Job Details:

• Organization: Yemen Red Crescent Society “YRCS” – Hodeidah Branch 
• Job Title: Shelter Assistant
• Duty Station: Hodeidah Governorate
• Reporting To: Project Officer
• Duration of Assignment: 9 Months with possibility of extension 
• Terms of employment: Employment is full time according to YRCS guidelines 
• Application Deadline: 23/04/2026

Organizational Context

The Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRCS) is a humanitarian organization established by Republican Decree No. (15) of 1970. The northern and southern branches of the YRCS were unified in 1993 into a single national society. It was recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1982 and joined the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement the same year.
YRCS operates across all governorates of Yemen and enjoys unique and widespread community acceptance for delivering humanitarian services to the most vulnerable. Its humanitarian approach aims to build community resilience during and after disasters. With support from international partners and local communities, YRCS has strengthened its core functions and operational capacity to improve efficiency and deliver effective humanitarian and relief operations throughout Yemen.

Role Summary

Shelter Assistant supports the planning, delivery, and quality assurance of shelter interventions by conducting assessments, supervising distributions and construction, managing shelter materials, engaging communities, and maintaining accurate documentation to ensure safe, dignified, and context appropriate shelter solutions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Assessment and Beneficiary Targeting

• Visit households to complete standardized shelter assessment forms; record structural damage, household composition, vulnerabilities, and immediate needs.
• Cross check assessment data against targeting criteria; perform spot checks and home visits to confirm information.
• Produce simple maps and lists of prioritized households; update beneficiary registries and flag protection concerns for referral.
• Ensure assessment data is complete, legible, and uploaded to the central database within agreed timelines.

Distribution and Construction Support

• Prepare distribution schedules, beneficiary notification lists, and site layouts; coordinate with logistics and security for safe delivery.
• Supervise construction teams and skilled labor during all construction stages; ensure adherence to technical drawings and safety measures.
• Use checklists to inspect works at each milestone; document defects and request corrective actions before approving next payments.
• Demonstrate safe construction techniques and maintenance practices to beneficiaries; run short practical sessions on tool use and hazard prevention.

Materials Management and Tracking

• Verify incoming shelter materials against packing lists; record quantities, batch numbers, and any damages.
• Prepare material issuance forms, ensure beneficiaries sign for items, and update stock records immediately after distribution.
• Monitor temporary storage at sites, ensure materials are protected from weather and theft, and coordinate returns or redistribution of unused items.
• Report shortages or losses promptly and support investigations into discrepancies.

Community Engagement and Complaints Handling

• Facilitate meetings to explain shelter modalities, selection criteria, and timelines; document community feedback and suggestions.
• Operate or support the local complaints and feedback mechanism; log complaints, investigate, and follow up to resolution within agreed SOPs.
• Identify potential tensions related to targeting or resource allocation and propose mitigation measures to program staff.
• Produce simple, accessible information materials (posters, flyers) in local languages about assistance processes.

Reporting and Documentation

• Maintain daily site visit logs, beneficiary sign in sheets, and photo documentation.
• Contribute to weekly shelter progress reports, including completed units, materials issued, and outstanding actions.
• Ensure all beneficiary files, consent forms, and technical documents are filed securely and in line with data protection protocols.
• Document implementation challenges and practical lessons for inclusion in post distribution reviews.

Coordination and Safety

• Liaise with logistics, protection, MEAL, and finance teams to resolve operational challenges and ensure smooth implementation.
• Monitor contractor performance, verify attendance of skilled labor, and escalate non performance to the project officer.
• Support the development of contingency plans for weather, security, or supply disruptions and implement immediate mitigation actions when needed.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Diploma or certificate in civil engineering, architecture, or a related technical field.
• Minimum 2 years of practical experience in shelter programs, construction supervision, or community housing projects; prior humanitarian field experience is an advantage.
• Familiarity with shelter standards (Sphere), basic structural concepts, safe construction practices, and simple bill of quantities.
• Competence in using mobile data collection tools, basic Excel or Google Sheets.
• Willingness to travel frequently to field sites, sometimes in remote or insecure locations, and to work flexible hours during distributions.
• Experience in community engagement, complaints handling, or beneficiary selection processes; basic numeracy for material quantification.
• Fluent in Arabic; and good command of English.

Competencies and Personal Attributes:

• Meticulous in inspections, record keeping, and following technical specifications to ensure quality and safety.
• Clear communicator able to explain technical information to non technical beneficiaries and to produce concise field reports.
• Culturally sensitive, patient, and able to build trust with beneficiaries, contractors, and community leaders.
• Resourceful and pragmatic in resolving on site issues, delays, and material shortages with limited resources.
• Honest, reliable, and committed to transparent processes, safeguarding, and protection principles.
• Able to work under pressure, adapt to changing conditions, and maintain composure in stressful environments.
• Cooperative team member who can also take initiative, coordinate small teams, and mentor less experienced staff.
• Proactive about enforcing safety measures, recognizing hazards, and promoting safe working practices among workers and beneficiaries.
• Empathetic to beneficiary needs, committed to dignity and inclusion, and responsive to feedback and complaints.