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About the Organization
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the UN Refugee Agency, dedicated to protecting and assisting people forced to flee conflict, persecution, and disasters worldwide. Operating in over 130 countries, UNHCR ensures displaced populations have access to shelter, food, water, healthcare, and education while upholding their rights and dignity.

UNHCR’s work is grounded in professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity. The organization emphasizes career development, allowing staff to gain experience in planning, infrastructure, operations, and inter-agency coordination in complex humanitarian environments. Women and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply, reflecting UNHCR’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Job Description
The Site Planning Officer (SPO) plays a vital role in designing, managing, and coordinating settlement and infrastructure projects for humanitarian operations. This position ensures that settlements for forcibly displaced and stateless persons are developed sustainably, safely, and in line with technical and operational standards. Reporting to the Senior Field/Technical Coordinator or Senior Operations Manager, the SPO provides technical guidance, oversees settlement planning processes, and strengthens collaboration across UNHCR operations.

The role requires working closely with colleagues in protection, health, community services, WASH, education, energy, and environment, ensuring an integrated approach to settlement planning. The SPO also liaises with national and local government authorities, community leaders, and landlords to ensure settlements are compliant with regulations, secure, and culturally appropriate.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting site assessments and selecting locations based on protection concerns, national legislation, environmental considerations, and access to basic services.
• Designing settlement layouts that respond to natural topography, drainage patterns, and cost-effective construction practices.
• Ensuring equitable access to services for displaced populations and host communities, with a focus on inclusion of women, youth, elderly, and persons with specific needs.
• Collaborating with technical and programmatic teams to develop implementation modalities, work plans, and contingency strategies for population movements.
• Conducting risk assessments to minimize exposure to natural hazards such as flooding or landslides.
• Providing technical guidance to Programme teams on partner selection and reviewing partner project proposals related to construction and settlement infrastructure.
• Leading the development and implementation of Settlement Master Plans, ensuring periodic updates for settlement expansions and densification.
• Uploading technical information and updates to the Settlement Information Portal (SIP) and populating shelter dashboards with relevant data.
• Monitoring and evaluating settlement and infrastructure projects to ensure timely and budget-compliant completion.
• Supporting advocacy efforts to mobilize resources and integrating multi-sectoral priorities such as gender, environment, and human rights into planning and implementation.

Collaboration and Coordination

• Acting as the focal point for coordination with settlement sector working groups and other inter-agency structures.
• Ensuring a rights-based approach to planning, promoting community participation and sustainable solutions.
• Maintaining strong communication with the Shelter and Settlements Section at UNHCR Headquarters for technical advice, global tools, and resources.
• Producing reports and sharing information with stakeholders, including 4W reports, SIP updates, and site monitoring information.
• Supporting integration of UNHCR priorities with host community needs to promote peaceful coexistence.

Educational Qualification

• Undergraduate degree in Architecture, Urban Planning, Civil/Structural Engineering, or other relevant fields with 6 years of relevant experience, or
• Graduate degree with 5 years of relevant experience, or
• Doctorate degree with 4 years of relevant experience.

Work Experience

• Essential: Managerial and technical experience guiding specialist teams in emergency and protracted situations. Prior experience in humanitarian settlement planning or infrastructure projects. Proficiency with technical drawing software and GIS tools. Ability to produce technical plans, Bills of Quantities (BQ), and specifications. Experience in training and mentorship.
• Desirable: Advanced knowledge of shelter, settlement, and infrastructure sectors in humanitarian contexts. Experience with AutoCAD, GIS, and related planning tools.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Technical expertise in settlement planning, infrastructure development, and risk assessment.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and GIS for settlement design and mapping.
• Strong leadership, coordination, and project management skills.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Knowledge of environmental assessment, urban/rural planning, and natural resource management.
• Ability to monitor, evaluate, and report on integrated projects and programs.
• Commitment to UNHCR values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity.
• Strong collaboration skills across multiple sectors, partners, and government entities.

Job Location
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The position is a family duty station with a hardship level of B.

Employment Type and Salary
This is a full-time position under UNOPS IICA2. The salary and benefits are aligned with UNHCR’s professional staff regulations. The role offers extensive opportunities for professional growth in settlement planning, technical advisory, project management, and inter-agency coordination within humanitarian operations.

How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via the UNHCR recruitment platform. Only applications submitted through the platform will be considered. Applicants are not required to provide scanned certificates or attachments.

UNHCR encourages applications from women and underrepresented groups and promotes an inclusive, safe, and empowering workplace.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process.

Application Deadline
15 March 2026. Candidates are encouraged to apply early to ensure consideration.

Career Impact and Professional Growth
This position allows staff to make a tangible impact by designing sustainable, safe, and equitable settlements for displaced communities. The SPO contributes to operational efficiency, reduces risks, and strengthens the overall humanitarian response. Staff in this role gain hands-on experience in project planning, technical advisory, cross-sector coordination, and leadership in complex environments.

The position provides mentorship opportunities and exposure to innovative planning approaches, enabling career progression in UNHCR or other international humanitarian organizations. Staff can develop expertise in GIS, AutoCAD, infrastructure management, and multi-sectoral collaboration.

By joining UNHCR as a Site Planning Officer, staff will actively shape the living conditions of displaced populations, influence strategic decision-making, and help implement sustainable, resilient settlement solutions.

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