WASH Utility Engineer at Mercy Corps Nigeria

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action - helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: WASH Utility Engineer

Location: Abia
Employment Type: Full-time, Regular
Reports Directly To: Senior InfrastructureManager

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps is currently implementing the STWASH activity in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states as well as Abia, Delta and Imo State under the E-WASH program.
• The activity was awarded on March 20, 2020. STWASH is expanding access to improved water resources by increasing the supply and maintenance of key water distribution infrastructure (including piping systems / reticulation, water storage tanks, and tap stands for public use towns) that will provide access to safe, reliable, and inclusive water sources for at least 140,000 people. Its approach to reaching the target population is to focus on rehabilitation, improvement, and repair of existing water points that serve the communities most in need of water and sites that have the potential for the highest increase in water yield.
• STWASH is also strengthening the WASH service authorities, management entities, and service providers, as well as the civil society actors who hold them accountable. This is critical to expanding WASH access and ensuring the overall sustainability of services.

General Position Summary

• The Water Engineer will organize activities related to the implementation of water infrastructure, from design to implementation, including logistics and monitoring.
• Responsible for the identification, design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of all WASH program activities and associated administrative tasks.
• Supervises all water and sanitation engineering contractors in order to effectively implement planned projects.
• Manages all administration and security of MC engineering activities in the assigned district.
• S/he will have to show full adherence to MC security protocols.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Program Management:

• Develop and maintain good relationships and lines of communication with relevant local authorities and communities, explaining MC’s role as an NGO and liaising with them during all phases of the project.
• Guarantee community involvement at all phases of the project (identification, design, implementation, and monitoring) to ensure the development of community ownership for the projects.
• Develop plans for the implementation of the water and sanitation engineering projects in the assigned district. This should include planned delegation of responsibility to appropriate staff, plans and rationale for projects (including technical designs), plans for material and cash needs over the course of the project, and work schedules (timelines) for the various phases of the project.
• Prior to the commencement of project implementation, complete a standard Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with community representatives and local authorities for each community identified for project activities. Ensure that all elements of the MoU are adhered to. Report any problems relating to the MoUs.
• Implement projects as planned according to developed technical standards, schedules, and timelines. Ensure correct surface engineering around the well to allow for the correct drainage of excess water using soak-away pits and aprons.
• Keep detailed technical records for every site.
• Report any variations or problems with the implementation of projects (in regard to staffing, costs, schedules, and technical matters). Where necessary, regularly update project implementation plans with associated timelines.
• Ensure full adherence to the MC security plans and protocols conscientiously respecting the declared ‘go and no-go’ zones ensuring that staff respects them.
• Supervise the procurement of any materials needed through a competitive and transparent bidding process following the MC policies design for this purpose.
• Organize competitive bidding processes to select the most qualified and cost-effective contractors and manage the contracts, certifying the quality of the works performed.
• Coordinate with local authorities to obtain all licenses needed.
• Provide feedback to the Monitoring and Evaluation system in order to assess the effectiveness of the projects and impact and propose recommendations for improvements.
• Provide regular written and verbal reports to the Chief of Party and Project Manager on infrastructure development activity.
• Organize site visits to the project sites and hostess missions/consultants.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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 toward 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.
• 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.

Accountability:

• Reports Directly To Senior InfrastructureManager
• Works Directly With: Small Town WASH COP, DCOP, Director of Finance and Administration, Country Director, Finance, and Operations teams, M&E Officer, and other Small Town WASH staff. Coordinates with HQ Program Performance team and the Technical Support

Education, Knowledge and Experience

• A BSc or Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Management, Water Treatment Technologies or a related field.
• 5-10 years of management of development programs including infrastructure rehabilitation and supervision projects.
• Knowledge of the issues and challenges of the water and sanitation sector in Nigeria
• Experience in preparing and reviewing water utility infrastructure tender documents including design specifications, technical drawings, and Bill of Quantities (BOQs)
• Ability to conduct investigations of complex issues involving water utility systems and practices
• Good knowledge of water utility Asset Maintenance Management Systems
• Experience in preparing persuasive technical reports and making verbal presentations, explaining issues in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to innovate and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a utility
• Experience working with computer software such as Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, design packages, and other applications relevant to the sector

Success Factors:

• The successful WASH Utility Engineer will combine strong interpersonal, engineering and project management skills with a highly collaborative and program-focused approach and be experienced in maintaining stakeholder relationships.
• She/he will have an outstanding ability to recognize potential challenges then develop, promote consensus and manage solutions within the implementation of the program.
• She/he will also have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem-solving, ability to seize opportunities, attention to detail whilst maintaining budget and schedule and a strategic vision are essential.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together.
• Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges.
• We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all.
• We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity.
• We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
• We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members.
• As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to the Merry Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Application Closing Date
10th August, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Applicants should have their CVs and Cover Letters in one document addressing the position requirements.
• Female candidates who are qualified are strongly encouraged to apply.