PROGRAM SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2007, with a focus on both humanitarian response and development programming. Mercy Corps’ current programs focus on the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) services in camps for internally displaced people, and large-scale WaSH infrastructure and service delivery in urban centers. With a staff of more than 150 people, Mercy Corps also implements food security, economic recovery/development and governance programs in North Kivu and Orientale Provinces.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps recently received funding for a DFID-funded program to increase access to water, sanitation and hygiene in four urban centers in eastern DRC. Mercy Corps is preparing a series of quantitative and qualitative assessments to take place during the one-year inception phase. These assessments will enable Mercy Corps to better understand the context and the environment relative to provision of water, access to improved sanitation facilities, governance of water systems, hygiene and behavior change, gender dynamics, environmental impacts, and financial stability and risk of key actors.
The Senior Water/Sanitation Engineer will lead the technical studies for water system design and oversee technical investigation into sanitation options for each of the project sites, with the possibility to continue into the subsequent detailed design phase. S/he will ensure that consistent approaches are used during the investigations in the four project sites. The Senior Water/Sanitation Engineer will oversee the technical water and sanitation surveys and will conduct regular site visits. S/he will be responsible for the development of the Water Systems Technical Master Plan, the primary deliverable of the inception phase.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Implementation
- In coordination with the Program Director, plan, coordinate and implement the technical studies for water systems design. Develop technical master plans for each of the project sites.
- Oversee the planning and implementation of sanitation technical studies towards the development of sanitation strategies for each of the project sites.
- Provide overall leadership in the management and monitoring of technical studies in line with Mercy Corps and/donor policies and the overall strategic objectives of the specific program.
- Oversee site reconnaissance/technical surveys/assessments and prepare projects or other reports and preliminary cost estimates.
- Participate in the preparation and maintenance of a detailed implementation plan and in the development of the program work plan, ensuring accurate and timely input into specific plans (weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually).
- Assist Mercy Corps, partner NGOs and line ministries in identifying institutional gaps, training needs, defining clear objectives for the purpose of institution strengthening and capacity building at national, regional and community levels to enhance sustainability of community infrastructure.
- Contribute to timely preparation and review of programs/projects status reports required for management, donors, budget review, programs analysis, annual reports, etc.; ensuring that recommendations of technical nature are made to refine program design and implementation strategies to improve efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.
Technical Oversight
- Liaise and closely coordinate with relevant officials from the municipal water authority and other key actors.
- Conduct and/or review technical assessments done by others, including calculating water use patterns; estimating leaks and illegal connections; calculating current and future water demand; surveying current and future water supply sources; evaluating water treatment options; and preparing systems-wide hydraulic models.
- Mentor and supervise technical teams to ensure quality of projects implemented.
- Develop engineering plans, technical specifications, and bill of quantities and assist Mercy Corps with tender processes including contractor selection for the implementation phase of the program.
Program Management
- Ensure engineering program element implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
- Monitor budgets and financial controls for engineering elements.
- Write quality reports and provide timely updates to the Program Director.
- Implement and model Mercy Corps’ philosophy of social entrepreneurship and leverage Mercy Corps’ best practices.
- Collaborate with the Program Director and program, finance and administrative staff to ensure smooth implementation of the program.
- Conduct regular field visits to monitor project implementation.
Team Management
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
- Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
- Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
- Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Program Director/Chief Technical Advisor
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Staff Engineers and consultants, DRC team members, members of the Mercy Corps Technical Support Units
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- BS or equivalent in civil engineering or other relevant field; MA/S in civil engineering preferred.
- 7-10 years of municipal water and wastewater infrastructure experience including experience with such elements as groundwater and surface water supply and storage, pipeline construction, pump installation and maintenance, water quality, leak detection, power connection to pump stations, sanitation principles, both centralized and decentralized systems, wastewater treatment process design and treated effluent disposal etc.
- Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving; Proven ability to learn quickly and achieve stated results and objectives.
- Experience working with host governments, national and international NGOs.
- Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in French and/or Swahili preferred.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful Senior Water/Sanitation Engineer will have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills. An emphasis on providing practical solutions to complex problems will be required. He/she must have the ability to coordinate closely with both technical and non-technical teammates on regulatory, institutional, social and environmental issues. Prioritizing, problem solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This is an accompanied position based in Goma, DRC and it requires up to 50% travel to Bukavu, Bunia and Butembo. While conditions in the country are improving, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity. Years of conflict and corruption have badly damaged the country's infrastructure. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. There are virtually no telephone land lines in the DRC, though mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is limited, but available in all Mercy Corps offices. Living conditions are clean and secure, but basic.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
How to apply:
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