MidFull TimeENEurope
Deadline for Applications
May 10, 2026Hardship Level
E (most hardship)Family Type
Non Family with Residential LocationDanger PayResidential location (if applicable)
Budapest, HungaryGrade
GS6Staff Member / Affiliate Type
General ServiceReason
Regular > Regular AssignmentTarget Start Date
2026-05-01Standard Job Description
Shelter Associate
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Shelter Associate provides support in carrying out comprehensive sectoral needs assessments in liaison with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, public health, WASH, administration and supply. To ensure the most effective response, both quantitative and qualitative data should be gathered on the profile/needs and living conditions of both the displaced population and host community. The incumbent will assist in the day to-day operations of all construction and general infrastructure projects within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) to ensure that works proceed as designed and comply with established standards and procedures for the full project cycle.
Close and regular contact is maintained with technical and non-technical staff of shelter sector members, national and international NGOs and Government Authorities. The Shelter Associate normally reports to a more senior shelter colleague.
The incumbent assists the supervisor in ensuring that shelter & infrastructure responses within the AoR evolve according to the changing nature of the situation, progressively working towards more durable solutions and drawing from sustainable local building practices and materials. S/he provides technical assistance in general infrastructure planning, design and construction monitoring.
Within an urban context, it is essential that shelter responses take into consideration urban planning strategies, including an analysis of residential areas, housing affordability and availability. In addition, regardless of the context, shelter assistance should at all times minimize the risk of harm, eviction, exploitation and abuse, overcrowded living conditions, limited access to services and unhygienic conditions. Special attention must be given to the environment and low carbon approaches, attention to material selection through sustainable means to ensure a green approach to shelter delivery.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
Technical Guidance
- Assist in carrying out shelter needs assessments while liaising with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, WASH, administration and supply.
- Work with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the shelter beneficiary selection process prioritises the needs of the most vulnerable Persons of Concern (PoC).
- Assist the supervisor in developing and updating shelter strategies to reflect evolving situations and ensure alignment with national and global level policies and guidelines including: Global Compact on Refugees, Sustainable Development Goals, Relevant Global Strategies and Policies.
- Provide support in the daily management of all construction and infrastructure projects within the AoR ensuring that works are carried out in compliance to established UNHCR and national standards/best practices for the full project cycle.
- Follow up the design and construction of infrastructure (schools, health centres, reception centres, drainage and roadworks etc) to confirm these are approved by the relevant authorities, technically sound, supplemented with accurate drawings, detailed BQs and specifications and implemented according to plans, completed within designated timelines, budget and ensure that this information is shared with relevant colleagues.
- Work closely with other relevant sectors such as WASH, education and health so that shelter and infrastructure implementation is synchronised and coordinated.
- Assist implementing partners on sound technical shelter and settlement issues while ensuring compliance with national and global standards, national and operational strategies and guidance.
- Coordination
- Provide technical support in the field of shelter, construction and infrastructure development within the AoR to best meet the needs of PoC.
- Assist in coordination and management of UNHCR's shelter and infrastructure interventions in a timely, cost-effective, inter-sectoral manner. Work with the government and relevant authorities and counterparts to ensure strong coordination and partnership.
- Participate, as technical focal point within the AoR for shelter/infrastructure, in coordination meetings with various stakeholders including Government counterparts to ensure UNHCR's interests and those of the PoC are adequately reflected and disseminate information to all stakeholders in a timely, efficient manner.
Collaboration
- Assist Programme in reviewing technical components of the Project Partnership Agreements that contain any construction and infrastructure projects.
- Actively work with Programme as a member of the Multi-Functional Team in the Operation and regularly participate in multi-sectoral activities to ensure protection and assistance needs of the population are met.
- Provide support in the preparation of bid documents for all construction and infrastructure projects including technical specifications, BoQs, drawings, etc.
- Assist in the technical evaluation of received bids as well as in the review/inspection of the quality of shelter and infrastructure products/works.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Civil Engineering; Architecture
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of SPHERE standards and the ability to use basic survey equipment, digital cameras, and computer equipment. Experience in developing shelter and settlement need assessments and undertaking gap analysis for development of shelter programs.
Desirable
Knowledge of UNHCR shelter standards, as well as standards related to protection, environment and land use. Knowledge of a range of shelter assistance options, including sensitivity to cultural and gender specific needs to ensure that the social and cultural background of PoC is taken into account while designing and developing shelter options. Knowledge of computer graphics, AutoCAD and mapping software as well as the capacity to use mapping tools (GPS), and digital photographic equipment, and related software (map info etc.).
Functional Skills
SP-CAD 3D modeling for Settlement Analysis (eg. Infraworks, Civil 3D)
CO-Drafting and Documentation
SP-Shelter and Infrastructure Coordination
IT-Computer Assisted Design Software (e.g. AutoCAD)
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile
Essential:Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
English,
Ukrainian,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/travel
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been present in Ukraine since 1994 and substantially increased its presence and response after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The geographical presence within Ukraine has significatively expanded to deliver the emergency response. The country office is located in the capital, Kyiv, and sub- and field offices are currently located in Dnipro, Kyiv, L’viv, Odesa and Kharkiv.
The war in Ukraine has caused death and suffering on a dramatic scale. In 2026, with an estimated 10.8 million people in need, humanitarians aim to reach 4.1 million of the most vulnerable, prioritizing those experiencing the most severe conditions. Some 3.7 million people are internally displaced, while around 5.9 million refugees from Ukraine are recorded across Europe and beyond. Some 75,000 people, including some of the most vulnerable, notably older people and people with disabilities, live in collective sites spread across the country. Ukraine also hosts asylum-seekers and refugees and is home to thousands of people who are stateless or at risk of statelessness.
The massive destruction of civilian infrastructure, with the energy sector being particularly targeted has made life extremely challenging for millions of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and has severely disrupted access to electricity, water, heating as well as critical services, including healthcare, education and social protection. Humanitarian access continues to be hampered, particularly in frontline areas as well as to areas under temporary occupation of the Russian Federation. Civilians remain exposed to serious risks to their physical security and integrity, particularly in eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. The risk of GBV, including sexual violence, continues to prevail, alongside family separations, loss of housing and properties, as well as identity and civil documentation. Populations displaced or otherwise affected by the war live in situations of deprivation, following the loss or damage of their housing, loss of income, and often become dependent on an overstretched social protection system.
The Government of Ukraine maintains a strong lead role in responding to the needs of its population and UNHCR supports the Government and its central and local institutions to provide protection, shelter/housing, cash and in-kind assistance to displaced and other people impacted by the war. Currently, UNHCR has MOUs with four-line ministries, the Pension Fund of Ukraine, the First Lady’s foundation as well as the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), 20 regional state administrations and agreements with 12 partners to deliver assistance and support the localization of the response. Under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, UNHCR operates as part of the Inter-agency humanitarian response, working in close coordination with local authorities and humanitarian partners. UNHCR is leading two Clusters - Protection and Shelter and NFI Cluster, including the multi-sectoral coordination in transit centers and collective sites. The strategic orientation of UNHCR’s response is to reach people, particularly those with specific vulnerabilities, who remain in frontline and heavily affected areas with immediate relief while supporting displaced people and those who have remained in their homes, or returned, with protection advice, housing support, livelihoods advice and cash assistance to enable their recovery and attainment of durable solutions.
Protection needs to be truly at the center of this response, as the highest critical needs of the population caused by the international armed conflict are in the area of protection. Since Ukraine is a highly sophisticated country with a strong government leadership and well-established administrative, social protection and digital systems, it is essential to design and deliver UNHCR’s protection programs in a way which simultaneously addresses immediate needs and supports the further development of sustainable and inclusive national protection systems.
With the EU having voted to confirm Ukraine’s accession to the EU at the end of 2023, Ukraine will also embark on a series of substantial and long-term reforms in numerous sectors, including justice and home affairs, which presents an opportunity to contribute to strengthened and more inclusive protection, asylum and statelessness reduction systems. Working closely with government authorities, local community representatives and partners from the embassies, UN, civil society and international financial institutions, amongst others, is thus key to ensuring that UNHCR’s response is closely aligned with and complementary of national and local strategies and recovery plans.
As the war continues, new urgent humanitarian needs are created every day, alongside protracted ones and peoples’ and communities’ efforts to recover and rebuild their lives in war-torn communities. Among the IDPs and refugees from Ukraine, the majority express a hope and desire to return to their homes as soon as the security situation allows. The protection needs of the population thus need to be analyzed and addressed both from a humanitarian as well as from an early recovery and durable solutions perspective, with UNHCR playing a leading role in this work.
Shelter Custer East Hub is covering Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Luhanska, and Zaporizka Oblasts, and is led by UNHCR. Given the proximity to the frontline, partners and local authorities are responding to daily incidents of damages to residential property that require interventions for state compensation and humanitarian repairs in addition to evacuations from settlements close to the frontline. The Shelter Associate fulfils the role of technical coordinator in East Hub and reports to the Shelter Cluster East Hub Coordinator while working closely with the Assistant Shelter Cluster Coordinator and the Information Management Associate. As a technical coordination function, the Shelter Associate provides support to partners by supporting them with the implementation of Shelter Cluster Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines. The Shelter Associate regularly deploys to the field to conduct monitoring visits of relevant Shelter Cluster activities particularly for Humanitarian Repairs and Collective Centre Rehabilitation and supports partners with the coordination of these activities. The Shelter Associate therefore provides recommendations to the East Hub Shelter Cluster Coordinator and the National Cluster on Shelter Cluster Standard Operating Procedures and guidance to ensure that they align with partners’ programming and address challenges at field level. The Shelter Associate also is responsible for supporting and training of cluster partners and authorities on the use of the SIDAR platform which is the main tool to support the coordination of these interventions. The Shelter Associate is expected to regularly liaise with Shelter Cluster partners and local authorities to support their use of the platform and also facilitate the referral of any gaps in the humanitarian response to support in the scale up of partners to the situations.
Ukraine is currently designated as a non-family country location, with Dnipro and Kharkiv classified as “E” duty stations with 4-week R&R cycle, whereas Kyiv, Odesa and Lviv are classified as “D” duty station with 6-week RR Cycle and Budapest being a designated R&R location for all duty stations. English is not widely spoken, access to hard currency is possible from local banks (rents are normally paid in USD). International staff rent private apartments in the cities of their duty stations. The quality of life is of average European standard, with relatively solid infrastructure. However, the volatile security situation, which includes frequent missile and drone attacks that trigger air raid alarms, requiring immediate move to the shelters (frequently during nights) affects the living and working environment on everyday basis resulting with sleep deprivation, high levels of stress, affecting the staff welfare and wellbeing. In addition, due to massive attacks on the country’s critical infrastructure there are frequent and prolonged electricity cuts, coupled with lack of generators in private multistorey buildings and apartments, which may also affect elevators, heating, water, and possibly sewage systems, leading to an overall unpredictable and at times difficult living conditions, especially in winter. Due to the state of war, there is a country wide curfew in place from 00:00-05:00 every night. Also, all airports are closed, and air-traffic is not available, resulting in travel within and in and out from/to Ukraine being done mainly by car and trains, supported by official shuttle for Poland and Moldova border crossing. Average train ride combined with shuttle by road from Kyiv to Poland, Hungary or Moldova airports ranges from 11-17 hours with train tickets selling very quickly.
Security:
The war in Ukraine remains ongoing. Russian Federation (RF) Armed Forces continue to occupy Crimea and significant parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, with recent advances near Pokrovsk and deeper into Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Approximately 19% of Ukraine’s territory is under RF control.
The front line remains the primary zone of kinetic military operations, particularly in the east (Donetsk and Luhansk), southeast (Zaporizhzhia), and areas north of Kharkiv. Heavy fighting continues around Pokrovsk, where RF forces are attempting to encircle Ukrainian positions, and in Zaporizhzhia, where breakthroughs have occurred under cover of poor weather. RF forces are conducting large-scale missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, including the use of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and combat drones. These attacks increasingly target civilian areas and critical infrastructure, such as energy facilities, transport hubs, and residential buildings. Emergency power outages are now routine due to sustained strikes on the energy grid, creating severe hardship as winter sets in. Commercial air travel remains suspended, with road and rail as the only viable transport options.
Deliberate attacks on humanitarian convoys have occurred. On 14 October 2025, a clearly marked UN inter-agency convoy delivering aid to Bilozerka (Kherson region) came under artillery fire and drone strikes by RF forces. Two World Food Programme trucks were destroyed by drones, despite visible UN markings. Fortunately, no staff were injured, but this incident reflects a broader pattern of increased risk to humanitarian personnel. Since the full-scale invasion, humanitarian workers have faced violence, and some have been killed and injured in Ukraine, primarily in front-line areas. UN facilities and assets have also been damaged in strikes on urban centres, and humanitarian access remains severely constrained. Front-line shifts and intensified hostilities have led to extremely high access constraints in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and parts of Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts. Mines, UXOs, and ongoing military operations further restrict movement.
The UN Security Management System (UNSMS) continues to apply the Security Risk Management (SRM) process. Current risk levels range from High to Very High, and in some areas with active hostilities. Across all SRM areas where UNHCR operates, the projected risk level remains High. Applicants for positions in Ukraine must be prepared for a highly dynamic and hazardous security environment where unexpected events occur frequently. Key considerations: Air raids are frequent, requiring staff to shelter for extended periods. Power, heating, and water outages are common, especially during winter. Disruptions to essential services (shops, banks, restaurants) may occur. Curfews apply nationwide; private travel by international staff is prohibited. All mission travel requires authorisation and completion of mandatory BSAFE, SSAFE, and IFAK training, plus security clearance.
The UNHCR Field Security Unit (FSU) works closely with UNDSS and other UNSMS partners to ensure program delivery within acceptable risk parameters. Contingency planning remains critical to support UNHCR’s mandate of providing protection and assistance to people in need. Given the evolving operational and security environment, maintaining robust security preparedness is essential.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
CL-Cluster Information Management Tools, Resources and Approaches, CL-Modalities to meet shelter & household needs, e.g.in-kind distributions, tech advice, CL-Shelter and Settlement Implementation, CL-Shelter and Settlement Technical Guidelines and Standards, SP-Global Shelter Cluster Strategy, SP-Shelter and Infrastructure CoordinationEducation
Certifications
Architecture - Other, Civil Engineering - OtherWork Experience
Competencies
Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awarenessUNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Additional Information
Functional clearance
This position doesn't require a functional clearance
