IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian think tank, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative, which was created in 2010 to facilitate the development of information tools and products that enhance the capacity of aid actors to make evidence-based decisions in emergency, recovery and development contexts. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis, GIS and remote-sensing. For more information visit: www.reach-initiative.org.
We are currently looking for a Senior GIS Officer and Settlements Specialist to join the REACH and IMPACT Initiatives team in Geneva.
Title: SENIOR GIS OFFICER AND SETTLEMENTS SPECIALIST
Duration: Indeterminate Contract (CDI)
Start date: January 2015 (as soon as possible)
Location: Geneva – International Environment House
Remuneration:
Supervision
The Senior GIS Officer and Settlements Specialist will report to the REACH Global Coordinator, under the direct supervision of IMPACT Executive Director.
Based on these terms of reference and initial briefings, the selected candidate will develop upon the start of the contract a work-plan which will be reviewed at regular intervals and will serve as a basis for his/her evaluation.
Tasks
As part of his/her assignment the Senior GIS Officer and Settlements Specialist will undertake the following tasks:
- Senior GIS Officer
- Functional supervision of all GIS personnel within the Middle East and North Africa Region
- Overseeing the life cycle of geographic information products, the conception and production of maps as well as data collection and management
- Reviewing the integrity and overall quality of data, maps and graphics produced in the MENA region to ensure compliance with the requirements of IMPACT/REACH and concerned partners
- Determining how to best apply GIS and other technology to projects in the region and overseeing the deployment of new technology
- Liaising with donors/partners and representing IMPACT/REACH in external technical forums
- Serving as the principal liaison to the IASC Information Management Working Group and Sub-Groups at the global level
- Settlements Specialist
- Building a settlements-focused specialization within the IMPACT team in Geneva
- Overseeing settlement-based planning in urban disaster preparedness and response
- Directing physical planning efforts globally for the organization; Developing master plans for refugee / IDP settlements; Designing neighbourhood-level recovery plans for disaster (and conflict) affected communities
- Promoting better urban humanitarian response and best practices on settlement approaches among global humanitarian actors
- Liaising with donors/partners and representing IMPACT/REACH in external technical forums with urban and/or settlements focus
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in urban or community planning
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience, of which at least 8 years utilizing geographic information systems, 6 years urban planning experience and 4 years in humanitarian relief and/or international development
- Minimum 2 years’ experience in the Middle East and North Africa region required, experience responding to Syrian crises since 2013 strongly preferred
- Prior experience utilizing humanitarian applications of GIS
- Familiarity and prior experience in liaising with UN and other humanitarian actors at field and global level, including: UNHCR, UN-OCHA, UNOSAT and shelter cluster
- Prior experience in participating in global humanitarian data management coordination forum
- Prior experience directing settlement planning efforts for disaster and conflict affected populations, including site planning (preferably in support of UNHCR in relation to the Syrian and Iraqi crisis)
- Prior experience working in a multi-disciplinary team and liaising with engineers and construction professionals
- Prior experience with municipal capacity building
- Prior experience in program / project management
- Prior experience supervising and managing a GIS/technical staff of 15 or more
- Excellent command of ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint and Word)
- Fluency in English required
- Ability to travel to the field regularly
How to apply
Application documents: Curriculum Vitae, cover letter, samples of previous work (2MB max.)
Submit applications to: [email protected]; [email protected]
Deadline: 15th May, 2015
