Are you looking for an exciting professional opportunity with one of the world’s largest NGOs? Do you have extensive experience in Shelter and Settlements programming, particularly in emergencies and fragile settings and contexts of displacement? Are you skilled at integrating Shelter and Settlements interventions with other sectors and implementing large scale Infrastructure programs, and ensuring holistic solutions for affected populations?

Who are we?

DRC has recently established a new Core Sector Unit globally, combining Shelter & Settlements, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Infrastructure programming into one new team, with the objective of supporting conflict- and displacement-affected populations to transition from reliance on external assistance toward sustainable self-reliance. As crises become increasingly complex and protracted—exacerbated by climate shocks, conflict, and urbanization—ensuring access to safe shelter, water, sanitation, and basic infrastructure has never been more critical.

DRC’s approach goes beyond emergency relief to ensure dignified, sustainable access to essential services throughout the displacement cycle. We support the development of risk-informed, inclusive, and climate-resilient settlements that reduce protection risks (such as gender-based violence and disease outbreaks), prevent secondary displacement, and enable long-term recovery. From emergency WASH access and shelter assistance to climate-adaptive infrastructure and sustainable settlement planning, DRC’s work promotes dignity, safety, and resilience for displaced communities.

About the job

The Global Shelter & Settlements, and Infrastructure Advisor is a core member of the Core Sector team and placed in the Sectors & Thematic Areas team, responsible for supporting to establish the sector within the organization. The role provides high-quality technical advisory support leading the integration of Shelter, Settlements and Infrastructure across core sectors and driving the development of harmonised, sustainable approaches that respond to the needs of affected populations. The key responsibilities include:

• Providing guidance, expertise, and quality assurance on sectoral aspects of country strategies, programmatic initiatives, and projects.
• Contributing to and coordinating global evidence-based learning and capacity building initiatives
• Functioning as primary technical focal point for sectoral staff at the country level
• Playing a key role in resource mobilization, external representation, policy development, and innovation

The responsibilities of the Global S&I Advisor can be divided into three broader categories: 1) Strategic leadership & Integration, 2) Technical guidance and capacity strengthening, and 3) Program Quality & Monitoring, as detailed below: –

Strategic Leadership & Integration: Lead the development and implementation of integrated S&S sector strategies, aligning them with broader organizational priorities such as WASH; Economic Recovery, Protection, Humanitarian Disarmament & Peacebuilding, and Climate & Environment. The role includes supporting quality assurance and learning in line with the Program Quality Framework, including technical capacity assessments, technical quality assurance and capacity building efforts through in person and remote methods. In addition, the roles includes collaboration with fundraising and business development teams, leading fundraising efforts and the development of concept notes, proposals, technical annexes, and donor engagement materials.

Technical guidance, capacity strengthening & learning: Enhance Shelter and Settlements capacities of country and regional level staff, partners, and other stakeholders as well as facilitate cross-country learning through training, workshops, knowledge sharing, and development/maintenance of resource materials and tools.

Program Quality & Monitoring: provide technical support, assess program quality, and ensure the alignment of implementation of Shelter and Settlements and Infrastructure activities according to global standards and DRC strategic priorities. This includes gathering effective data collection, analysis, reporting, and documentation for all S&S-related activities, including lessons learned and providing actionable recommendations to inform for future programming, advocacy, and decision-making.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have significant experience with international humanitarian and/or development organisations, and significant demonstrable experience working on S&S programming. All employees should master DRC”s core competencies: Communicating, Taking the Lead, Collaborating, Striving for Excellence and Demonstrating Integrity. Moreover, we expect the following:

Experience:

• Master”s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or a related field.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of professional experience in the Shelter and Settlements sector, with at least 5 years in senior roles focusing on integrated programming in diverse humanitarian or development settings (preferably in contexts of forced displacement including in fragile and conflict-affected locations)
• Significant and demonstrable experience in providing high quality in-person and remote strategic and technical advice, quality assurance and supervision to country programmes or operations, across the project/programme cycle, including strong ability to apply a theory of change approach.
• Strong understanding of construction quality standards and infrastructure contract management
• Demonstrated expertise in building design, construction oversight, settlements planning, site development, and upgrading in low-resource environments and familiar with climate resilience programming
• Strong understanding of construction quality standards and infrastructure contract management.
• Experience in designing and implementing large-scale, multi-sectoral projects with an emphasis on cross-sector integration.
• Strong understanding of S&S humanitarian frameworks, standards and guidelines and knowledge of relevant global policy debates, recent trends and developments in research, evidence, and programme innovation
• Experience in resource mobilization, including developing successful proposals and concept notes for the S&S sector both for emergency and longer-term integrated programs.
• Demonstrable experience working in complex institutional environments – and developing close working relationships remotely, and internally.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Fluent in English (additional languages, such as French, Spanish, or Arabic, are highly desirable).
• Strong knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodologies and learning frameworks
• Demonstrable capacity building skills – including specifically with design and facilitation of impactful and contextually-adapted trainings and workshops
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, including concise writing/drafting, and the ability to engage and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including donors, coordination mechanisms, governments, and partner organizations.
• Ability to work independently as part of a small team, and form close working relationships with a diverse range of colleagues
• Strong leadership, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• A commitment to gender equality, sustainability, and inclusive programming
• Adaptive, and solutions-oriented to thrive in dynamic and challenging environments.
• High degree of flexibility; willingness to deploy at short notice, to insecure environments, and to operate in a physically demanding working environment

Desired

• Additional certifications in Shelter & Settlements & WASH, project and contract management, or disaster management are highly desirable.
• Knowledge of climate-resilient design, low-carbon construction, and environmentally sustainable approaches.
• Experience in designing S&S solutions that address both immediate and long-term needs in emergency and development contexts.
• Familiarity with digital tools for monitoring and reporting in Shelter programming, including GIS, mobile data collection, and other software.

We offer

Contract length: Permanent

Workplace: Preferably in Danish Refugee Council’s headquarters in Lyngbyvej 1000, 2100 Østerbro, Copenhagen (just by Ryparken station). Other DRC offices may be considered but will be subject to further discussions.

Start date: Mid-February or as soon as possible thereafter

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the agreement between DRC and AC (if the position is in Denmark).

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter, an updated CV in English as well as a degree certificate.

Closing date for applications: 7th January 2026. We expect to conduct interviews during January 2026.

Shelter & Settlements, WASH & Infrastructure (SWI) [email protected]. For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.