WHO ARE WE?

We Danish Refugee Council assist refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunities 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 JOB

The Infrastructure Specialist is a key member of the [West/South/Central/East] Area Office team with the responsibility to ensure strong technical quality of all DRC activities in the relevant office including infrastructure rehabilitation, repair, or construction components, in close consultation with country office technical coordinators and specialists. DRC activities that include infrastructure components include shelter repair and shelter construction, and irrigation infrastructure construction or repair.

The position is supervised by the Area Program Manager who works closely with the Emergency Team Leader and Economic Recovery Team Leader. At the Country Office level, the position is technically line managed by the Shelter and Infrastructure Technical Coordinator, and also works with the Economic Recovery Technical Coordinator and Emergency Technical Coordinator, as needed. The position includes identification, feasibility assessment, and design of infrastructure projects, especially irrigation infrastructure and complementary activities in line with a localized, sustainable watershed management approach, and technical supervision and advice to teams implementing activities. It includes regular follow-up at the field level to check works are being done correctly and with quality, especially for large-scale infrastructure and watershed management implementation, as well as to recruit and supervise skilled laborers and make sure works are on track and completed on time. This may include overnight stays in remote areas with basic accommodation, which the candidate should be comfortable with.

Responsibilities:

Technical documentation and activity design

• Identification, feasibility assessment, and design of localized watershed management projects including irrigation infrastructure repair and construction, including preparation of technical documents.
• Review and provide technical support to the design of Bills of Quantity (BoQs), technical drawings, and other technical documents as required and helpful to Emergency and Economic Recovery teams, including focusing on value for money and high-quality implementation of works through strengthening of traditional construction techniques and locally available materials.

Training and capacity-building

• Conduct regular training and capacity-building of DRC engineers and other DRC staff involved in the implementation of activities that include infrastructure components, in close coordination and collaboration with the Shelter and Infrastructure Technical Coordinator.
• Provide regular ad-hoc technical guidance to implementing teams as needed

Technical monitoring

• Act as a main focal point for irrigation infrastructure/localized watershed management projects, including recruitment and supervision of skilled laborers and regular monitoring and technical support in the field to ensure timely and quality work implementation.
• Coordination with the MEAL team to analyze findings of post-distribution monitoring and make improvements in response

Reporting/Coordination  

• At the discretion of the supervisor and relevant Area Office, meet with external stakeholders, including authorities and community leadership, to explain DRC shelter activities and make necessary coordination
• Any other duties that may be designated by the supervisor (APM) and technical supervisor (Shelter and Infrastructure TC) depending on need and capacity.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role you must have:

Experience and technical competencies: 

• At least four years experience at the manager or supervisor level,  implementing irrigation infrastructure repair and construction activities, with a strong preference for familiarity with watershed management approaches. Experience with humanitarian or development I/NGO preferred.
• Experience with humanitarian shelter activities (such as shelter repair and construction) is preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience with humanitarian WASH activities is preferred but not mandatory.
• Strong experience working with remote, rural communities in Afghanistan. Experience in Central, South-East, East, South, and West regions is an asset but not essential

Education/qualifications:

• BSc in Civil Engineering

Languages:

• Excellent spoken and written Pashto is essential
• Good command of English, especially reading and writing for translation of technical documents written in English into Pashto and Dari

Key Deliverables:

• Technically sound, relevant, and quality localized watershed management project design; timely and high-quality works implementation
• Clear, realistic, and technically strong guidance and capacity building to DRC engineers/emergency officers and other staff, including delivered through formal training.
• Infrastructure components of activities are completed promptly and in line with DRC and donor requirements.

We Offer:

• Contract length: to 31st of December 2024 with the possibility of Extension.
• Band: NMG
• Designation of Duty Station: Kandahar with frequent travels to Helmand, Zabul and Nimroz
• DRC has Flexible working hours for Female staff as per DRC Policy.
• The 13th month’s salary Will be paid by the end of each month with salary.
• Top-up credit card as per office regulations.
• 1+1 DRC will provide Health Insurance.
• Eid Bonus.
• DRC provides Transport allowance/ Transportation Facilities for females and people with disability.
• DRC Provides kindergarten/daycare allowance for max 2 children – Applicable to female mothers.
• Per diem allowance for employee and her Mahram – Applicable for female
• Salary and conditions will be by the DRC salary scale.

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking the Apply button below.  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.

Note: Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.