Project Technical Officer – Shelter US Non-profit Job Placements – Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Job Title: Project Technical Officer – Shelter
Organization: Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Duty Station: Uganda
Reports to: Project Manager – Shelter
About US:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS’ Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations; serving people on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs.
CRS has worked in Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to also address development needs in western, central and eastern Uganda. CRS’ projects in Uganda currently include agriculture, health, microfinance, peace building and youth. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability.
About the Project:
CRS recognizes that Home and Community are the foundations of family life. But, when disaster strikes, lives are shattered in the blink of an eye. The loss of a home can have a grave impact on a family’s well-being, their identity, their security and safety. CRS recognizes that safe homes are the first step for families to rebuild their lives.
Through direct implementation, CRS plans to demonstrate how the owner-driven shelter approach increases the participation of families, is more cost-effective, and supports local markets. Using shelter as an entry point, CRS will also demonstrate how empowering communities through the Community Conversation methodology, Community Centers, and a household-level case management system can lead to a more holistic, community-centered approach that will increase the effectiveness of shelter interventions and improve the quality of the response.
Shelter construction activities will be complemented by the pilot of a Community Center, which will act as a hub for local government, partner agencies, national and international NGOs and private sector to facilitate an integrated system of services. Support could include connections to project activities, referrals for protection and health needs, legal services, training, and local initiatives, as well as space for community activities, rentable market space for small business owners, and opportunities to extend the impact of programming by sharing information on best building practices, costs estimates, livelihood strategies, etc
Job Summary: The Project Technical Officer – Shelter Technical Officer is responsible for the quality standards in the construction of the shelters through the CRS’ emergency response programming in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement. S/he will work closely with the shelter and settlement project manager, community mobilization officer and target communities to ensure the design and implementation of shelter
Programming meets the highest technical and accountability standards. S/he will provide technical input to shelter needs assessment, in collaboration with the Bidibidi Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer and the Community Mobilization Officers. S/he will participate in the orientations and trainings provided to hired labor or volunteers and respected third parties in the host community as needed.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Ensure shelter construction is in accordance with design specifications through daily site supervisions.
- Prepare field reports and maintain a filing system for project documentation.
- Conduct stage approval and Prepare cash support stage payments to project participants.
- Evaluate performance of carpenters and hired labor to ensure shelter quality and safety.
- Ensure that design concerns raised by project participants or construction crews are raised to the shelter and settlement project manager.
- Coordinate with other CRS departments concerning all aspects of project implementation.
- Promote safety driven construction practices (safety culture) by regular review of project site safety initiatives and compliance by contractor.
- Ensure procurement of shelter materials are of high quality and delivered on time.
- Conduct quality of local materials used by project participants and guide them.
- Conduct on-site training of construction crews under owner driven shelter construction approach.
- Prepare and conduct signing of design concept form by project participants or proxies.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal applicant must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, or extensive equivalent experience
- At least five years’ relevant work experience as building trade carpenter mason specializing in local construction methods specific to northern Uganda.
- Knowledge of local building design standards; experience with humanitarian shelter a plus.
- Required experience working in West Nile sub-region, Yumbe district preferred.
- Proven ability to build/work in a team and to manage and motivate personnel drawing on individual skills to advance agendas and problem solving. Familiarity with affected population’s culture, ability to develop the respect from a wide range of people and to communicate effectively on appropriate shelter solutions
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills
- Fluency in English with good verbal and written communication skills
- Demonstrated experience with assessments and analytical and planning skills.
- Effective inter-personal skills and consensus-building
- Demonstrated experience of integrity and professionalism
- Self-reliance and an ability to work in a challenging and demanding environment
- Knowledge of the local languages spoken by South Sudanese and host communities living on or near Bidibidi settlement
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
- Serves with Integrity
- Models Stewardship
- Cultivates Constructive Relationships
- Promotes Learning
Emergency Competencies
Each staff member working in emergencies is expected to use the following competencies to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
- Communicates strategically under pressure
- Manages stress and complexity
- Actively promotes safety and security
- Manages and implements high-quality emergency programs
- Influence Competencies (for all Homes and Communities Staff)
- Effectively communicates the agency’s priorities and leverages local relationships to bring stakeholders perspective to decision-makers, based on job-specific responsibilities
How to Apply:
All interested and qualified candidate please Email a cover letter and CV only to ug_recruitment@crs.org
Large files and/or scans of documents will lead to rejection of your application, in the subject line of the email, copy and paste – PROJECTTECHNICALOFFICERSHELTER only
All applications that do not contain this exact subject line will be rejected and not read
Only selected candidates that meet the requirements will be notified.
EOE/M/F/D/V
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Deadline: 13th August 2020 at 5:00 pm