Housing Accessibility Policy and Design Specialist

United Nations

Job details

  • ONSITE
  • CONSULTING
  • MONTREAL
  • Verified 2026-10-01
  • Source: United Nations public UN Careers board

Original job description

Result of Service The consultant will be responsible for providing support in the development of the Accessible-Ready Housing Design Compendium, conduct applied research on accessibility standards and policies in Canada and internationally and be responsible for ensuring project delivery and workflow in collaboration with the project team during the period of employment. Under the guidance of the UN-Habitat Canada Office team, the consultant will consolidate research outputs and knowledge products that strengthen the Accessible-Ready Housing project and contribute to the global exchange of Canadian expertise on accessible housing and public space and universal design. Work Location Montreal Expected duration 6 months Duties and Responsibilities UN-Habitat is the agency for human settlements. It 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. UN-Habitat Canada Office strengthens the organization’s mission by serving as a focal point for partnerships, applied research, and policy engagement in Canada and across North America for the implementation of UN-Habitat’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. Operating from the City of Montreal, the office plays a central role in four domains: partner engagement and resource mobilization; research-policy-action interface; advocacy and communication; and the advancement of sustainable urbanization agendas within the Canadian and North American context. The UN-Habitat Canada Office places particular emphasis on knowledge and innovation with a view to accelerating housing solutions that are affordable, adequate, resilient, and compatible with national and global commitments. In alignment with its housing and urban development priorities, the Canada Office also contributes to UN-Habitat’s global efforts to strengthen intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation on housing in close cooperation with UN-Habitat's Land, Housing and Shelter Section in Nairobi, Kenya. This includes supporting the work of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All (OWEG-H), which aims to advance a shared understanding and actionable recommendations for realizing the right to adequate housing within the framework of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Through evidence-based research, policy engagement, and partnership-building, the Canada Office helps ensure that global innovations and lessons inform and enrich the OEWG-H’s deliberations and outputs. As part of its housing programme, the UN Habitat Canada Office is implementing a project on Accessible Ready Housing in Canada to advance inclusive design, standards and practice. The UN-Habitat Canada Office is seeking a motivated, highly skilled, and experienced mid-level professionals to join the project team. The position is initially offered as a six-month contract, with the possibility of extension based on a positive performance evaluation. The Design and Policy Specialist will support the development of the Accessible-Ready Housing Design Compendium, conduct applied research on accessibility standards and policies in Canada and internationally and contribute to ensuring project delivery and workflow during the period of employment. The consultant will coordinate inputs between the Design Compendium and the Guidance Package to ensure that design strategies and policy pathways are aligned and mutually inform each other. They support coordination between project partners, including case-city municipalities, OPDs, and other external experts, supporting the implementation and follow-up of project activities. Further, the consultant will ensure consistent documentation and version control of all project materials. Reporting line This on-site position is fulltime, and is based in Montreal, Canada. This position reports directly to the Head of Office of the UN-Habitat Canada Office (or a designated supervisor). Applicants must be Canadian residents or citizens or have permission to work in Canada. Duties and Responsibilities The consultant will carry out the following tasks and responsibilities: 1. Contribute to the development of the Accessible-Ready Housing Design Compendium, including annotated typologies, annotated prototype layouts (low-rise, mid-rise, modular), spatial strategies, technical diagrams, costing analysis and design rationale. 2. Conduct applied research on housing accessibility standards, design and policy, including comparative analysis of relevant international precedents, accessibility policies, regulatory frameworks, and adoption mechanisms (e.g., codes, standards, incentives) across international and Canadian jurisdictions, identifying transferable approaches for the Canadian context. 3. Provide technical and analytical support to the development of policy and standards analysis related to housing accessibility and the Canada Office’s overall research and knowledge management agenda on accessible housing and universal design. 4. Contribute to the development of architectural typologies and site/building/unit-level spatial strategies aligned with accessible-ready design principles and recommendations synthesized from desk review (Phase 1) which will be provided as starting input, identifying a representative set of housing typologies for prototype development. 5. Support the integration of Accessible-Ready Standard requirements into spatial layouts, design criteria, and technical annotations. 6. Support developing and integrating adaptation pathways demonstrating how Accessible-Ready dwellings can respond to diverse or successively changing accessibility needs, distinguishing between features provided at initial construction and those intended to enable future modification. 7. Contribute to collaboration with OPDs and other experts with lived-experience to ensure prototypes reflect intersectional accessibility needs across diverse disability groups during project workshops and consultations. 8. Contribute to meetings, workshops, and consultations in case cities to validate design concepts and gather feedback. 9. Contribute to knowledge products, including visualizations, diagrams, and accessible formats for dissemination at project workshops and national or international events. 10. Prepare regular progress reports and contribute to the Canada Office’s housing programme and global knowledge exchange. 11. Support project management, knowledge management, coordination, and administrative tasks. Develop and maintain knowledge management tools, capacity-building materials, training materials and webinars on housing accessibility. 12. Contribute to strategic partnerships and alliances with academic institutions, housing design and standards agencies, Indigenous and community-based organizations, and international partners. 13. Support monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on housing research outputs and knowledge products, ensuring that accessibility considerations are reflected. 14. Contribute to resource mobilization and proposal development efforts related to housing research, innovation, and accessible housing solutions. 15. Support the integration of Canadian innovation and expertise on culturally adequate and accessible housing into global knowledge exchange and policy dialogue platforms. 16. Provide support preparing inputs for major global events, including the World Urban Forum, the High-Level Political Forum and other key international convenings. Qualifications/special skills A Master’s degree in architecture, urban planning, housing design, or a closely related field, with demonstrated experience translating accessibility, adaptable-housing, or universal-design requirements into architectural drawings and spatial strategies is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Persons with lived experiences are strongly encouraged to apply for the position. Desirable specializations include demonstrated familiarity with the Canadian housing, planning, and/or building regulatory context (federal, provincial, and municipal jurisdictional divisions), including awareness of how accessibility standards are adopted and enforced across Canadian jurisdictions. A minimum of 2 years of experience in evidence-based design research, housing typology development, and the production of clear architectural diagrams and technical guidance materials is required. Demonstrated ability to conduct applied research on housing adequacy — including cultural adequacy, accessibility, and climate-smart housing — and to synthesize and present complex information in formats accessible to policymakers, practitioners, and diverse audiences is required. Experience in accessible, adaptable, and/or universal housing design approaches and relevant Canadian or international standards and precedents, analyzing and applying frameworks or standards related to accessible, inclusive, and culturally responsive housing design and policy is desirable. Strong report writing, reviewing, and editorial skills are highly desirable. Progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in the field of housing systems, sustainable urban development, and knowledge management is desirable. Experience working with persons with disabilities and their organizations, Indigenous or community-led housing initiatives, or in culturally diverse contexts, is an asset. Experience working in the United Nations Common System or other international organizations is desirable. Languages English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Proficiency and/or fluency in French is highly desirable, and knowledge of another official UN language is considered an asset. Additional Information Not available. No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Related jobs

Apply at company