Shelter Technical Lead for Ukraine

Country Programme: Ukraine

Base: Kyiv

Line Manager: Programme Quality Director

Contract Length: 12 months with the possibility of extension

Starting date: September 2025

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech-based international non-governmental organization (NGO) that has provided humanitarian and development assistance across more than 20 countries since 1992. Today, PIN stands as one of the largest organizations of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, supporting vulnerable communities in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. PIN empowers civil society, advocates for human rights, and promotes social inclusion both at home and abroad.

About the Ukrainian Programme of People in Need:

PIN has been working in Ukraine since 2014, providing emergency relief and early recovery support to war-affected communities. Following the full-scale invasion in 2022, PIN scaled up its humanitarian programming for war-affected communities, focussing primarily on Shelter, WASH, Protection, Education, Livelihoods, and Rapid Response Mechanisms. Whilst maintaining its humanitarian programming in response to the ongoing war, PIN is also building up its recovery efforts, integrating early recovery components into humanitarian work (e.g green recovery, durable solutions), whilst contributing to community-based recovery, resilience building, and the vital role of local civil society organizations, adhering to the principles of Locally-Led Action. PIN is one of the leading humanitarian actors in Ukraine, maintaining a strong operational presence across the country, including frontline areas, whilst working with and supporting a network of 200 local partners.

About the role:

Under the supervision of the Programme Quality Director, the main responsibility of the Shelter Technical Lead is to provide technical support to PIN implementation teams on the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, coordination and technical supervision of shelter and infrastructure programming (both humanitarian & early recovery). PIN’s response includes individual housing repairs (light and medium/in-kind & cash), distribution of essential NFIs, Winterization (rapid response mechanism – in-kind & cash), Institutional repairs and rehabilitation (schools, hospitals, other social institutions, including humanitarian repairs, accessibility improvements, and green energy efficiency).

The Technical Lead ensures that programming is needs-based and contextually appropriate, and implemented in line with PIN global, cluster and relevant technical standards and guidance. The Technical Lead line manages two Civil Engineers/Estimators and the Kharkiv Hub Shelter Cluster Coordinator.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:  

Strategic guidelines and quality supervision: 

• Support in development and quality assurance of PIN Shelter & Infrastructure programme as per PIN Ukraine’s Country Strategic Plan 
• Ensure that evolving contextual developments in the country’s emergency, as well as recovery needs, are well reflected in all Shelter & Infrastructure implementation methodologies. 
• Continuously evaluate PIN’s shelter & infrastructure programming in terms of quality, relevance and effectiveness, help to identify gaps and implement improvements; 
• Regularly coordinate with PIN HQ Programme Strategy & Impact, to ensure PIN’s shelter & infrastructure programming is in line with global trends and guidelines, including SPHERE standards.

Shelter & Infrastructure programme design and technical supervision of implementation: 

• In close cooperation with the Programme Quality Director, Programme Implementation Director, Deputy Program Implementation Director and Area Managers, lead in the design of new shelter & infrastructure-related project proposals, concept notes and initiatives, as per PIN Ukraine’s country program strategy; 
• Lead in the development and revision of all shelter & infrastructure SoPs and guidelines, including for technical processes, procurement procedures, and implementation protocols. Ensure SOPs reflect best practices, compliance and regulatory requirements, Ukrainian legislation, national building standards, policies and codes, and lessons learned from implementation. Regularly review and update SOPs as needed.
• Lead in the design and implementation of shelter & infrastructure-oriented needs assessments, studies and researches, as per PIN Ukraine Programme strategy priorities and areas of interest 
• Review donor reports to ensure quality technical inputs, and to identify gaps and challenges requiring follow-up action
• Provide technical support and capacity building to project teams to ensure the effective implementation of tools and SoPs; 
• Supervise the quality of the implementation of PIN Ukraine’s shelter & infrastructure programme both directly and through the supervision of the Civil Engineers/Estimators including: Reviewing and approving procurement requests for materials, equipment, and work required for shelter operations; Providing technical oversight for construction and renovation activities to ensure compliance with specifications; Evaluating and approving service provider contracts, ensuring technical competency and cost-effectiveness; Establishing inspection protocols and acceptance criteria for all procured items and contracted services; Manage relationships with external consultants for specialized technical evaluations and structural assessments; Supervise production of architectural drawings, engineering specifications, and cost estimation documents through contracted services; Establish KPIs and performance metrics for all outsourced technical services
• Manage building cost engineers including providing technical guidance and professional development opportunities;  Procure and maintain annual licenses for AVK estimation software, ensuring team access to current tools and training resources; Subscribe to and distribute monthly construction cost journals and pricing updates to maintain competitive and accurate project estimates
• Organise and lead regular field monitoring and conduct audits of the implementation process as necessary to determine whether the implementation of the program is within the standards set in relevant SoPs and guidelines.
• Identify and flag issues and challenges impacting the quality of implementation to relevant staff. 
• Work closely with other Technical Leads, MEAL, and programme implementation team, to ensure that PIN Ukraine’s shelter & infrastructure methodologies reflect the latest best practice in terms of content, service delivery, data collection, targeting criteria, beneficiary selection and monitoring and evaluation. 
• Provide technical advice to the MEAL team in the design and implementation of shelter & infrastructure monitoring and evaluation plan, and development and use of adapted tools and processes;
• Identify capacity needs within PIN programme implementation teams in shelter & infrastructure programming, develop and provide necessary capacity building activities 

External representation and coordination: 

• Develop functional partnerships with relevant partners, national and local authorities and other stakeholders, especially the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories, and respective departments at regional and community levels 
• Contribute to technical capacity exchange with local CSOs working in the areas of shelter & infrastructure
• Support as needed the Kharkiv Hub Shelter Cluster Coordinator, ensuring efficient coordination of partners implementing shelter activities, and contributing to strategic cluster technical discussions and prepared guidelines 
• Represent and ensure active participation of PIN in national coordination and technical forums related to shelter & infrastructure, including the national Shelter Cluster and other relevant working groups
• Identify opportunities for inter-agency learning, impact measurement and information sharing; exploring more formal opportunities to work in partnership with other agencies (consortia). 

Main requirements:

• At least 5 years experience in the design and implementation of shelter & infrastructure projects
• Experience of line management, capacity building and supervision of teams and partners
• Experience developing high quality technical guidance/standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Experience of working with and through the Shelter Cluster
• Proven ability to work in a high-pace environment 
• Experience working in an insecure environments
• Strong technical expertise in design and implementation of relevant shelter & infrastructure interventions (light/medium housing repairs, winterization, institutional repairs/rehabilitation, accessibility improvements, energy efficiency/green recovery, NFIs distribution).
• Strong grasp of all stages of programme cycle management and quality standards in humanitarian and early recovery programming, including safeguarding and accountability mechanisms
• Familiarity working with Ukrainian legislation, national building standards, policies and codes, and international SPHERE standards for shelter and construction
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate organizational and problem-solving skills, including working to deadline and managing multiple priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Excellent teamwork, communication, coordination and representation skills. 
• Proven ability to work in a diverse and multi-cultural team environment, with appropriate sensitivity to social and cultural norms. 
• Fluency in English (spoken and written)

Desirable:

• Experience working in Ukraine or similar middle-income/conflict-affected context
• Knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian language
• Experience working with local partner organisations and in consortiums, including capacity exchange/training/technical monitoring of partners
• Experience with remotely managed programming
• Experience collaborating with the Ministry for Development of Territories and Communities, or similar authorities in other countries, and relevant regional and local authorities

We offer:

• Working environment in a well-established humanitarian organization in a challenging context;
• Salary & Benefits: Salary based on PIN’s salary scale and HR policies; expected salary range between 2600-2850 EUR super gross (based on experience).
• Additional allowances include:

-      Monthly Subsistence Allowance of 1440 EUR;

-      Monthly Hardship Allowance of 400 EUR;

-      Accommodation provided by PIN/Monthly Housing Allowance up to 1000 EUR;

• Time off and Rest:

-      25 days of holiday annually;

-      10 sick days

-      Rest & Recreation (R&R) policy, 15 days per year/3 cycles

• Travel benefits:

-      Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once every 6 months of work;

-      Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with the visa application procedure;

-      Reimbursement for the medical check-up before and after the deployment;

-      Travel health insurance covering medical care, incl. the repatriation;

• Health and Well-being:

-      24/7 Medical Support available online;

-      Free psychological consultations available online;

• Professional Development: Free access to e-learning platforms and PIN Learning Hub; PIN’s global Induction Training, and tailored capacity-building opportunities, including Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)

Security situation in Ukraine

Humanitarian workers continue to operate throughout Ukraine, although the front-line areas are being shelled almost constantly, and main cities are being targeted with missiles and UAVs quite regularly. PIN security SOPs require PIN staff to proceed to shelter should the risk level be assessed by the Security Department as the highest (launch of missiles or drones) and remain there until the air raid siren is cancelled, which cumulatively can be several times a week, occasionally for several hours at a time (although shorter periods are as well occurring). While air strikes that were targeting energy, infrastructure have finished after winter, they have succeeded in reaching their goals and are likely to resume in late autumn/winter. At the moment military and civilian objects are being targeted, including the west of Ukraine. While Kyiv enjoys relatively strong air defence systems that are intercepting most of the missiles and UAVs, other regions are covered much less significantly which results in bigger damage. Outside of the areas in the vicinity to the contact line, services such as medical care, shops, public transportation as well as restaurants or leisure facilities remain operational.

How to Apply:

If you are interested in this position, send us your CV and short cover letter via our application form.

Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and is committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involves. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.