• 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:

Mawa Rural Water Engineer plays an active role in the provision of technical assistance and coordination among the implementing partners, government and other stakeholders in Chipata and Lundazi Districts. The position is tasked to take a lead in the implementation of water point construction, upgrading and rehabilitation related activities in Mawa WASH Project target areas; the work includes conducting technical assessment following the best-practices in the WASH sector and as defined in related government procedures.
The Rural Water Engineer is responsible for the overall supervision and management of the civil team comprising engineers both from CRS and implementing partners. Utilizing various engineering disciplines, manage the engineering processes for selected water and sanitation solutions. Takes part in design reviews at various engineering stages. Works closely with provincial, district and village level authorities to facilitate WASH construction related works, and provides additional technical skill to the beneficiaries for the safe construction and operational maintenance.
Under the general supervision of the Deputy Chief of Party, the Rural Water Engineer is responsible for outputs in various engineering activities ranging from planning, preparation and review to contract administration, designing and estimating construction plans, and monitoring the quality of implementation, including outcomes.

Job Responsibilities:

Coordinate with line ministries, departments and committees to ensure their effective participation on;

• Upgrading of 10 public water points (boreholes)
• Rehabilitation of 100 existing public water points in Chipata and Lundazi districts
• Lead the implementation process of constructing 40 new water public points
• Implementation of 2 community water schemes as per approved design
• Ensure the quality and quantity of materials for water points and community schemes are per design
• Coordinating trainings to the community for maintenance of water points and community water schemes

Key Duties:

1. Conduct Infrastructure (Water and Sanitation) damage surveys
2. Assist Program Staff in design and implementation of WASH program activities
3. Verification of the appropriate standard and quantity of materials used in water and
   sanitation schemes.
4. Ensuring construction/ rehabilitation of boreholes and community water schemes is in
   accordance with approved designs
5. Providing 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. Pro-active coordination of local and international team members
6. Development and maintenance of relationship with key stakeholders
7. Technical supervision of construction works for community water schemes and borehole drilling
8. Conduct technical and site meetings with key stakeholders
9. Design and implement operational maintenance plans in coordination with local authorities, private sector and other district/ sub-district level stakeholders
10. Monitoring and evaluation of all water, sanitation and construction related activities
11. Ensure environmental compliance is attained during implementation
12. Provide technical input on the implementation of water point and community scheme operational maintenance trainings
13. Compile project reports highlighting project impact against indicators
14. Meet project goals, objectives, outputs and requirements
15. Undertake field visits to monitor programs, as well as conduct periodic program reviews with donor or government counterparts and other partners
16. Supervise Assistant Rural Water Engineer in implementation of project activities
17. Experience working with communities, with skills in group facilitation, training and communications
18. Support Deputy Chief of Party

Administration:

1. Contribute to Mawa Project program reports to external donors, community beneficiaries and government partners
2. Project activity planning and tracking
3. Support tender procedures and management of water infrastructure development works
4. Support administration staff with coordination of project logistics
5. Review and approve 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
7. Day to day coordination with the partners, enforcing terms of agreements to ensure that project activities are being executed as planned and suggesting improvements to implementation plan (where applicable)

Staff Development:

1. Orient/train and assist engineer to finalize upgrade, rehabilitation, drilling and community scheme bill of quantities in accordance with set government standards and procedures for rural water supply
2. Ensure mentoring and coaching for performance is undertaken for direct reports.
3. Ensure direct reports are oriented on donor requirements and CRS Policy
4. Supervise consultants or volunteers as required
5. Ensure capacity building of specific team members on technical aspects of program
6. 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 Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Engineering or related field
• At least 8 years progressively responsible civil or hydro-engineering experience, including 4 year of supervisory 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
• Ability to supervise detail drawings and their presentations and capable of reading drawings and schematics
• Effective writing communication skills in English
• Ability to set priorities regarding project costs and alternatives.
• Ability to conduct research, analyze findings, prepare and present analysis
• 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 or hydro-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.
• Ability to effectively delegate while maintaining forward motion on key deliverables
• Strong mentoring, training and coaching to junior colleagues

Travel Required (include percentage of required travel, if applicable)

Key Working Relationships:

Based in Chipata, the Rural Water Engineer reports directly to the Deputy Chief of Party. S/ he provides assistance to the Caritas Project Managers in building skills of WASH Field Supervisors. The 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: Assistant Rural Water Engineer

Internal: 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.