Senior Wash & Construction Engineer Officer

Date:  16 Feb 2024

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

Together we save, protect and rebuild lives. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can defeat poverty or any type of inequality or discrimination.

We are an international confederation of 19 organizations (affiliates) working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development, and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.

All our work is led by three core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness. To read more about our values please click here.

The Country Office in Somalia/Somaliland is currently recruiting a:

Senior Wash & Construction Officer

Fulltime / 40 hours a week

Contract length: 6 Month with possibility of extension

Location: Baladweyne, Hirshabele, Somalia

OXFAM PURPOSE: To work with others to find lasting solutions to overcome poverty and suffering.

TEAM PURPOSE: To provide technical support to Oxfam humanitarian responses to meet the urgent basic WASH needs in line with Oxfam public health promotion strategy and constructions standards.

JOB PURPOSE: To ensure the delivery of high-quality WaSH results and outcomes through technical support to Oxfam WASH team and Oxfam’s implementing partners in project target areas (villages) in Baladweyne, and support other regions of JL, SWS and Banadir of Somalia.

BACKGROUND: Somalia faced consecutive poor rainy seasons and recently river and flash flooding, particularly in Baladwayne and other districts. The flooding has led to large-scale displacement, causing immense destruction to homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure. This has made life even more difficult for people who were already struggling due to poverty and conflict, mainly IDPs.The government and other organizations have been working hard to help those affected by the flooding. However, more help is needed to ensure that everyone who has been affected can get the support they need. Oxfam is one of the many NGOs providing immediate assistance to the people in Baladwayn, Baardheere, Baidoa and other locations. Overall, the impact of flooding in Somalia has been devastating, causing immense suffering to the people.

DIMENSIONS:

• Strengthen alliance building and develop cooperation with partners and stakeholders during WASH projects implementation.
• Managing/ supervising resources within defined boundaries or a specialist area, which may include people, assets and/or budgets.
• Providing professional advice to managers and partners on areas of work covered in their remit.
• Influences the development of strategy and ensures and supports operational implementation.
• Provide capacity building support for Oxfam PHE assistants and local partners.
• Develops solutions to diverse and complex problems within organisational policy.
• Interprets and applies operational and specialist information in a variety of formats from a variety of sources.
• Flexibility to anticipate and resolve challenges within corporate or divisional parameters, with moderate scope.
• Contribute to and influence partners operational planning.
• Influence Oxfam and partner’s managers, and staff working in the response to develop effective networks with external bodies.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational

• Support the Programme Manager in providing technical support to all project related to public health engineering in his /her lead role in planning, designing, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure high quality programmes delivery.

Training /Capacity Building:

• In close discussion with the Area Manager undertake regular field visits to each partner program implementation areas to review programs and build partner capacity in quality programme implementation through coaching and support supervision
• Provided technical capacity building to Oxfam PHE team and partners more importantly during designing, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of project activities and construction related activities.
• Build the capacity of Oxfam team and partners to produce quality project reports.
• Support PHE assistant and partners PHE teams in identifying capacity gaps and assist in planning of relevant trainings to address the gaps.
• Participating in the workshops and training to support implementation Oxfam and partners.
• Supporting development and standardisation of programme workplans, implementation tools and reporting templates.
• Provide constructive feedback to local partners for learning and development and in particular the construction related activities.

Programme Implementation:

• Carry out engineering aspects of Oxfam’s work in Beledweyne, Hirshabele, and as necessary other regions in SWS, JL of Somalia
• Responsible the implementation of surface water treatment unit and latrine constructions in Beledweyne and provide related support to other locations as required.
• Provide technical assessments required under the project within the first 4 weeks of the grant approval.
• Develop detail designs, Drawings, BOQ and assessment report for PHE related constructions (Surface water treatment system, Latrines and other activities as required).
• Collaborate with logistics to procure goods and services for the PHE activities, support evaluation of the tender document and ensure specified items with quality are procured.
• Conduct regular monitoring of the Water supply and Sanitation facilities, document progress using site books and ensure communication with contractors are documented.
• Support the preparation of project mid-term and final reports for the donor in collaboration with programme teams, technical coordinators, funding coordinator, and Support teams.
• In collaboration with the MEAL team, implement monitoring and evaluation activities, and the preparation of associated reports.
• Together with the PM, ensure healthy and effective relationships with government institutions including the municipality and cooperating organizations through regular contacts, visits, and fulfilment of project requirements.
• Prepare a clean contract management tool, update, and share with PM and WASH Co
• Facilitate effective working relationships with contractors and service providers and document all communication and instructions for reference.
• Maintain healthy relationships with relevant agencies and coordination mechanisms including, but not limited to, the WaSH Sub cluster and regional clusters in Beledwayne and other areas within south central regions.
• Support in the preparation of capacity building activities and events for local partners, and other relevant government line ministries.
• Ensure effective communication, verbally and in writing, on all project activities and progress to the PM on a regular basis, and to the WaSH Coordinator when requested;
• In the absence of the PM, may be requested to manage the project.
• Work with partner staff to monitor, evaluate and support PHP works in Baladwayne.
• Together with the AM/WASH Coordinator, develop project work plans, budget plans, spending plans, MEAL plans, and procurement plans.
• Under the supervision of the AM/WASH Coordinator, implement the project in collaboration with other Oxfam colleagues (WaSH, MEAL, and policy teams), partner institutions and contracted parties.

Documentation and Representation:

• Provide regular verbal and written reports to the PHE Team Leader, frequency of such reports to be agreed directly depending upon the nature and scale of activities.
• Work with the project team and partners to provide technical inputs to develop high quality report.
• Support the PHE team leader in identifying needs and addressing technical gaps in planning.
• As part of an integrated team, contribute towards planning and proposal writing to provide clear objectives and establish indicators for monitoring and evaluating the programme.
• Contribute to regular reports adhering to OXFAM reporting formats at intervals to be decided by the Program manager/PHE team leader.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support Oxfam PHE assistants and partners to carry out regular supervision and regular monitoring to measure and report on achievement and progress toward project objective and results.
• Carry out field monitoring visits to document progress, observations and experiences and share them with PHE team leader.
• Support the continuous collection and filing of reliable data, necessary to prove achievement of project indicators, assigned to assistants
• Work closely with the MEAL team through timely beneficiaries’ data submission and data review as well influence their periodic monitoring field visits
• Monitor the capacity of partners and community mobilization activities by community health volunteers for quality assurance and prepare review reports with recommendation for continuous quality improvement in collaboration with MEAL team.

Staff Management

• Provide day to day management of the PHE assistants including performance management, recruitment, spacing team leaves and any other HR function involved in team management.
• Assess staff capacity level and suggest areas of improvement to the PHE Team Leader who will support in devising clear and concise capacity training schedules accordingly.
• Provide day to day support to project staff including performance management, recruitment, spacing team leaves and any other HR function involved in team management

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Degree in relevant engineering discipline (Civil / Water, Sanitation, Hydraulic Engineering) from a recognized academic institution.
• Proven ability & experience in planning and implementing PHE programmes, constructions (both in emergency response / recovery and long-term development) – Minimum 3 years preferably in South and central regions of Somalia.
• Proven technical skills in use of computer aided drawing software (ArchCAD and AutoCAD)
• Proven experience of project cycle management
• Proven experience of mentoring and capacity building of team / partners including training facilitation skills
• Knowledge of and commitment to humanitarian principles (NGO / Red cross code of conduct) and with Sphere humanitarian charter and minimum standards
• Fluent in Somali and English language (speaking and writing)
• Excellent knowledge about importance of integrated approach (PHE / PHP / Livelihood) for drought risk management
• Experience of working with local partners including local authorities
• Influencing and negotiation skills with internal and external audiences and confident representation skills Proven experience in gender analysis and integrating gender & diversity into programmes.
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure and meeting deadlines in changing situations.
• Good knowledge and experience on working with local partner agencies with a capacity of providing formal and informal training to Oxfam and partner staff.
• Good oral and written reporting skills.
• Diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills.
• Personnel management skills.
• Good communication skills and ability to work well in a team
• Ability to work well under pressure and in response to changing needs.

How to Apply:

Please send your application of the position by clicking Apply Deadline on 1.06.2024 and include your motivation letter and cv quoting “Senior Wash & Construction Engineer Officer” as the subject heading. Application Deadline on 06 of January 2024, However, Applications will be shortlisted as we receive them, and interviews will be carried out if necessary, before the end date. Therefore, qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and before the deadline.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization. Therefore, people of all gender identities, sexes, sexual orientations, races, colors, religions, cultures, abilities, etc. are eligible for this position.

Oxfam aims to attract great talent that not only fits the job but also Oxfam’s high standard of values and principles, who shares and demonstrates Oxfam’s commitment to prevent and eradicate any type of misconduct including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any other type of misuse of power or lack of integrity and financial misconduct. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

 

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks, or integrity screenings/references relating to misconduct and disciplinary actions in prior employment.

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