Tracking Code: 218789-927
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.
Job Location
goma, Nord-Kivu, Congo - Kinshasa
Position Type
Full-Time/Regular
