Senior Specialist, Urban Programs
This position may be based in any of the following locations: Metro Manila, Philippines; Jakarta, Indonesia; Kathmandu, Nepal; or Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Candidates must be currently eligible to work in the country without sponsorship. The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract of 2 years that is subject to renewal depending on the availability of the funds, and a local country-based compensation package.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
I. Capacity Building and Knowledge Management in Urban Human Settlements Programming (35%)
- Design and deliver capacity-building initiatives to strengthen the technical skills of staff and partners in urban programming.
- Coordinate regional learning exchanges and communities of practice on urban issues. Coordinate an urban programs community of practice amongst committed NOs to review, adapt, and pilot new urban shelter/housing programming tools and models
- Support and advise NOs in the recruitment, orientation, and training of suitably qualified and experienced staff to implement urban shelter programs; provide ongoing support to those staff.
- Document and disseminate learnings, research material, case studies and programming resources throughout Asia-Pacific network to innovate and scale urban programming in the region.
- Support country offices in the adaptation of urban housing and settlement roadmaps tailored to specific country contexts within the Asia Pacific region; and ensuring its alignment to country strategies and the AP Regional Strategic Framework.
- Provide technical assistance to country offices in planning, designing, and implementing urban programs, including informal settlement upgrading, climate-resilient housing, tenure security, and inclusive urban planning.
- Work with the MEAL team of the Asia Pacific Regional Office and country offices to integrate indicators that will measure urban impact in the results measurement system;
- Support the development of scalable urban program models adapted to the different contexts in the Asia Pacific region.
- Advise NOs in translating strategic urban priorities into projects for implementation that deliver tangible impacts on the ground and provide input to project proposals and concept notes
- Drive the convening of key stakeholders to strategically position Habitat AP as a regional lead in addressing affordable housing issues particularly in an urban context.
- Act as a strategic link and focal point for regional urban programming, connecting NOs, Habitat’s Global Funding Network (GFN) offices and the urban community of practice for mutual support.
- Identify and support strategic partnerships that enable the achievement of holistic urban housing solutions that include community engagement, social transformation, governance, health, education, livelihoods, etc.
- Participate and actively contribute to appropriate Habitat forums, working groups and networks related to urban programs.
- Build, nurture and maintain strategic relationships with external actors at regional level (e.g. UN-Habitat, World Vision, prominent academic/research institutions) to contribute to organizational learning and build Habitat for Humanity’s credibility and influence in urban programs.
- Contribute to communication and change management processes to support implementation of Habitat AP’s Regional Strategic Framework as it relates to urbanization as a driver of housing deficit.
- Support the rollout of HFHI’s global urban initiatives.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in urban planning, architecture, development studies, housing policy, or related field
- Minimum of 5 years working experience programming urban settlements, pro-poor social or housing policy, or developing low-cost housing solutions in urban environments in the Asia Pacific context.
- At least two years of experience in designing and implementing urban interventions, especially in informal settlements, or low-income urban areas.
- Experience in capacity development, knowledge sharing, and partnership building.
- Experience in at least one of the tangential Habitat field of operations: housing finance or disaster resilience; housing advocacy; climate resilience
- Experience coordinating or working with other urban and policy actors such as the UN, World Bank, National Governments, the US Government, the EU, INGOs, and INGO coordinating bodies, etc.
- Knowledgeable in various models of urban interventions, continuum of land rights and tenure security, and urban human settlements planning.
- Strong understanding of global urban development frameworks such as the New Urban Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, and climate resilience framework.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Proficient in technical writing and report writing.
- Fluency in English is required
- Work experience in multiple Asia Pacific countries and ability to work in diverse cultural context.
- An understanding of key government housing related policies and governance systems particularly in an urban context in the Asia-Pacific region and/or countries.
- Ability to understand and speak at least one additional language spoken in the region.
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, is a global, Christian-based nonprofit organization that grew out of an intentionally multi-racial community in rural Georgia. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat brings together people of all faiths and people of no faith to build homes, communities and hope. Working alongside each other, we help families and individuals build and improve places to call home and achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Habitat seeks individuals who have a willingness to affirm these principles and values.
At Habitat for Humanity International, we are compelled by our Koinonia roots to put God’s love for all into action and pursue housing equity and opportunity by bringing all people together to build community and drive impact. We strive to build a culture rooted in learning, accountability and trust, attracting and retaining mission-driven talent reflective of the global communities we serve.
As an equal opportunity employer, we realize our success depends on courageously committing to being a workplace where all staff feel safe, welcome, visible, respected, supported and valued, and building a workforce that reflects a variety of lived experiences, backgrounds and perspectives, in which every person experiences dignity and respect.
We also require that all staff take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities (especially children) and all those with whom we work. In line with the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, all staff must pass a thorough background screening and will be held accountable to upholding our policies around ethical behavior, including safeguarding and whistleblowing.
