The posting
1. About Us
Shelter For Life International (SFL) is an international faith-based relief and development organization with over 30 years' experience in providing sustainable development and humanitarian assistance to post-conflict countries around the world. We are currently operational in Afghanistan, West Africa, and Ukraine, with headquarters located in Minnetonka, MN, USA. Our team provides support and assistance in the following areas:
- Population Movement and Settlement
- Public Infrastructure Reconstruction
- Economic and Social Development
Our mission is to demonstrate God's love by enabling people affected by conflict and disaster to restore their lives and rebuild their communities. To learn more about us, please visit www.shelter.org.
2. Position Summary
Shelter For Life International (SFL) is anticipating a project in West Africa with a focus on managing migrant movement within the region. Included in the Project's objectives will be structured movement and resettlement of migrants within and outside Guinea Bissau, while providing basic food, shelter and other humanitarian assistance.
Shelter For Life is seeking a Data and IT Systems / Admin Development Officer to build and operate the systems that record who the project assists and what each person receives. The Officer will establish and administer the beneficiary registration database, support biometric enrolment and verification at reception and distribution points, and maintain the IT infrastructure of the project office. The position works closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation team, who verify the data, and with the field staff who collect it, and is responsible for ensuring that personal data held by the project is accurate, access-controlled and protected. The position will be based in Bissau city, Guinea-Bissau.
3. Areas of Responsibility
Beneficiary Data Systems
- Design, configure and administer the beneficiary registration database, including forms, field definitions, reference lists, relevance rules and key fields.
- Maintain version control of the registration form so that questions added later do not invalidate records already collected.
- Issue and administer Registration IDs, and ensure every beneficiary record carries one unique, unchanging identifier.
- Operate the duplicate resolution process jointly with the Monitoring and Evaluation team, ensuring records are linked and reclassified rather than deleted.
- Build and maintain the linked forms required for distribution tracking, so that each item or transfer received is recorded against the correct person.
Biometric Enrolment and Verification
- Support the selection, configuration and rollout of the biometric enrolment platform and its associated devices.
- Configure and maintain fingerprint readers, tablets and supporting equipment, and manage spares, charging and field readiness.
- Ensure the Registration ID issued in the beneficiary database is the identifier used in the biometric system, so that the two remain reconcilable.
- Plan and support enrolment sessions, including station setup, throughput planning and troubleshooting.
- Maintain and apply the documented fallback procedure for beneficiaries whose fingerprints cannot be captured, so that no one is denied assistance on technical grounds.
Data Protection and Access Control
- Configure and maintain role-based permissions so that restricted fields are accessible only to authorised staff.
- Implement and document the retention and storage schedule for personal and biometric data.
- Maintain secure storage, backup and recovery arrangements for all project data.
- Support the Project Manager in responding to any data incident, loss or external request for beneficiary information.
IT Systems and Office Administration
- Maintain the project office network, connectivity, power continuity and end-user equipment.
- Administer user accounts, devices and collaboration tools in line with SFL IT standards.
- Maintain the IT asset register and support procurement specifications for IT and data collection equipment.
- Provide day-to-day user support to project staff.
Training and Documentation
- Write and maintain standard operating procedures and user guides for registration, enrolment and distribution recording.
- Train enumerators, distribution staff and office users on the systems they operate.
4. Education and Experience Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, information systems, data management or a related field.
- Minimum of three years of relevant professional experience, of which at least one year in a humanitarian or development organisation.
- Demonstrated experience administering a data collection or case management platform such as ActivityInfo, KoboToolbox, CommCare or ODK is required.
- Experience with beneficiary registration systems, biometric enrolment or identity management is strongly preferred.
- Experience supporting Microsoft 365 and small office network environments is preferred.
5. Personal Skills and Abilities
- Ability to design and configure structured data forms, including reference data, relevance rules and permission sets.
- Practical hardware, networking and end-user support skills, including offline-capable mobile data collection.
- Clear written documentation and the ability to train non-technical users in plain language.
- Demonstrated care with confidential personal data and a working understanding of data protection principles.
- Portuguese and Guinea-Bissau Creole required. Working proficiency in English required for reporting. French is an asset.
SFL is interested in applicants whose professional ethics, values, and determination to achieve impact are evident and aligned with organizational priorities.
6. Additional Notes
- This position is contingent upon donor funding and final award of the project.
- The position requires frequent travel to reception and distribution sites within Guinea Bissau.
- The post-holder will have access to sensitive personal data and will be subject to enhanced background checks and a confidentiality undertaking.
7. How to Apply
Please apply through SFL’s online application portal at the Application link. Applications sent by email or by any other means will not be considered.
Upload your resume and a cover letter, both in English. Your resume should present your work experience in chronological order, with enough detail for the review team to assess your qualifications and experience. Your cover letter should describe how your professional experience relates to the areas set out in the Position Summary above. Please include the name, telephone number, and email address of at least two references who do not work for your current employer.
Applications must be submitted by November 19, 2026. Applications received after this date will not be considered.
8. Notes to Applicants
We appreciate your interest in joining the Shelter For Life team. Applications will be reviewed carefully, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Shelter For Life International is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages female candidates and individuals from all backgrounds to apply.
SFL is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people in the communities we serve, including children and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and applicable background checks.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed and amended by SFL as the needs of the organization require. The post-holder may be asked to carry out other reasonable duties appropriate to the role.
