Shelter Engineer

Over the past few years, Afghanistan has witnessed a relative improvement in security and stability across much of the country. This has allowed humanitarian actors like INTERSOS to maintain uninterrupted access and expand services in areas that were previously hard to reach. Despite this progress, the humanitarian situation remains critical, with millions of Afghans continuing to face acute vulnerabilities due to prolonged economic hardship, natural disasters, and limited access to essential services.

In 2025, more than half of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, with food insecurity, child malnutrition, and displacement remaining key concerns. Natural disasters, such as floods and recent earthquakes, have further compounded the needs of already struggling communities.

INTERSOS continues to operate through a community-based approach with field bases in Kabul, Kandahar, and Zabul, delivering primary healthcare, nutrition, and protection services with a focus on women, children, and persons with disabilities. The organization enjoys strong community acceptance and collaborates closely with relevant national authorities, including maintaining the full participation of female staff in all activities.

While the operational environment is largely stable and conducive, funding shortfalls and systemic barriers such as restrictions on financial flows and administrative bottlenecks continue to impact the scope and scale of humanitarian response. Sustained support is crucial to ensure the continuity of life-saving services and to address the urgent needs of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable populations.

The Shelter Engineer is responsible for the technical design, supervision, and quality assurance of shelter interventions . The role ensures that all shelter works implemented through labelled cash assistance comply with Emergency Shelter/NFI Cluster guidance, SPHERE standards, and Build Back Better (BBB) principles, while integrating seismic risk reduction and inclusion considerations.

The Shelter Engineer serves as the technical authority within the Shelter Core Team and ensures that cash-for-shelter programming results in safe, durable, and context-appropriate shelter outcomes.

2️⃣   Key Duties & Responsibilities

A. Technical Assessments & Design

• Conduct household-level technical assessments of selected beneficiaries.
• Categorise shelters under appropriate assistance packages (A, B, C).
• Develop detailed Bills of Quantities (BoQ) and Scope of Works (SoW) for each household.
• Integrate Build Back Better and seismic safety measures into designs where feasible.
• Identify eligibility for roof upgrades (single storey construction only and within budget threshold).'.
• Design accessibility modifications for persons with disabilities.
• Adapt Cluster Transitional Shelter designs to local topography and hazard profiles in Adraskan.

B. Quality Assurance & Technical Supervision

• Conduct regular site visits to monitor construction progress.
• Verify compliance with agreed Scope of Works prior to each cash instalment.
• Ensure materials purchased meet required standards.
• Prevent unsafe construction practices.
• Confirm milestone completion before authorising tranche release.
• Maintain technical documentation of progress and completion.

C. Community Technical Guidance

• Deliver community sessions on:
  • Build Back Better / Build Back Safer principles
  • Seismic risk awareness
  • Safe construction techniques
• Provide on-site coaching and troubleshooting to households.
• Support development and dissemination of IEC materials related to shelter safety.

D. Legal & Tenure Safeguards (Package A)

• Provide support in land ownership verification processes for Transitional Shelter recipients.
• Ensure no construction commences without appropriate tenure verification.

E. Monitoring, Reporting & Documentation

• Contribute to baseline and endline shelter condition assessments.
• Maintain technical tracking tools for assigned households.
• Provide technical inputs to monthly progress reports.
• Support mid-term review and final evaluation processes.
• Document lessons learned for future shelter programming.

F. Coordination & Compliance

• Coordinate with Shelter Cluster guidance and technical standards.
• Participate in inception workshops and village-level engagement processes.
• Work closely with Community Mobilisers to ensure community understanding of technical requirements.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, protection, and do-no-harm principles.

3️⃣ Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• The Shelter Engineer’s performance will be measured against:
• % of households with approved BoQ and SoW within planned timeframe.
• % of shelters meeting agreed technical standards at completion.
• % of milestone verifications conducted before tranche release.
• Number of BBB/seismic awareness sessions conducted.
• Accuracy and timeliness of technical reporting.
• Zero tolerance for unsafe construction approvals.
• Positive beneficiary feedback regarding technical support.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, or related field.

Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in humanitarian shelter programming.
• Experience with: 
  • Owner-Driven Reconstruction (ODR)
  • Cash-for-Shelter programming
  • Transitional Shelter implementation
  • Repair and upgrade programming
• Experience working in seismic-risk environments is highly desirable.
• Previous experience in Afghanistan or similar fragile contexts preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of:
  • ES/NFI Cluster shelter guidelines
  • Build Back Better principles
  • Basic structural safety concepts
  • Bill of Quantities preparation
• Ability to assess traditional and mixed masonry construction.
• Proficiency in technical drawing and documentation.

Soft Skills

• Strong communication and coaching ability.
• Ability to work in culturally sensitive environments.
• Strong problem-solving and risk identification capacity.
• High level of integrity and accountability.

Languages 

• English- Fluent
• Dari and Pashto- 

5️⃣ Reporting Lines

• Reports directly to: Project Manager
• Supervises: Site Foreman (within Shelter Core Team)
• Coordinates with:
  • Community Mobilisers
  • MEAL team
  • Cash/Finance team (for milestone validation)
  • Legal referral partners (for tenure verification)

6️⃣ Duration & Level of Effort

• Full-time position for the duration of the project.
• Field-based role with extensive travel to project villages.
• Contract aligned with project cycle (May 2026 – January 2027).

7️⃣ Core Competencies

• Technical Excellence
• Accountability & Integrity
• Protection Mainstreaming
• Results Orientation
• Community Engagement
• Team Collaboration

Respected Applicants, please visit the link below and fill in the required information.

https://forms.gle/kH8TzH2xdkncyT4t5

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted with and called for a test/Interview.

Qualified People with Physical Disabilities and Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply