Programme manager - Housing construction

Background

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe / Diakonie Emergency Aid is a German non-governmental organisation providing worldwide humanitarian aid. Diakonie has been working in Pakistan since the earthquake in 2005. Having implemented relief, recovery and rehabilitation operations in Kashmir (AJK) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe has also provided emergency relief operations in KPK and Punjab after the devastating floods in Pakistan. For Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe the vast majority of the projects in Pakistan are implemented jointly with local NGO partners. In Pakistan, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe provides support and guidance and ensures bridging between third party donors or Diakonie's Headquarter and the implementing partners. Position purpose as an integral team member of the Senior Management Team of Diakonie Pakistan, lead the conception and implementation of the entire Construction Program in Pakistan (Punjab and KPK provinces). The program is to engender the rehabilitation, reconstruction and in exceptional cases the relocation of houses, small public buildings and small infrastructures in the aftermath of the floods in Pakistan.

Main tasks

Project management

• Prepare a construction and rehabilitation strategy and action plan for the next 2 to 3 years, leading towards an integrated approach with other sectors like WASH, livelihood and CBDRM
• Analyze the results of former and current housing projects implemented in the zones of intervention to ensure that "lessons learned" are utilized and integrated into the project designs and implementation
• Manage all phases of the implementation of the entire construction program
• Participate and collaborate with related coordination mechanisms, cluster meetings, donor meetings and local authority to ensure adequate positioning of DKH in the overall reconstruction efforts alongside the other players
• Ensure that risk assessment s are conducted in close collaboration with the DRR department
• Ensure that project implemented are in line with the Sphere Standards, national guidelines, donors or DKH requirements and cluster (or other coordination mechanisms) inputs
• Ensure design and construction criteria for housing, small public buildings and infrastructure projects respect local architectural features, local resources (materiel and human) and cultural sensitivities
• Work collaboratively with the DRR department and incorporate disaster risk reduction techniques and measures in all designs and projects
• Integrate gender sensitivity as a cross cutting theme in all projects
• Ensure that the project implementation is in line with the time schedules, budget and logical framework
• Develop and utilize tools to ensure quality control of the buildings constructed
• Monitor and/or supervise the verification of the beneficiary lists vetted by the Village Reconstruction Committees (VRC)
• Work closely with the Village Reconstruction Committee (VRC) to insure they provide adequate support to the beneficiaries that are widowed or with special needs
• Elaborate terms of references and technical documents for call for proposals
• Prepare and follow-up time schedules and work plans of project activities to be implemented in coordination with the related DKH staff
• Develop and utilize monitoring tools for the daily/monthly monitoring of project activities and for the performance or each implementing partner
• Produce the required reports and any additional required documentation of program, project and department activities
• Coordinate closely with the respective local authorities
• Work in close collaboration with any appointed DKH consultant (i.e. housing expert, DRR advisor and/or projects manager, etc.)
• Organize and manage external consultancy services required to achieve the program and project objectives
• Adhere to the Strategic Plan of DKH Pakistan and play an active role in developing a comprehensive and integrated action plan

Capacity building

• Lead the department in a result oriented fashion while ensuring high accountability
• Develop and utilize model house constructions to train skilled and unskilled labors participating in the construction projects
• Participate in the capacity assessments of current and new potential implementing partners
• Support and guide implementing partners and DKH staff during all phases of the projects (including various assessments, proposal writing, monitoring, quality assurance, construction techniques, reporting, etc.)
• Identify gaps and needs in capacities of the implementing partners and DKH team and propose action plan to remedy the situation in collaboration with the Senior Management team and the HoM
• Design and deliver workshops to implementing partner and DKH staff
• Lead the Construction Department office staff and field staff
• Revise and develop job descriptions for own team, ensure timely recruitment of new staff as well as regular appraisal of staff

Others

• Comply with security plan regulations and procedures
• Work collaboratively with other senior management or advisory positions and participate actively in team work
• Submit various reports both internal and for donors (including narratives, graphs, tables and photos) according to the project specific time schedules
• Accompany project visitors to the field when required, in consultation with the HoM
• Attend related meetings, workshops in agreement with the HoM
• Carry out any other tasks assigned by the HoM
• Wear local traditional clothing (shalwar kameez) when outside of Islamabad

Qualifications

The requested minimum qualifications and experience are as follows:

• University degree in Architecture or Civil Engineering
• Demonstrated professional experience of at least 5 years in programs management of housing and small community infrastructure projects especially in rehabilitation / construction
• Experience during recovery phases (post emergencies)
• Demonstrated experience in working with local implementing partner organisations and some own implementation
• Demonstrated capacity to interpret and adapt to rapidly changing local administrative requirements
• Demonstrated capacity to live in insecure environments
• Demonstrated understanding of and experience with policies, protocols, and procedures of international NGO and donor agencies
• Good understanding of key principles of international NGO including accountability, impartiality, neutrality, independence, cooperation, and intercultural understanding
• Willing to work in the target region during the foreseen assignment duration
• Knowledge of AUTOCAD software
• Excellent report writing capacities
• Strong commitment to teamwork and excellent leadership skills

For this post, the following further qualifications are an asset

• Result oriented
• Excellent analytical/problem-solving skills
• Excellent knowledge of the English language and computer skills
• Effective communication, motivating leadership and interpersonal skills;
• Belief in the principles of participatory approaches to relief and recovery.