Emergency Response Civil Engineer (shelter)

Organizational Context

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951, is a UN-related agency dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration. It collaborates with governments and partners to save lives, protect migrants, address displacement, and facilitate migration pathways. This role is within IOM's emergency response operations, focusing on shelter solutions for displaced persons.

Job Purpose

The Emergency Response Civil Engineer (Shelter) plays a critical role in IOM's humanitarian assistance efforts in Venezuela. The primary purpose of this position is to provide essential technical expertise in civil engineering for shelter and infrastructure rehabilitation in emergency contexts. This involves assessing damage, designing and overseeing the construction of temporary and transitional shelters, and ensuring the safety and habitability of facilities for displaced populations. The role directly contributes to IOM's mandate of providing humanitarian assistance to migrants and internally displaced persons in need, driving solutions to displacement, and supporting the recovery and resilience of affected communities.

Responsibilities

Conduct detailed technical assessments of affected infrastructure, including structural inspections and damage classification, to identify repair needs. Provide technical support for shelter programs by designing temporary and transitional solutions, adapting them to local conditions, and overseeing their construction and improvement. Manage temporary sites and settlements by assessing physical conditions, designing essential infrastructure like drainage and access, and planning space reorganization. Supervise construction activities and ensure quality control through technical specifications, bill of quantities, and progress verification. Integrate Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) principles into construction and settlement planning, promoting safe and resilient building practices. Provide community training and technical assistance on safe construction and maintenance. Coordinate with humanitarian clusters, authorities, and agencies, and manage technical information through databases and reports. Support early recovery efforts by identifying repairable homes and promoting 'Build Back Safer' approaches.

Work Experience

Requires relevant experience in civil engineering, construction management, infrastructure rehabilitation, or project supervision. Experience in structural and damage assessments, preparing technical specifications, and supervising construction activities is essential. Experience in designing/rehabilitating housing or shelters, particularly in emergency or post-disaster contexts, is highly valued. Experience with humanitarian shelter, camp management (CCCM), or infrastructure projects, and coordination with various stakeholders, is beneficial.

Skills

Proficiency in civil engineering principles, construction management, and infrastructure rehabilitation. Knowledge of structural assessment, seismic-resistant construction, and 'Build Back Safer' methodologies. Familiarity with humanitarian shelter standards and DRR principles. Ability to prepare technical drawings, specifications, and reports. Proficiency in AutoCAD and Microsoft Office. Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to work under pressure in emergency environments.

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