Job Opportunity at Lifewater - Project WASH Engineer



POSITION:  Project WASH Engineer

DUTY STATION: Shinyanga



REPORTING TO:  Regional Program Manager (RPM) Area Program Manager with doted reporting relationship to Director of Engineering Operations (DEO)

REPORTING POSITIONS:  WASH Technicians

RESULTS STATEMENT:

I am responsible for the best-in-class engineering—for the planning, designing, and quality—of all types/forms of hardware in order to attain basic water access in all program communities, and for supporting the construction of planned hardware.

JOB SUMMARY:

As a part of the Vision of a Healthy Village (VHV) program, the Project WASH Engineer is responsible for ensuring the best hardware is selected for each community, school, and health facility in the program, and that the designed systems meet Lifewater and Government hardware standards. This is done by assessing all existing community and school hardware, supporting the development of a hardware plan, updating or creating technical designs for unique systems, supporting procurement planning, and documenting all processes through Lifewater’s Akvo system. Their accurate, detailed, and excellent research and planning, and mastery of hardware standards is essential for programs to operate with efficiency and to provide best solutions to communities.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Play a lead role in all hardware planning, using Lifewater’s Hardware Planning Process, and in collaboration with Program Team members and the Director of Engineering Operations (DEO). Use appropriate Akvo forms for all registrations and assessments of hardware.
Identify existing hardware assets in communities, primary schools, and health facilities. Register in Lifewater’s data system and assess for functionality and need for improvement.
Conduct detailed site assessments for all hardware that is being planned – evaluating existing hardware and options for new hardware – including community conversations regarding taste and preference.
In consultation with relevant government (water quality testing authorities) perform water quality testing at appropriate times during the assessment & planning process and periodical water quality monitoring, according to Lifewater standards.
Recommend appropriate hardware for each community, primary school, and health facility in collaboration with the APM and DEO.
In collaboration with the APM and DEO, prepare hardware planning timelines for implementation.
In consultation with the government District Engineer, prepare technical designs and detailed bills of quantities for unique systems, procurement plan and budget estimates for the proposed community water supply systems and school latrines / demonstration latrines in all intervention sites.
Ensure all the designs and quality of construction meets Lifewater standards as well as the government’s hardware standards.
Have all technical designs approved by the government District Engineer, DEO and Lifewater HQ prior to construction.
Facilitate and ensure quality hardware construction.
Providing detailed notes & technical designs, supervision and in-person coaching to WASH Technicians who are responsible for hardware construction. This includes making sure the following is done:
Ensure construction of all hardware according to the plan and design.
Ensure all the construction materials procured for water supply are used efficiently.
Source out and monitor labour required for all aspects of construction, including, but not limited to gravel, sand and stone production, digging of hand dug wells, masonry, roofing, trench excavation & backfilling and plumbing work required.
Do spot checks of construction sites during construction and upon construction completion to ensure that designs are being constructed as planned.
Attend and represent LI at all scheduled construction site meetings with other stakeholders
Proactively provide recommendations to management to update designs based on field learnings each construction season and from on-site monitoring in order to continually increase the quality of hardware construction.
Coordinates with focal persons/experts at district water, education and health offices during hardware planning and monitoring
Support Lifewater’s ‘software first’ approach by:
Coordinate with the SH promoters and volunteers to ensure that all the aspects of the safe water supply are integrated in WASH promotion and “software first” is applied before constructing water systems
Use participatory approaches as a far as possible throughout the program cycle, particularly in review of possible water and sanitation solutions, and identifying the best option for each community, school, and health facility.
Support internal and external reporting.
Complete all Akvo reports at appropriate times.
Support the APM in preparing necessary and regular reports to appropriate government bodies about water points and school latrines, as well as associated water quality testing or monitoring data.
Ensure the maintenance and proper care of all tools and equipment.

Personnel:

Submit 15/5 weekly reports and timesheets to supervisor.
Participate in weekly one-on-one supervision meetings with supervisor.
Participate in regular staff and skype meetings.
Complete other duties as assigned by supervisors.
Participate in regular staff and skype meetings, sometimes outside of typical working hours.

KEY INDICATORS OF SUCCESS:

100% of hardware planned more than one year before construction
90% of hardware that completed as planned and designed
100% of required water quality testing completed

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

3-5 years of experience in delivering rural safe water solutions, including previous experience in WASH construction works, planning and budgeting.
Previous experience in other water technology development supervision.
Experience with boreholes, rainwater harvesting systems, gravity flows, pumping systems, springs construction, and school latrine blocks is required. Knowledge on Ministry of Water reporting requirement is required.
Degree in one of the following fields: – Water Engineering; Civil Engineering, Hydrogeology, Environmental Engineering, Sanitation Engineering, Construction Management or related Engineering field. Additional training in Water quality testing, drilling, supervision of contractors preferred but not required.
A post graduate qualification in water related development field preferred but not required.
Knowledge of the water sector policies and coordination frameworks.
Ability in working independently and with teams to produce high quality results in a multi-cultural setting.
Ability to drive and ride a motorcycle with a clean driver’s license
Competence in writing high quality reports, exhibiting detailed and professional attributes.
Analytical skills and decision-making abilities even in complex and sensitive situations.
Ability to independently update technical drawings.
Strong ICT skills especially Microsoft Office applications and engineering software such as AUTO CAD, EPANET, GIS, etc.
Knowledge of English Language (Spoken and written)

PERSONAL SKILLS AND QUALITIES:

Ability to effectively engage with church and abide to Lifewater International core values.
Commitment to the mission, vision, and core values of Lifewater International
Flexible and adaptable to changing environments
Honest and dependable in all areas, including finances
Strong desire to work in and serve rural communities

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