Infrastructure and Energy Advisor

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization established to assist people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and disaster. With a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff members, NRC operates in 40 countries worldwide, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people each year. The organization is committed to upholding the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, ensuring that they receive the support they need to rebuild their lives. NRC emphasizes a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering an environment where every employee is encouraged to share ideas and take responsibility for their work.

Job Overview:
The Infrastructure and Energy Advisor position is crucial for supporting the technical oversight and strategic development of NRC’s Shelter & Settlements program in Ukraine. This role involves expanding into new energy-related activities and providing infrastructure support. The advisor will be responsible for designing, reviewing, and implementing energy-efficient interventions that are informed by circular economy principles at both community and household levels. The focus will be on enhancing building performance, thermal efficiency, and integrating clean energy solutions. The advisor will also ensure that all interventions are technically sound, context-appropriate, scalable, and aligned with humanitarian and early recovery standards. Additionally, the role includes guiding field teams, reviewing technical documentation, drafting tools and SOPs, and building the capacity of staff and local partners.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The selected candidate will have a range of responsibilities, including providing technical leadership and quality improvement within NRC’s shelter and settlements programming. This involves ensuring technical oversight to guarantee the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of projects. The advisor will support the planning and scaling up of shelter and settlements programming based on a thorough understanding of technical, operational, and contextual requirements in Ukraine. They will contribute to identifying innovative, scalable, and sustainable approaches in humanitarian and early recovery contexts. The advisor will also ensure adherence to NRC policies, guidance, procedures, and humanitarian principles, including PSEA standards, and ensure compliance with Ukrainian regulations and organizational technical guidelines. Other responsibilities include contributing to fundraising efforts, developing and revising funding proposals, project design, budgets, and donor reports. The advisor will coordinate with other NRC Core Competency teams to ensure integrated and conflict-sensitive programming, draft and review SOPs, guidelines, and tools related to Shelter & Settlements infrastructure and energy, and engage regularly with area offices and program teams to monitor implementation quality and promote cross-learning. Furthermore, the advisor will provide technical capacity building and mentoring to program staff and local partners, document lessons learned, and liaise with local authorities and private sector actors relevant to the infrastructure and energy sectors.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in Energy Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, or related fields. A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience is required, particularly in humanitarian, early recovery, or complex emergency contexts within Shelter & Settlements programs. Demonstrated experience in energy-efficient building retrofitting, winterization, and infrastructure upgrading is essential, along with experience in managing medium to large-scale infrastructure and energy-focused projects. A strong understanding of project cycle management, risk management, quality assurance, and donor compliance in humanitarian programming is also necessary. Candidates should have excellent communication, coordination, and reporting skills, both written and oral, and must be fluent in spoken and written English and Ukrainian, with knowledge of Russian considered an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in relevant fields such as Energy Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, or other related disciplines. This foundational education is critical for understanding the technical aspects of the role and ensuring effective implementation of energy-efficient and sustainable interventions.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, particularly in contexts related to humanitarian aid, early recovery, or complex emergencies. Candidates should have a proven track record of managing or supporting medium to large-scale infrastructure and energy-focused projects, demonstrating technical oversight of budgets, procurement, and contractors. Experience working with local partners and municipalities is also essential, as is familiarity with partnership-led implementation and localization approaches.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory, as well as fluency in Ukrainian. Knowledge of Russian is considered an asset, enhancing communication capabilities within the local context and among diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position is Kyiv, Ukraine, with a contract duration until the end of 2026, with the possibility of extension. The role may require travel of up to 30% to field locations. The salary and benefits are classified under Grade 8 on NRC's grading structure. NRC is committed to being an equal opportunities employer, promoting diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability. The organization encourages innovative thinking and provides employees at all levels with opportunities to contribute ideas and take responsibility. Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Ukraine, as NRC is unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorships for this position. It is essential for applicants to attach copies of their academic and professional certificates, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.