Jobs in Zambia and Zimbabwe

Catholic Relief Service Job Vacancy in Zambia: Assistant Rural Water Engineer

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  • Company: Catholic Relief Service
  • Location: Lusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia
  • State: Lusaka
  • Job type: Full-Time
  • Job category: Engineering Jobs in Zambia

About Catholic Relief Services

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) country program was established in 2000, and administers a varied and diversified portfolio of nutrition, health sytems strengthening, food and security economic growth and livelihoods, orphans and vulnerable Children (OVC) research and HIV and AIDS programs. Catholic Relief Services Carries out the commitment of Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and the vulnerable overseas.

Project Summary:

With Mawa Project’s support over the last five years, communities in Chipata and Lundazi have achieved and are sustaining changes that enable economic and nutrition security for all members of the household.

Despite this productive and economic resilience there are significant risks that can still erase Mawa’s health and nutrition gains: lack of access to safe water, poor sanitation coverage and low adoption rate of hygiene practices among community members without children under two. A healthy child who has been exclusively breastfed thanks to behaviors changed under Mawa can become malnourished within weeks if her community doesn’t have safe water, if she comes into contact with feces due to open defecation or because of neighbor’s poor hygiene practices prior to feeding her.

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) can protect or erase the gains USAID has achieved through investment in Mawa, hence the need to consolidate these gains through a WASH Program
Scope:

The Assistant Rural Water Engineer is an operational part of Mawa WASH Project, established with the role of mobilizing communities for the implementation of water and sanitation activities in the target areas. In addition, the Assistant Rural Water Engineer will act as a technical hand of the Rural Water Engineer at the field level, for Mawa WASH Project construction activities related water and sanitation in Lundazi district, in areas where the project is operating.

The Assistant Rural Water Engineer takes the lead in the implementation of water point and community scheme construction related activities in the target areas; the work includes conducting technical assessment following the best-practices in water point and community scheme construction as defined government construction procedures. The Assistant Rural Water Engineer works closely with the district and village level authorities for the facilitation of the construction related works, and provides additional technical skill to the beneficiaries for operational maintenance and safe construction. Under the general and technical supervision of the Rural Water Engineer, the Assistant Rural Water Engineer assists in various engineering activities ranging from planning, preparation and review to contract administration, design and estimating construction plans, and monitoring the quality of implementation.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Prepare plans, specifications, and cost estimates of prioritized construction works
  • Conduct pre-feasibility and feasibility of the construction related works
  • Ensure all required permits are ready and assist in preparation of technical estimates, design and resource management plan, prepare bid documents and support the program team for the bid selection
  • Responsible for feasibility survey, design, prepare estimation of quantities and cost detailed drawings and other necessary documents of safe drinking water schemes.
  • Facilitate formation, orientation and training to Water Users Committee and later provide support to register new water users committees to districts as per policy
  • Serve as technical hands to Rural Water Engineer and Technical Supervisors and Hygiene, Watershed and Small Business Coordinators
  • To maintain up-to-date records of all field level activities to show status of the work, status of construction materials, equipment at store and construction site
  • To carry out work as instructed by Rural Water Engineer and Project Coordinators
  • “Screen the market” and review ‘good practices’ in practical construction related works– including non-traditional methods – to assist program team in helping communities to implement most feasible construction related schemes.
  • Support program team to prepare, plan and implement technical training and ensure that standard training materials have been used throughout the operation
  • Conduct regular monitoring and full technical supervision and provide technical inputs
    to the beneficiaries
  • Perform project management functions; calculate project quantities; prepares project cost estimates and specifications; and coordinate activities with other external agencies in the target area.
  • Responsible person of quality control
  • Administer construction contracts; provide engineering support during project construction, and process contract change orders and design revisions.
  • Attend various internal and external meetings regarding engineering topics or issues and respond to questions and inquiries from various individuals, groups, organizations or companies regarding a wide range of engineering topics and issues.
  • Support Rural Water Engineer to prepare monthly progress report highlights.

Key Duties:

  1. Support Infrastructure (Water and Sanitation) damage surveys
  2. Assist Rural Water Engineer in design and implementation of WASH program activities
  3. Verify appropriate standard and quantity of materials used in water and
    sanitation schemes.
  4. Ensure construction/ rehabilitation of boreholes and community water schemes is in
    accordance with approved designs
  5. Provide training to Area Pump Minders (APMs), V-WASH, D-WASH and community
    members on operation and maintenance of water points and schemes
  6. Work in close cooperation with all key stakeholders including government authorities,
    community leaders, beneficiaries, partner organizations, and other providers.
  7. Ensure timely and efficient monitoring and evaluation of project activities
  8. Contribute to the development of water and sanitation activities
  9. Assist in the design and implementation of other complementary rehabilitation
    interventions (including Hygiene)
  10. Conduct any other programming responsibility delegated by supervisor

Project and Partner Support:

  1. Provide technical support to partners in implementation of water point restoration/
    rehabilitation interventions and implementation of community water schemes.
  2. Support in community mobilization and other WASH technical issues when applicable
  3. Project implementation compliance to award/ contracts
  4. Actively participate in meetings, workshops and coordination meetings to represent Mawa WASH project effectively.
  5. Development and maintenance of relationship with key stakeholders
  6. Technical supervision of construction works for community water schemes and borehole drilling
  7. Monitoring and evaluation of all water, sanitation and construction related activities
  8. Ensure environmental compliance is attained during implementation
  9. Provide technical input on the implementation of water point and community scheme operational maintenance trainings
  10. Compile project reports highlighting project impact against indicators
  11. Meet project goals, objectives, outputs and requirements
  12. Experience working with communities, with skills in group facilitation, training and communications
  13. Support Rural Water Engineer

Administration:

  1. Contribute to Mawa Project program reports to external donors, community beneficiaries and government partners
  2. Project activity planning and tracking
  3. Support Rural Water Engineer with tender procedures and management of water infrastructure development works
  4. Support administration staff with coordination of project logistics
  5. Review service invoices in accordance with set standards, procedures and compliance requirements on agreements/ contracts
  6. Support contractual agreement and implementation process with partners and contractors to resolve disputes

Staff Development:

  1. Supervise consultants or volunteers as required
  2. Ensure capacity building of specific team members on technical aspects of program
  3. As delegated by the supervisor liaise with M&E Officers to ensure sharing of lessons learned, tools and systems.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Qualification:

  • Minimum Diploma in Civil Engineering from an accredited college or university with a major in Engineering or related field
  • At least 2 years progressively responsible civil engineering experience or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above.

Professional Skills and Expertise:

  • Excellent in MS office suite especially in Word and Excel
  • Effective writing communication skills in English
  • Ability to set priorities regarding project costs and alternatives.
  • Ability to relate to international NGOs, government entities and local communities
  • Strong project and information management skills with the ability to coordinate across various sectors
  • Knowledge of local WASH construction codes, government structures and their operational mechanics
  • Knowledge of standard and prevailing civil engineering principles and practices.
  • Experience in project management, preparing and evaluating contracts, preparing budget estimates, and negotiating prices with contractors.
  • Strong verbal and written communication, interpersonal, facilitation and networking skills.

Travel Required – 60%

Key Working Relationships:

Based in Lundazi, the Assistant Rural Water Engineer reports directly to the Rural Water Engineer. S/ he provides assistance to the Caritas Project Managers in building skills of WASH Field Supervisors. The Assistant Rural Water Engineer is expected to liaise with government personnel in key line ministries, traditional leaders, village and district water committees and other stakeholders in the project water sector.

Supervisory: Not Applicable

Internal: Rural Water Engineer, Deputy Chief of Party, Chief of Party, MEAL Manager, Hygiene, Watershed and Small Business Coordinators, Senior Administration Officer, Senior Project Accountant

External: Partner organization management, Project Managers, Field Supervisors, government personnel from key line ministries, traditional leaders and stakeholders in the water sector

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

  • Serves with Integrity
  • Models Stewardship
  • Cultivates Constructive Relationships
  • Promotes Learning

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

 

How to Apply

Please email a cover letter, and curriculum vitae which should include three references to: [email protected] Please include the position you are applying for in the subject line.

The closing date for applications is 04th October 2017.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.