Location:

Budapest, Hungary
Salary:

negotiable / YEAR
Job type:

INTERN
Posted:

5 months ago
Category:

Administration, Infrastructure, Urban and Rural Development
Deadline:

09/08/2024

JOB DESCRIPTION

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, is mandated to protect and assist men, women and children forced to flee their homes due to violence, conflict or persecution. UNHCR is dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced and stateless people. The Agency provides protection, shelter, food, water, medical care and other life-saving assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers around the world.

The dream of most refugees is to return home. If and where possible, UNHCR helps refugees make this dream a reality. When refugees cannot go back home, we work to find solutions for them, to rebuild their lives in another country. Since its formation by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950, UNHCR has helped millions of refugees restart their lives and has received the Nobel Peace Prize twice.

JOB SUMMARY

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Internship

Target Start Date

2024-08-19

Job Posting End Date

August 9, 2024

Terms of Reference

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time internship with the Global Infrastructure Section (GIS) of the Global Mobility and Infrastructure Service (GMIS) under the Division of Financial and Administrative Management (DFAM) at UNHCR Global Service Center in Budapest, Hungary.

Established in December 1950, UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for asylum seekers, refugees, returnees, internally displaced communities and stateless people.

Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. UNHCR currently operates in over 130 countries, using its long expertise to protect and care for millions.

Title: Architecture Intern

Duty Station: Budapest, Hungary

Duration: 6 months

Contract Type: Internship

Closing date for application:

Start date: ASAP

Organizational context

The Global Infrastructure Section is one of the four pillars of the Global Mobility and Infrastructure Service (GMIS) within the Division of Financial and Administrative Management (DFAM).

The main objective of the Section is to ensure centrally coordinated office facilities management and to provide engineering services to all UNHCR operations, enabling sustainable, equitable and healthy workspaces that meet the needs of staff.

As part of the Section, the Global Facilities Support Team in Budapest provides technical expertise in engineering, guidance on property acquisition and leasing of premises, and facilities management as well as monitoring and recording of UNHCR’s network of field offices.

Position overview

The Global Infrastructure Section (GIS) has identified 150 office locations with high potential for improvement in the physical attributes of the buildings. The objective is to upgrade these UNHCR offices from non-compliant to compliant with basic standards for physical accessibility.

The Architecture Intern will support the operationalization of the Global Access Project (GAP) for UNHCR offices of various types and sizes around the world, including those in emergency contexts.

Benefits

During the internship the incumbent will acquire the following:

In-depth knowledge of UNHCR’s mandate, programs, and activities at HQ and in the field.

Insights into GIS strategy for improving the working environment of colleagues in UNHCR office premises globally.

Experience in coordination, technical consultation, information collection, and report drafting.

Duties and responsibilities

As part of the Global Infrastructure Section, the incumbent will support the Global Access Project through:

Assessment and Planning:

Conduct remote assessments of the physical accessibility of 150 identified UNHCR office locations.

Develop plans for addressing identified deficiencies to bring these offices into compliance with basic accessibility standards.

Implementation Support:

Assist in the coordination and implementation of small-scale physical improvements across various sites.

Ensure that proposed modifications are practical, cost-effective, and in line with project goals.

Collaboration and Reporting:

Work closely with the GIS team to verify the locations and specific accessibility issues of the identified offices.

Prepare detailed reports on the progress of the improvements, including before-and-after assessments.

Standards and Compliance:

Ensure all modifications adhere to UNHCR’s standards for physical accessibility.

Stay updated on relevant accessibility regulations and best practices to inform project activities.

Administrative Tasks:

Provide necessary support, including administrative assistance to the team’s staff.

Assist the team in advocating for Global Infrastructure Section initiatives.

Adapt areas of work during the internship to better fit your interests and the Section’s needs.

Area of work may be adapted during the internship to better fit the intern’s interests and profile and the Section’s needs.

Eligibility

Recent graduate (those who completed their studies within one year of applying) or current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by UNESCO; and

Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant to the Organization’s work.

Please note that candidates who have immediate relatives (father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or sister) working as staff members, including a Temporary Appointment holder or a member of the Affiliate Workforce of UNHCR are not eligible.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of full vaccination, independently of contract type and duration, unless the candidate is based in a location with documented lack of access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Desirable qualifications and skills

We are looking for a driven, resourceful, and enthusiastic individual with an interest in architecture or a related field. The ideal candidate should thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Education: Degree or specific studies in Architecture, Interior Design, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or other closely related fields.

Language Skills: Excellent oral and written English skills are required. Working knowledge of a second UN official language is an asset.

Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with accessibility standards and regulations.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in creating content, templates, and presentations using the MS Office suite and other relevant software.

Software Proficiency: Familiarity with AutoCAD or similar software.

Organizational Skills: Strong organizational and project management abilities.

Personal Attributes: Accountability, effective communication, teamwork and collaboration, commitment to continuous learning, client and result orientation skills.

Conditions

It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 9.00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday (40 hours per week). The successful candidate will be assigned to support the team in GSC Budapest, Hungary.

Allowance: Interns who do not receive financial support from an outside party will receive an allowance to partially help to cover the cost of food, local transportation and living expenses.

How to apply

Interested applicants should submit their application through www.unhcr.org/careers.html click on vacancies and search for JR2445984

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.

Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training.

We welcome applications from candidates with a refugee or stateless background.