VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Issued on 14 December 2021

Functional title: Spatial/Urban Planner, with focus on Cultural Heritage
Duty station: Prishtina/Pristina with travel to the selected Municipalities (Prizren and Mitrovica)
Contract type: Service Contract
Duration of assignment: 12 working months (with possibility for extension)
Closing date for applications: 28 January 2022

Background

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the lead United Nations agency for cities and human settlements. The agency is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all and sustainable development. UN-Habitat has been actively assisting Kosovo institutions in the field of governance, spatial planning, and municipal administration since 1999. Currently UN-Habitat is implementing the Inclusive Development Programme (2016-2021+) which aims to build municipal planning and management capacities, strengthen the social contract and social cohesion, and enhance coordination within a framework of inter-municipal cooperation and multi-level governance with a view to foster inclusive development and good governance in northern Kosovo.

Within the Inclusive Development Programme, UN-Habitat has supported activities addressing cultural heritage issues from the spatial planning perspective in Municipal Development plans and Zoning Maps and have designed and implemented capital projects that have enhanced the cultural heritage values of respective places.

Building on its knowledge, tools and expertise, the UN-Habitat Kosovo Office provides at the demand of partners, strategic and comprehensive package of support. In that perspective, UN-Habitat Kosovo Office and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in Kosovo are collaborating on a list of activities relating to cultural heritage aiming to promote sustainable spatial development of Cultural heritage sites through integrated conservation, participatory processes and innovative planning and design methods used to balance interests and needs.

Purpose

The overall purpose of the position is to assist the Senior Spatial/Urban Planner in the day-to-day work on activities within the programme, with focus on Spatial Planning and Cultural Heritage. Specifically, the Spatial Urban Planner will be involved in field data collection/analysis processes, preparing the technical drawings, prepare maps and visualizations, assist writing the narrative sections of documents, assist the daily work with respective municipal planners, central level planners, civil society organizations and key stakeholders in drafting spatial/urban plans and policy documents as well as undertaking other interventions related to spatial/ urban planning, urban design and culture heritage.

Skill Sets Required

Selected skills will be required, among which: knowledge on spatial and urban planning; knowledge on cultural heritage; principles of sustainable development; local governance stakeholder and civil society participation; ability to collect, record and interpret data; knowledge of relevant planning and cultural heritage legislation in Kosovo; excellent technical drawing and visualization skills.

Main tasks

Under the general guidance and direct supervision of the Senior Spatial/Urban Planner the Spatial/Urban Planner will be responsible for:

1. Provide inputs for the formulation and drafting of Feasibility Studies, Spatial/Urban Developing or Managing Plans as applicable and the Urban Design project, as well as for related participatory processes.
2. Provide support for (field) research, data collection and required mapping and technical drawings.
3. Contribute to knowledge-management, communication and outreach activities of the programme, including writing posts and news for the website and social media, graphic design, etc.;
4. Provide logistical support for the organization of meeting, workshop, training and other events, including liaising with partners; and assist in the compilation of minutes from various meetings involving UN-Habitat Kosovo team;
5. Assist with translation and interpretation, both verbal and written, when required. Provide language quality checks of written materials.\
6. Provide logistical and administrative support and perform any other functions and tasks which may be required by the nature of the programme’s activities.
7. Provide monthly progress reports to the UN-Habitat Kosovo Head of Office and inputs to progress reports for the Prishtina/ Pristina office; and
8. Perform any other functions and tasks which may be required by the nature of the projects’ activities.

Duty Station

The work shall be performed from Prishtina/Pristina with travel to the selected municipalities. Transport to and from work will be the employee responsibility. Travel to other municipalities than the duty station will be covered by the project.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; – Ability to conduct data collection using various methods; – Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, among which electronic sources on the internet, intranet, and other databases; – Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; – Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; – Is willing to learn from others; – Places team agenda before personal agenda; – Supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; – Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; – Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; -Uses time efficiently. Communication: Excellent and effective written and oral skills; ability to persuade people with varying points of view and to present information in a concise and accurate manner, ability to clearly communicate links between the organizations.

Qualifications and requirements

Education and experience

• Advanced University Degree (Masters Level) or higher in the field of Architecture, Urban Planning, Culture Heritage, Urban Conservation or similar.
• Five years practical experience and technical expertise in related field;
• Knowledge of online communication, networking and collaboration tools;
• Experience in drafting talking points and presentations in support of meetings and workshops;
• Experience in data collection and analysis;
• Experience in conducting research, summarizing material and literature review;
• Excellent digital skills are required, incl. Microsoft Office, computer-aided design (CAD) i.e. AutoCAD or ArchiCAD, Geographic Information System (GIS Software) and other visualizing digital tools.

Language

• English is the working language of UN-Habitat Kosovo Office; a very good command of English is required – reading, writing, and speaking; and
• Fluency (reading, writing, and speaking) of at least one local language of Kosovo is required.

Others

• Good analytical, solution defining, creative and interpersonal skills;
• Knowledge and understanding of innovative participatory planning, urban design, integrated culture heritage approaches.
• Knowledge of online communication, networking and collaboration tools;
• Capable of working in a team and undertaking initiative to ensure smooth relations and open communication within the team and with partners, incl. local level, and other entities, etc.;
• Experience working with UN system is an advantage; and
• Valid driving license and the ability to obtain a UN driver’s license.

Special considerations
The candidate should be:

• Willing to take responsibility, act professionally at all times, and make sure tasks are fully completed.
• Be willing to work across the entire partner stakeholder’s geographical area, including temporary placements at other field offices;
• Sensitive to gender issues and issues of concern to vulnerable groups.
• Flexible and prepared to pursue goals through teamwork.
• Able to meet deadlines for reporting and all project work.
• Express enthusiasm and willingness to continue learning new skills and share experiences with other members of the team.
• Able to adapt to a multi-ethnic environment.