Shelter & Settlements Specialist for Ukraine

Duty station:  Kyiv, Ukraine.

Internal candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

1. Background/Context

Since the 24th of February 2022, NRC in Ukraine has greatly scaled up its operations and is now running a large scale multi-sectoral emergency and protracted crisis response. Going forward we will focus on providing support to communities along the frontline and finding tailored solutions for people displaced by the conflict – both in the short and long term. 

NRC is present across the country, with Area Offices in Dnipro, Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa, Field Offices in Chernihiv, Shostka, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Kherson, and has a growing partnerships portfolio. The programme currently includes all NRC core competencies: Education, Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance, Livelihoods and Food Security, Protection from Violence, Shelter & Settlements and WASH. In addition, NRC is one of the largest NGO actors for Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) in Ukraine. 

NRC’s Shelter & Settlements response operates in all areas of Ukraine, and across all stages of the response cycle: from first-phase emergency and protracted crisis to early recovery. NRC provides lifesaving emergency Shelter and NFI assistance, repairs shelters damaged by the conflict, rehabilitates community infrastructure, supports transitional shelter through rental market initiatives; where applicable these activities integrate energy components. The Shelter and Settlements response is closely integrated with NRC’s Site Management and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) responses, with particular regard to Housing, Land and Property Rights (HLP) and community-based approaches.

NRC has recently revisited its response strategy in Ukraine and have identified Shelter & Settlements as a sector for investment, to scale up existing shelter and settlements activities, and to complement our other core competencies, with a specific focus on strategic partnerships and area-based approaches, and with the inclusion of Energy/Environment programming. We are looking for an energetic and positive colleague who thrives working with others and finding joint solutions to complex problems – someone who wants to build a programme together with local civil society actors, whether with local authorities, peer NGOs and/or private sector actors. We can offer a highly dedicated team of colleagues, a positive work environment and many challenges we try to fix together. 

In summary, we will build on our existing strengths, while continuing to innovate. Continuing to ensure proper emergency response, and focusing more on durable solutions, localisation and partnerships, policy impact, renewable energy, and being the voice of the displaced. 

If this sounds like you or someone you know, please apply or forward. 

1. Generic Responsibilities

The purpose of the Shelter & Settlement Specialist position is to provide strategic direction, quality assurance and technical development of the Shelter & Settlements Core Competency in Ukraine, in order to contribute to the improvement to the shelter conditions of an individual or of a household appropriate to the phase of displacement. The Specialist is responsible for mentoring, training and building the technical capacity of staff and providing technical support to partners.

This position will provide support, technical and operational advice, and guidance with emphasis on ensuring quality. A core contribution will be the development or contextualizing of technical tools and guidelines which are cohesive at the country response level, but allow for a necessary flexibility of approaches based on geographic area and response phase. The Shelter & Settlements Specialist is also responsible for implementing the strategy across the portfolio of Shelter and Settlement grants, and for developing the integration of the Shelter & Settlements response with other key Core Competencies (CCs). This role is required to work collaboratively with colleagues in both the technical and the operational management structures in the country office, as well as with members or staff of local partners and coordinating with other colleagues engaged in the regional response. The following is a brief description of the role:

1. Develop Shelter & Settlements strategy, technical SOPs / guidelines and Macro LFAs that are aligned with regional and global strategies and priorities.
2. Compliance and adherence to NRC policies, CC tools, handbooks and guidelines.
3. Responsible for the development and management of proposals, project budgets and donor reports.
4. Provide technical direction and project implementation support.
5. Provide systematic training and build capacity of technical staff and partners where relevant.
6. Ensure that key learnings are extracted from CC implementation and incorporate them in CC and staff development processes.
7. Develop and implement a needs- and evidence-based response strategy for the Shelter & Settlements programme in all operational areas of Ukraine, across all response phases. 
8. Oversee the mainstreaming of NRC and Cluster technical quality minimum standards for Shelter & Settlements throughout all stages of the programme cycle.

1. Professional Competencies

• Minimum 4 years of experience within technical expertise area in a humanitarian/recovery context.
• Higher education, preferably within architecture or engineering or related fields of study.
• Technical expertise in Shelter and Settlements programming.
• Solid understanding and experience of crisis contexts, as well as in the transition/recovery phase.
• Solid experience with project cycle management (PCM).
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of the context in Ukraine is highly desirable.

Find more details about the role HERE.

1. What We Offer

• Duration and Type of contract: Full time, 12 months.
• Salary/benefits: According to NRC salary scale, terms and conditions.
• Duty station:  Kyiv, Ukraine.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC HERE.

Important information about the application process:

• Internal candidates only: please click on the suitcase icon labelled “I am an employee” to be redirected to NRC’s internal careers site.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. 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.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization 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.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

NRC has been present in Ukraine since 2014. Since the escalation of the war in 2022, we have been continuously scaling up our response across the country and working with national partners.

Eight years of conflict in the east of Ukraine escalated into a full-scale war on 24 February 2022, causing death, destruction and displacement for millions of people across the country. 17.6 million people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023, including 6.3 million internally displaced people and 11.3 million people who returned or remained home. Almost 16 million people received humanitarian assistance in 2022.

Throughout the winter months, the Russian Federation attacked critical energy infrastructure, leaving thousands with no heating, water or gas. Many residential buildings were also damaged and destroyed, killing and injuring civilians and forcing millions more to leave their homes. While indiscriminate attacks continued in different regions of Ukraine, the south was struck by the Kakhovka Dam breach on 6 June 2023, causing flooding and the displacement of thousands of people in the area, and leaving many regions without access to clean drinking water. Those who decided to remain are struggling to access food, water, health care, education and other essential services.

The most vulnerable people are still in need of safe housing, protection services and livelihoods support among other needs. Displaced people in rural areas are also struggling to access services. Many of those in need of assistance live in the areas beyond the control of Ukrainian government, where the response is limited due to access constraints.

• Learn more about NRC HERE and NRC Ukraine HERE.

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply, and we are also open to external applicants who can show a commitment to NRC and being part of a challenging, but important mission to make a difference.

NRC might review applications before the advertised deadline, therefore interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.