Senior Project Associate (Quality Assurance & MIS)

Vacancy Notice No: SVN#NP/08/24

Open to Internal and External Candidates

Position Title: Senior Project Associate (Quality Assurance & MIS)

Duty Station: Jajarkot or West Rukum district, Karnali Province, Nepal 

Classification: General Service Staff, Grade-6

Type of Appointment: Special Short Term, 6 months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: May 01, 2024

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Organizational Context and Scope

On 3 November 2023, Nepal’s deadliest earthquake since April 2015 struck Jajarkot District in Karnali Province in the west of the country. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake, which was followed by over 300 aftershocks, killed 154 (84 females and 70 males, including 81 children)2, injured 366, and displaced tens of thousands of people, forcing many to sleep outside in freezing overnight temperatures for fear of aftershocks. According to the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), approximately 62,011 households were damaged (completely and partially) and 250,000 people were affected (127,750 females and 122,250 males, including 69,575 children), with Jajarkot and Rukum West districts bearing the brunt of the damage. Despite the earthquake's relatively low magnitude, the high levels of damage and casualties were caused by substandard construction of homes and as it occurred at night when most people were asleep in their homes.

In February 2024, the Joint Recovery Action Plan: Western Nepal Earthquake was launched by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office Nepal with three pronged objectives 1) Support livelihoods and the continuation of basic service delivery 2) Create enabling environments for long term recovery and reconstruction of affected communities 3) support the current season and build resilience to natural shocks in 2024. Under the Joint Recovery UN Project, IOM is leading the Shelter Recovery interventions planned from May 2024 until January 2025. 

Under the guidance from Chief of Mission and overall supervision of the National Program Officer/Head MECR (Migration, Environment, Climate Change and Risk Reduction) and the direct supervision of the Shelter Expert, the successful candidate will be responsible provide expertise in Shelter and Settlements interventions to support the Jajarkot earthquake recovery operation.

Core Functions / Responsibilities

1. Assist to develop, design and establish quality assurance policies, procedures, and standards tailored to emergency shelter and settlement projects, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and best practices.
2. Assist to conduct Quality Audits and Inspections with better plan and execute regular audits and inspections of shelter construction, materials, and processes to verify compliance with quality standards and specifications. Prepare document findings and recommend corrective actions as needed.
3. Assist to Monitor and Evaluate Quality Metrics of project with defining key quality performance indicators (KPIs). Analyse data to identify trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities to enhance quality outcomes.
4. Assist to train project staff and partners on quality assurance principles, procedures, and tools. Support to ensure understanding and adherence to quality requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
5. Collaborate with project teams to identify opportunities for process improvement and innovation in shelter design, construction, and maintenance. Implement quality improvement initiatives based on lessons learned and feedback from stakeholders.
6. Support to design, develop, and implementation of Management Information Systems tailored to the needs of emergency shelter and settlement projects. 
7. Support in developing protocols and tools for collecting, processing, and analyzing project data, including shelter demographics, construction progress, and beneficiary feedback. Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and confidentiality throughout the information lifecycle.
8. Facilitate the exchange of information and data among project teams, partners, and stakeholders. Establish data sharing agreements and protocols to promote transparency, collaboration, and accountability in project implementation.
9. Implement measures to safeguard sensitive project information and ensure compliance with data protection regulations and organizational policies. Develop contingency plans for data backup, recovery, and security breaches. 
10. Support timely and accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting to support decision-making and accountability.
11. Assist in training GoN staff, and field staff on MIS usage and data management best practices with linkage of MIS & BIPAD portal.
12. Perform any duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field from accredited Institution with four years of relevant experience.

Experience

• Proven experience in quality assurance and quality control within the reconstruction sector, particularly in shelter projects or humanitarian contexts in Nepal.
• Strong knowledge of construction materials management, construction information management system techniques, and standards.
• Familiarity with relevant international quality standards and guidelines in shelter and CCCM.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in multicultural environments.
• Experience in integrating different data sources and formats into a cohesive MIS platform.
• Knowledge of data visualization techniques to present information in a clear and actionable manner.

Skills

• Computer literate (MS office, Advance MS-XLS, A-CAD, spreadsheet, database, and statistical packages, etc.);
• Database management systems (e.g., SQL, Oracle), familiarity of Monitoring and evaluation software is advantage. 
• Familiarity with engineering software for designing and assessing emergency shelters and settlements.
• Knowledge of relevant coding languages for data analysis and system development may be beneficial.

Languages

• Fluency in English and Nepali is required (oral and written).

Required Competencies

VALUES - All IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

CORE COMPETENCIES - Behavioural indicators – Level 2

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Other

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment. Only Nepali Nationals will be considered for this position.

How to apply:

Interested Candidates are requested to submit their application indicating clearly the position applied, VN number and CV with three references to the following address: Human Resource Department, International Organization for Migration, P.O. Box 25503, Lazimpat Road, Panipokhari, Kathmandu or email to iomnepaljobs@iom.int by 01 May 2024. Only short-listed candidates will be called for interview.

Posting period:

From 24.04.2024 to 01.05.2024