WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure Coordinator

WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure Coordinator

   (Yemen – Aden OR Sana’a)

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

About the role

Overall purpose of the role:

The WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure Coordinator provides overall technical leadership and coordination to all aspects of DRC’s WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure programming in Yemen. The role also offers technical guidance, as relevant, to activities implemented under DRC’s other sectors, including CCCM, Protection, Economic Recovery, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP).

The WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure Coordinator has the overall responsibility for designing, coordinating, supporting, and representing DRC's WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure programme in Yemen in external coordination mechanisms and for providing technical guidance and strategic direction to DRC field teams operating across the country. This position will be based in the Country Office, with regular travel to DRC areas of operation within Yemen.

Main responsibilities:

       Responsibilities

• Responsible for design, coordination, technical leadership, and supervision of WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure activities in the country.
• Design, revise, and develop WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure standard operational procedures as well as associated tools.  
• Coordinate and monitor all WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure related activities in support of the WASH and CCCM/Shelter Project Managers/TLs.
• Ensure the highest quality of the sectoral interventions, and the coherence between all projects, ongoing and proposed, according to the overall strategy, through design, technical oversight, monitoring and coordination.
• Develop and undertake needs assessments to inform programme design and strategic direction.
• Conduct rapid needs assessments in the event of emergency (e.g. floods, conflict, disease outbreaks, etc.) in collaboration with other technical Sector Coordinators, Project Managers and Area/Base Managers.
• Lead capacity building programmes for WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure staff as well as staff of other DRC’s Core Sectors as needed in cooperation with Project Managers and Area/Base Managers.
• Formalize and develop WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure programme related operational tools and training modules.

Programme development and strategy

• Lead and develop a programme strategy/ies for the WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure sector in line with the country and global strategies ensuring the WASH, Shelter and Infrastructure strategy balances emergency, transitional/early recovery, and durable solutions, including the promotion of local materials and technologies, the use of greening solutions, and the integration of DRR measures.
• Oversee knowledge sharing across teams ensuring that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure programmes.
• Drive the development and growth of WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure programmes within the DRC programme objectives and feed into country-wide strategy development.
• Ensure that SOPs for all WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure activities align with DRC country strategy and sector best practices.
• Lead the design and submission of new proposals and budgets in line with sectoral standards.

Accountability, reporting, and monitoring

• Develop and monitor relevant accountability initiatives within the WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure programme as well as strengthen the effort to document the impact of activities including Shelter-specific monitoring such as Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) of kits, occupancy and usage checks, and household satisfaction surveys, with feedback integrated into BoQs and SOPs.
• Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements; develop and/or review all WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure indicators.
• Review/revise donor reports as per DRC’s internal reporting workflow to ensure quality; support PMs with financial supervision tracking, as it pertains to overall programme quality and implementation.
• Conduct regular field missions to all field offices to provide technical and operational guidance, support, and supervision of the implementation of WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure activities in the field.
• Review and provide technical sign-off/approval of BoQs (in alignment with international building codes, sectoral/Sphere, DRC and donor standards).

People Management and Capacity Development

• This position does not have any direct line management responsibilities.
• Provide technical supervision to WASH Project Managers, Team Leaders and Specialists, and CCCM/Shelter Project Managers and Team Leaders.
• Provide technical guidance, support, and training for all WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure staff.
• Support/lead the recruitment of all field WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure senior staff, including coaching and capacity development.
• Lead meetings with WASH/Shelter/CCCM Managers and Team Leaders to share best practices between the field offices to ensure the highest quality of the response

Coordination

• Represent DRC at relevant national coordination structures, including WASH and Shelter Clusters, Technical Working Groups, SAGs, and others as required.
• Ensure DRC’s coordination and alignment with technical standards from Clusters.
• Ensure close cooperation with donors, government counterparts and coordination mechanisms on-site and in synergy with other DRC´s programming.

Support to other DRC’s Sectors and cross-cutting thematics

• Support the design and construction of infrastructure on behalf of other sectors such as EcRec (including the construction of markets, livelihood structures, irrigation channels, etc.), Protection (including child-friendly spaces, community centers, etc.), and CCCM (community infrastructure in camps, etc.).
• Provide technical support, guidance, and overall mentoring during the conceptualization, proposal design, and implementation of activities in areas such as NRM, irrigation, water resource monitoring, management and improvement, and climate change-related water impacts, in collaboration and coordination with other sector leads.
• Whenever a specific activity is under the leadership of another sector, provide overall technical guidance as opportune and coordinated, including the review and validation of the design of relevant infrastructure and BoQs.

General

• Ensuring the respect of DRC Code of Conduct and DRC’s zero tolerance policy of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), humanitarian principles and contribute to the integration of mainstreaming, as per global standards, into DRC programming.
• Comply with DRC policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, safety and security, anti-harassment, and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Support the procurement of services and goods related to WASH, Shelter & Infrastructure sector and programme as well as of other sectors and programmes as relevant.
• Perform other relevant duties as required and assigned by the line manager.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 5 years of proven technical coordinator or manager level experience with an international humanitarian NGO implementing Shelter and/or WASH programmes in complex emergency contexts.
• Excellent English writing and editing skills for external audiences (including governments and donors).
• Demonstrated experience (2 years) drafting donor proposals and reports.
• Ability to review and provide technical approval of BoQs and cost analysis within national and global infrastructure codes/donor standards is mandatory.
• Strong coordination skills with field Shelter/WASH teams, clusters and MEAL, with an attention to quality and detail.
• Experience in producing high-quality technical material (training material, programme tools, proposals, strategic documents, etc.).
• Strong technical expertise in relevant engineering software, including AutoCAD/WaterCAD, EPANET, GIS, and structural analysis tools.
• Experience in integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR) frameworks and measures into infrastructure planning.
• Ability to conduct field-based QC/QA and validation of WASH and Shelter works, ensuring compliance with national building codes and international humanitarian standards.
• Strong donor engagement skills, with experience in writing technical justifications for cost and design feasibility matters.
• Experience in carrying out humanitarian interventions through and in coordination with implementing partner organizations is an asset.
• Experience writing a sector strategy is an asset.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and to meet deadlines.
• Effective team-player, open communicator, and problem solver.

Education:

•  Master's degree in engineering, civil engineering or architecture, or an other relevant field.
• Or Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields with at least 6 years’ working experience in similar positions.

Languages:

• English (Fluent)
• Arabic (Highly Desirable)

Key stakeholders:

• Head of Programme
• Technical Coordinators
• Project Managers/Team Leaders (Wash and Shelter/CCCM teams)

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.  
•  Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.  
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.  
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.  
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer.

Contract length:  December 31 2026

Position Band:  This position will be placed in the non-Management (G1) band.

Start date: ASAP

Duty station: Aden OR Sana’a (with frequent travel to the field )

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

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button.
All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.

Applications close on 4 November 2025 the written test /interviews are expected to take place, maximum two weeks after the closing date.  

Please note that applications sent directly to the email will not be considered.