ShelterBox Response Team Applications Open Until January 22nd

ShelterBox is made up of people who believe in shelter as a human right — that shelter from the chaos of disaster and conflict is vital. Right now, over 85 million people around the world have been made homeless by natural disasters and conflict. We’re working to change this by providing emergency shelter.

We don’t believe that one size fits all. We work hard to understand the impact of each emergency and the need this creates within individual communities.

We deliver aid to the four corners of the earth, reaching people in need by standing on strong shoulders. And we are fortunate to have the help of an amazing network of global affiliates, partners like Rotary International, supporters worldwide, and an army of dedicated volunteers. Our highly trained ShelterBox Response Teams then go the extra mile to find the people left most vulnerable after a disaster — to make sure that no one gets forgotten or left behind. In just sixteen years, ShelterBox has grown into a major force in international humanitarian aid.

Do you have the skills, personality and compassion to help us carryout our work? This is an exciting time at ShelterBox as we grow our reach and the impact of our work.

We are impatient to see a world where no family is left without shelter. Are you?

For this role we look to recruit volunteers who can commit long-term. Due to the needs of the charity and the cost to train our response teams, we hope that our volunteers are available to help ShelterBox for a period of five years by deploying twice each year for 3 weeks at a time.

This is not a short term introduction to humanitarian work.

Before applying, please read all the information below carefully in order to make an informed decision.

If you think you meet all the requirements and would like to volunteer with us, follow the link to the first stage of recruitment.

THE SHELTERBOX RESPONSE TEAM
Following a natural or manmade disaster, ShelterBox Response Teams undertake a crucial element of ShelterBox’s work — ensuring that emergency shelter and other humanitarian aid is delivered to families who need it most.

Overview
This is a mentally and physically demanding role, where team members are relied on to be excellent team workers, capable of making good decisions under pressure, able to develop and maintain good relationships with partners and community members, and able to work in locations with damaged/missing infrastructure, few facilities and communities experiencing severe trauma.

We deploy to disasters under challenging conditions; you will experience mental, physical and environmental pressures as a result and should be prepared for this. Becoming a response team member is a huge responsibility, but it can also be incredibly rewarding.

Time and commitment expected

For this role we look to recruit volunteers who foresee that they can commit long-term. Due to the needs of the charity and the cost to train our response teams, we hope that our volunteers are available to help ShelterBox for a period of five years.

During selection: The selection process comprises 6 stages; an online test, an application form, an online interview, a four-day residential selection course, some independent prelearning, and a nine-day residential pre-deployment training. The full recruitment timetable can be found below. You must be available to complete all stages of the recruitment process when you apply. If you cannot make a stage your application will not be able to proceed and will not be rolled-over to another year.

Once selected: Two three-week deployments (at short notice) every year. Broad availability throughout the year in which to make a deployment (for example, the ability to deploy for any three weeks in a six to eight week period) gives good flexibility.

Compulsory monthly training consists of a 1-hour webinar and knowledge check which can be completed any time in the month that it is set. Occasionally short residential courses may be offered.

Regular proactive involvement is expected in fundraising and awareness activities such as event support, giving talks, resource development, affiliate support, introducing potential new donors, managing donation boxes, etc.

Activities undertaken on deployment

Each deployment is unique, but response team members will likely undertake some or all of the following each time. Training will be provided.

• Play an active role in delivering your agreed actions as part of a wider team and longer-term response.
• Understand, plan and act in accordance with the specific social, political, economic, security and humanitarian sector context.
• Effectively and appropriately engage a range of key groups including individuals and communities affected by disaster, local service providers, other international non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, local officials, government officials, and military personnel.
• Establish and/or carry out temporary in-country administrative office functions.
• Organize local logistics, including customs clearance, identifying appropriate consignees, onward travel for people and equipment, local storage.  Undertake needs assessments using primary and secondary sources.
• Undertake site assessments.
• Plan ethical and safe distributions.
• Deliver equipment demonstrations to beneficiaries and partners.
• Negotiate access to land, people and resources.
• Analyse and exercise good judgement in challenging situations in the absence of specific guidance.
• Maintain focus on delivery of timely and appropriate results using available resources.
• Collect, record and report on monitoring information and feedback.
• Collect, produce and submit content (images, stories and information) to support ShelterBox’s donor and publicity accountability and communications.
• Engage with the media by providing (agreed) local and international interviews.
• Support deployment coordination in the field or from headquarters as required.
• Adhere to ShelterBox procedures and protocols at all times.
• Take part in post-deployment debriefs covering personal development and welfare.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Our diverse group of volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and a variety of countries but what they have in common is their availability, their passion for what we do, their capacity to deliver a variety of tasks in potentially unfavourable conditions, and most importantly the excellent way in which they approach and deal with their work.

Availability — this is essential. Please see above for details; you must be available to complete all stages of the recruitment process and meet the in-role time requirements too. We are looking for long-term commitment. Please do not apply if you are not able to meet all of the requirements.

Behavioural competencies — these are the headings under which we consider practical deployment suitability during the residential assessment.

• Self-awareness
• Communication
• Working collaboratively
• Achieving results
• Acting in pressured and uncertain environments
• Decision making and judgement
• Vision and action

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Demonstrate international, cultural and political awareness in order to treat others with respect and work successfully.
• Fluent in oral and written English.
• Proven experience of delivering work on time, working with little supervision, and providing effective decision making under pressure and in complex environments.
• Experience of working effectively as part of a team.
• Experience of travel or work outside of Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Desirable

• Fluency in another language.
• Experience in leading groups, meetings, volunteers.

Skills

Essential

• Able to swim 50m unaided and fully clothed.
• Have strong ICT skills; be familiar with Microsoft Office and comfortable learning modern communications technology, such as GPS, phone apps, smart phones and tablets.
• Able to work with colleagues, the public and external partners at all levels.
• Able to listen sensitively to others’ points of view or experience and take a balanced view.
• Able to speak publically and present appropriately to varied audiences.
• High degree of accuracy in written and numerical work as well as the ability to write reports and reconcile expenses.
• Comfortable working with changing information and scenarios to make decisions and take responsibility.

Desirable

• Knowledge of coaching and mentoring styles.
• Understanding of the need for monitoring and evaluation activities.

Other — essential
ShelterBox takes the physical and psychological welfare of its staff and volunteers seriously. We often send staff and volunteers to insecure and challenging environments. While we seek to minimize the danger, please be aware that there is an inherent risk involved in this activity.

In the final stages of recruitment, applicants will be required to pass a fitness to deploy assessment (covering physical and mental health) linked to ShelterBox’s safety and security assistance provider. Successful applicants will also be required to apply for and pass a basic police background check relevant to their country.

RECRUITMENT TIMETABLE 2017
You must be available to complete all stages of the recruitment process when you apply. If you cannot make a stage your application will not be able to proceed and will not be rolled-over to another year.

Role: Response Team member
After the close of each stage applicants will be informed whether or not they have successfully progressed to the next round.

Stage 1: Online test
Dec 1st (2016) — Jan 22nd

Stage 2: Application form submission
Jan 23rd — Feb 15th

Stage 3: Online interviews
Mar 1st — Mar 31st

Stage 4: 4-day residential assessment*; you must be available for one of the following; expenses are not covered
May 8th — 11th, Truro, UK
May 15th-18th, Truro, UK
May 26th — 29th, Brisbane, Australia
Jun 5th — 8th, Toronto, Canada

Stage 5: Online pre-learning (approximately 12 hours over this period)
July 1st — Oct 1st

Stage 6: Pre-deployment residential training*; all expenses are covered
Oct 27th — Nov 5th, Truro, UK

*Candidates will camp in ShelterBox tents as this can be required on deployment. Please do not purchase camping equipment especially for this event; we recommend borrowing equipment at this point if you do not have it. If you have no other access, please contact us as some equipment may be available to borrow depending on the event location. Experience of camping is not required to apply.

BEFORE APPLYING

Please ensure that you have read and understood this information pack thoroughly and that you meet all of the requirements.

Ensure you are available for a long-term commitment.

Find out more about what we do, how we do it and what life is really like on deployment, see our series of short films (1–5 minutes each) on our Youtube Channel.

HOW TO APPLY
Once you have thoroughly read the above information, the online test for Stage 1 can be found at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WL7Z3NZ.

Applicants will be notified after January 22nd, 2017 whether or not they have successfully progressed to the next round.