquarters, as well as an in-country briefing
• Security training for those going to insecure environments
• Accommodation, food, and transportation in-country
• Return flights to and from the country programme (one return flight for every year of service)
• Rest and recuperation (R&R) leave (including travel, accommodation, and food)
• Annual leave
• Comprehensive medical and emergency rescue insurance, with up to 60 days post-assignment coverage, including debriefing
• Disability insurance

Specific benefits for Experienced Relief Workers (IRS)

(Applicants with 12 months or more relevant relief or development experience)

• A salary based upon the grade of the position and experience of the position-holder, starting from USD 1,700 per month
• Contribution matching programme for retirement savings
• Additional contract benefit allowance for those who commit to longer contracts
• Highly subsidised contribution to Medair ROC travel and accommodation costs

Working Conditions  

• This is a field-based position and working and living conditions may be very different to that previously experienced.

Application Process

Before you apply, please ensure you are fully aware of the:

a)      Medair organisational values.

b)      Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC) (which forms part of the recruitment selection process for field positions).

Then to apply, go to the "Current Vacancies" page then:

c)       apply for this vacancy (or another position that matches your profile), or

d)      apply for a Medair ROC (where we can try and match your competencies to our vacancy needs).

Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed. Medair does not set closing / deadline dates for applications; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled.