Shelter Engineer

ARWEO is a nonprofit organization with a visionary focus on the rehabilitation and protection of vulnerable communities in Afghanistan. ARWEO has a strategic goal of assisting the lifesaving and immediate needs of the marginalized population including IDPs, refugees, and host communities in eastern, central, northern and central highlands regions. ARWEO has a history of 22 years implemented 86 projects with 65% of projects in Shelter, education, protection, food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. ARWEO is dedicated to transforming the lives of marginalized children including boys and girls, particularly those with immediate education, protection, and humanitarian needs, and those belonging to IDP, refugee, and host communities in the affected provinces of Afghanistan.

Project Background:

ARWEO is executing a Shelter Support for Resilience project to protect the well-being of households affected by natural disasters, prolonged conflict, and forced displacement, with particular attention to families returning from Pakistan. These populations, often among the most vulnerable, face severe shelter insecurity and limited access to safe and dignified housing. The project targets marginalized and crisis-affected households across the eastern, central, northern, and northeastern regions of Afghanistan. Shelter assistance is provided through minor and major repairs, rehabilitation of damaged homes, and the construction of both permanent and transitional shelters, depending on each household’s condition, location, and needs. Beyond addressing the immediate need for shelter, the project also aims to enhance resilience by promoting disaster risk reduction measures and integrating locally accepted, cost-effective building practices. It contributes to the protection and stabilization of vulnerable communities, especially women-headed households, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. Local labor and skilled workers are engaged wherever possible, and technical training is incorporated to strengthen community-based construction capacity and ownership. ARWEO envisions not only rebuilding homes but also restoring dignity, safety, and a sense of permanence for families striving to recover and rebuild their lives.

Summary:

Shelter Engineer is one of the senior technical staff in the field for the implementation of shelter interventions. Shelter Engineer will be responsible for the assessment of the building, as well as responsible for giving technical guidance and supervision to the technicians/masons, social mobilizers, volunteers, as well as community people and beneficiaries. Apart from this, Shelter Engineer will plan and take the lead in the safe shelter awareness raising campaign, as well as work in the mobilization of other technical and social staff.

Key Responsibilities

·       Assess the HHs whose shelter is damaged due to the earthquake, using the cluster standard tool.

·       Conduct damage assessments and needs assessments related to Shelter.

·       Prepare a beneficiaries' agreement with the beneficiaries for the construction of shelters.

·       Design/amend community appropriate shelters and provide technical supervision and guidance.

·       Assist the community in the preparation of the bill of quantities as well as in the calculation of the associated costs.

·       Follow the standard procedure for the construction of shelters.

·       Supervise and monitor the construction of shelters and provide necessary feedback to beneficiaries on the quality of construction.

·       Ensure that beneficiaries receive the cash for constructing their own shelter based on the progress percentage.

·     Perform market assessments related to shelter and NFI’s items.

·       Ensure safety measures are in place at the construction sites.

·       Ensure that activities are planned successfully according to relevant quality standards and work in close collaboration with the Emergency Shelter and NFI Cluster.

·       Provide relevant technical expertise/guidance to ensure that technical quality and standards are maintained during project implementation.

·       Ensure age, gender and diversity approach to Shelter & Settlement is consistently applied through community and rights-based participatory methods.

·       Work proactively to ensure that the projects are responsive and relevant to community needs.

·       Ensure a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to Shelter.

·       Providing monthly and progress reports of the intervention to the Shelter Coordinator.

·       Mobilizing the mason/technician and social mobilizer for the Shelter construction.

·       Assist in tender processes and contract administration for construction services (evaluation, design, engineering, site supervision and/or management, construction works) in accordance with UNHCR standard procedures and existing regulations in the country.

·       Responsible for providing any additional support if required/assigned.

·       Abide by and work in accordance with the ARWEO/ UNHCR principles

·       Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Qualifications

·       Bachelor’s Degree, in shelter-related sciences (E.g., Civil or Architecture Engineering)

·       Minimum 3 years of relevant experience.

·       Experience in international organizations – UN Agencies, INGOs, IOs, Donors

·       Experience in working in humanitarian interventions, including large complex operations and/or development programs. (Preferred)

·       Strong knowledge of MS Office and Engineering software.

·       Effective IT skills, including word processing and spreadsheets.

·       Good capacity building and management skills, including human resource and financial management, communications, and intercultural cooperation skills.

·       Strong capacity-building, technical, supervisory, and problem-solving skills, and proven ability to work in shelter project management.

·       Strong project planning, monitoring, and evaluation, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.

·       Strong budget management and reporting skills, and an ability to oversee multiple awards from a variety of donors.

Skills and Competencies

1.     Good interpersonal skills with the ability to travel field based on need.

2.     Proficient in spoken and written English

3.     Knowledge of local language, i.e., Dari and Pashto. (Preferred)

Core competencies:

·       Communications, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust.

Functional competencies:

·       Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others.

Values:

·       Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability.

Protection From Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Commitment:

ARWEO has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse. All employees are expected to comply with our PSEA policy. This includes:

·       Undergoing PSEA training

·       Signing a self-declaration form

·       Participating in reference checks that include questions on PSEA

·       Reporting any suspected cases of sexual exploitation and abuse

Safeguarding:

·       Uphold and promote ARWEOI’s commitment to ensuring the safeguarding and safety of the vulnerable communities we serve.

·       Consistent with ARWEO’s safeguarding and protection policies, ensure all people who come into contact with ARWEO are as safe as possible.

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter without educational documents to hr@arweo.org.af

Note: Applications without mentioning the Position Title & Vacancy Number in the subject line of the email will NOT be considered.

Females are particularly encouraged to apply

"The Shelter Engineer will have to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of the code of conduct"