United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: QSAND Internship - Sustainability and Resilience in Post Disaster Reconstruction

Developed on behalf of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), QSAND is a community focused resilience and sustainability built environment tool aimed at promoting, benchmarking and informing sustainable approaches to relief, recovery and reconstruction before or following natural disasters. This 18 month project is focuses on application of QSAND as a tool to strengthen pre and post disaster community resilience.

We are looking for a bright enthusiastic postgraduate student with a strong interest in international development to with work with us, a range of aid agencies and local governments on a project to apply QSAND, a free to use sustainability and resilience tool focused on the built environment to a range of locations around the world. The project focuses on application of QSAND as a tool to strengthen pre and post natural disaster community resilience.

For more information on QSAND go to: www.qsand.org

Responsibilities will include:

• Support and where relevant lead research on standards and guidance in the international development/sustainability context to support development of the tool


• Providing technical and / or operational support to aid agencies in applying QSAND


• Running webinars, supporting seminars and training course delivery


• Supporting development and operation of the QSAND tool


• Prepare meeting materials such as agenda and presentation materials for meetings with external organisations involved in humanitarian and international aid sectors as appropriate

Required skills, knowledge and experience

• Postgraduate (MSc/MPhil/PhD) student with a background in International Development. Modules which relate to the built environment are desirable


• Self-motivated and ability to work to tight timescales

· Competence in using Microsoft Office suite

• Experience in international development or post-disaster relief/reconstruction work (desirable)


• Knowledge of QSAND, BREEAM, planning, master planning, and/or community sustainability (desirable)


• Wiliness to travel internationally

Internship opportunities:

• Work with international stakeholders and aid agencies and construction experts


• International travel


• Learn about BREEAM and its assessment method.


• Gain a greater understanding about work focused on encouraging sustainability in the built environment and post-disaster reconstruction


• Explore the BRE’s Innovation Park at BRE’s head office site where innovative methods of construction and affordable building technology on sustainability are showcased


• Be part of BREs world leading building science centre! Our unique and exemplary work has attracted the attention of world leaders, the UK monarchy and key influencers in society: the UK Prime Minister and many of his cabinet, the Premier of China Mr Li-Keqiang, HRH Prince Charles and many more. Our science has been applied to some of the most outstanding and iconic buildings in the UK and Europe including the London 2012 Olympic stadia and Number 10 Downing St

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate sound research skill and understanding of international development, with a particular focus on post-disaster relief/reconstruction, built sustainability and where relevant BREEAM.

Organisation: BRE Trust, www.bre.co.uk/bretrust

How to apply:

This opportunity to starts in February 2016 for a minimum of 3 months approximately 2 days a week. There is likely to include international travel and possible a 1 month stay in the project case study location in Asia. The position will be based in BRE Watford or possibly remotely depending on location.

This internship is a volunteer position and is unpaid. All costs related to, insurance, accommodation, and living expenses must be borne by either the interns or their sponsoring institutions.
Travel costs to BRE’s offices within an agreed distance are covered as and lunch costs while on site are reimbursed.

To apply, email a covering letter and CV, explaining why you feel you are suitable for this position and stating your availability to QSAND@bre.co.uk .