United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Jobs: Physical Site Planner

Closing date: 18 Nov 2009

Location: Kenya - Fafi

Position No: 10015153

Position Title: Physical Site Planner

Position Grade: P-.3

Position Location: Fafi, Dadaab, Kenya

Position Requirements

Organizational Context

The Physical Site Planner works under the overall supervision of the Head of Sub Office, and in coordination with other colleagues working in the field, in particular working in protection, health, community services and water and with technical backstopping of the Technical Team (Physical Planner and Environmental Officer) in Nairobi.

Functional Statement

The incumbent will carry out the followings:

• Conduct technical feasibility studies for identification of adequate refugee sites in close coordination with Local Authorities at Provincial, District and Divisional levels, as well as with the concerned line Ministries and implementing partners.
• Ensure that basic technical criteria of land availability/property, accessibility, security, topography, water resources, absorption capacity, and adequate terrain for proper sanitation facilities are taken into consideration while selecting potential refugee sites. Other factors such as national reserves, migration corridor, and flooding, possible conflict with local population (grazing land) have also to be taken into consideration during the site planning.
• Develop, in close coordination with implementing partners and other concerned parties, site plans and their implementation modalities, including construction of communal infrastructures (latrines, water points, etc.), taking into account overall needs of target groups, their cultural preferences and the concerns of the local communities keeping in mind policy priorities of UNHCR, such as environmental issues.
• Ensure that sites designs take into consideration protection oriented issues related to gender based violence and women and children needs. The security/privacy of women and children, the adequate location of latrines, of communal services, and of distribution areas have also to be addressed.
• Coordinate with refugee committees, Local Authorities and other partners the identification of potential needs related to shelter and NFIs and ensure that NFIs need identification/distribution is coordinated among all the actors.
• Work in close coordination with all functional Units in UNHCR (Protection, Programme, Community Services, Field, Administration, and Supply) for all issues related to protection, refugee figures and assistance, and work in close coordination with the Physical Planner and Geographical Information System (GIS) Expert based in the Regional Hub in Nairobi for issues concerning GPS points and mapping of refugee sites.
• Assist the programme section by analysing budgetary implications of technical components, as well as the technical integrity of our interventions in the camps and in the refugee-affected areas.
• Act as a focal point in the Sub-Office in the areas of physical planning, shelter and, Provide regular technical report to the Supervisor, and to other colleagues as appropriate.
• Assist UNHCR office with any other refugee technical related issues as required by the Supervisor.
• Advise on the matters related to procurement of sector-related materials or equipment (including development and preparation of technical specifications for bid documents, technical evaluation of bids, review/inspect quality of the products/works as requested), and assist in fund raising efforts (provision of information and preparation of project proposals, and participation in negotiations) and other publicity endeavours.

1. Specialized functions to be dealt by the incumbent in this post includes physical planning, shelter and engineering infrastructures, which imply that the person should have a strong academic qualification in civil engineering construction, shelter design and structural analysis, and physical planning issues.
2. Competent and previous professional experience in the areas of rural development, natural resources and environmental management.
3. Familiarity with and considerable Field exposure to UNHCR programme planning and implementation and on humanitarian operations.
4. Skills on project formulation, planning, supervision and management.
5. Team player, adaptive and flexible to various situations, including emergency operations under varied socio-cultural and physical environment and
6. Strong analytical, drafting and diplomatic skills, and proficient in basic computer software’s, including engineering and site planning design tools.

Essential Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience Required

• University degree in civil engineering disciplines with courses on physical planning construction management, infrastructure development or any other related subjects (post-graduate level).
• Minimum 8 years of progressively relevant professional working experience in the related field in developing countries,
• Fluency in English is essential

Desirable Qualifications & Competencies

• Experience in all disciplines of civil engineering, rural settlement development,
• Emergency management and environmental planning,
• Ability making the linkages to rehabilitation and development programmes will be an added advantage,
• Proficiency in a second UN language would be an asset.

With the aim to achieve a gender-balanced workforce, UNHCR strongly encourages qualified women to apply.

How to Apply:

A full curriculum vitae, including nationality and references, should be sent to: UNHCR, Vacancy Management Unit (quoting ref. 10015153), case postale 2500, 1211 Geneva 2 Dépôt, Switzerland, or by fax (+41 22) 739 7322, or preferably, by e-mail: hqpe14 @ unhcr.org.

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