Shelter and Settlement Officer (Shelter and Infrastructure Officer)

Danish Refugee Council (DRC)  is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and implements emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified two  Shelter and Settlement Officer (Shelter and Infrastructure Officer) to join our team in Dnipro. 

About the job

As part of DRC’s Shelter and Settlements response, the Shelter and Settlement Officer (Shelter and Infrastructure Officer) will support the technical implementation of repair and insulation activities for substandard houses. The role ensures that DRC teams receive appropriate technical guidance and that projects have continuous technical oversight throughout the project cycle.

The Officer will serve as the key technical focal point for communication with beneficiaries and contractors and will travel extensively to Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia oblasts to oversee field implementation of repair and insulation interventions.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Technical Oversight and Implementation

• Oversee and regularly evaluate construction and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure.
• Identify infrastructure needs with a focus on accessibility and inclusion of vulnerable groups, including persons with reduced mobility.
• Implement due diligence processes for housing, land, and property (HLP) prior to construction or repair activities.
• Provide technical inputs to housing recovery and energy-efficiency activities to ensure quality and compliance with DRC and national standards.
• Ensure timely and efficient implementation of the program in line with approved budgets and work plans.

Community Engagement and Protection Mainstreaming

• Consult with residents and local authorities prior to facility improvements to ensure transparency and participation.
• Engage community members in repair and maintenance activities with due consideration for the needs of vulnerable groups.
• Address community feedback and complaints related to construction, protection, and facility management.
• Integrate gender, protection, and accountability principles into all shelter and infrastructure activities.
• Promote adherence to DRC’s policies on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).

Coordination and Representation

• Collaborate with relevant internal and external technical experts to ensure alignment with sector standards and best practices.
• Represent DRC at Shelter Cluster and other technical coordination meetings.
• Ensure strong collaboration and integration with other DRC sectors, including Protection, Economic Recovery, and Logistics.
• Maintain coordination with local authorities to ensure inclusive planning and implementation.

Program Management and Operations

• Monitor financial commitments and expenditures against project budgets, providing timely feedback on budget performance.
• Support preparation of technical reports, documentation, and updates for management and donors.
• Proactively plan logistics and staff movements to and from operational areas.
• Initiate procurement requests and ensure timely execution in coordination with the Supply Chain department.

Partnership

• Act as the Shelter programme focal point for assigned partners, ensuring that partner activities are aligned with project objectives, indicators, and technical standards. Support partner identification and onboarding.
• Monitor partner implementation against agreed indicators, targets, and workplans; identify delays or deviations and support partners in adjusting activities to ensure delivery in line with project objectives.
• Review and verify partner narrative reports, ensuring that all reported activities, outputs, and results align with agreed indicators, targets, and workplans.

About you

To be successful in this role, you are expected to have at least 5 years of experience in construction, housing repair, or energy-efficiency projects. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• University degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related technical field.

• Experience coordinating with contractors, local authorities, and communities.

• Familiarity with Ukrainian construction norms, building codes, and technical documentation.

• Strong understanding of protection mainstreaming and inclusion principles in humanitarian programming.

• Excellent organizational, coordination, and communication skills.

• Willingness to travel frequently to field locations in Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Desirable

• Previous experience with international NGOs or donor-funded projects.

• Knowledge of energy-efficient construction methods and insulation materials.

• Fluency in Ukrainian and working knowledge of English.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

• Striving for excellence:  You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract length: 6-months, including a 3-month probation period, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.
• Band: H -non- managerial
• Designation of Duty Station: Dnipro
• Start date: August 2026

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for employees on national contracts; please refer to our website for more details; starting from  EUR 2,025 gross per month (depending on experience and qualifications).

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: August 09th, 2026

We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified.