Hydraulic Engineer (2 Positions) – “Seconded to the Bekaa Water Establishment – BWE"_ (National Contract)

Position Title: Hydraulic Engineer (2 Positions) – “Seconded to the Bekaa Water Establishment – BWE”

Duty station: Lebanon, Baalbek (1 ) or Riyaq (1)

Reporting to: Within the BWE: General Director. Within WeWorld-GVC: Water Advisor

Collaborating with: BWE at the local office (section), regional office (branch), and head office (general administration); Senior Hydraulic Engineer at WW-GVC; Water Governance Program Team at WW-GVC

Supervising: Field Technicians and Skilled Workers at BWE

Starting date: March 2021

Contract Length: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Deadline for applications: 11 February 2021

WORKING CONTEXT

WeWorld-GVC has been working in Lebanon since 2006 and is now supporting vulnerable populations through WASH, shelter, basic assistance and protection interventions aiming at increasing the resilience of the concerned communities, in North Bekaa (Baalbek-Hermel Governorate) and in Akkar.

WeWorld-GVC is implementing projects supporting public water, waste-water, and irrigation services in partnership with other organizations and funded by different donors (AFD, EU-MADAD, EU-ENI). WeWorld-GVC’s Water Governance Program uses a three-pillar approach of (i) Infrastructure Improvement to improve service delivery, (ii) Capacity Building to improve Water Establishments’ management and cost-recovery, and (iii) Community Engagement promoting water accountability and public participation. In coming years, the organization will lead the implementation of the Establishment-Led Service Improvement and Cost Recovery (ELSICR) Modality directly with the Bekaa Water Establishment, and with all other Water Establishments through partners.

Within this framework, WeWorld-GVC seeks to recruit two Hydraulic Engineers (HE) to support ELSICR implementation in the field, as well as to provide technical supervision and capacity building to technical staff at local offices of the BWE. The HE will work closely with other engineers, technicians, and managers at BWE as well as staff from WW-GVC’s Water Governance Program. On a day-to-day basis, the HE will coordinate directly with the Senior Hydraulic Engineer hosted by WW-GVC who will provide them with technical advisory and oversight, capacity building, and backstopping support.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Studies and Information (30%)

• Lead surveying and assessment of existing water schemes directly through ground-truthing available data, measuring hydraulic values, and building/calibrating models;
• Supervise technicians and skilled workers in conducting network tapping and leak detection campaigns;
• Collect findings in Geographic Information Systems in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures;
• Ensure Management Information Systems, especially Workforce Management Systems, are utilized effectively and reflect operations accurately;
• Produce weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly reports extensively documenting and analysing progress, plans, achievements, and challenges, and make recommendations.

Implementation (40%)

• Lead the design and implementation of rehabilitation and upgrade works recommended, revised by SHE, and approved by the Water Governance Program Manager and BWE;
• Support the head of office in planning fieldwork and coordinating with other departments of BWE;
• Supervise maintenance works implemented by technicians and skilled workers within the jurisdiction of the assigned duty station;
• Ensure that infrastructure works in the field comply with contracts, designs, standards, and good practices.

Capacity Building (10%)

• Support the assessment of BWE’s local office operation and maintenance teams, equipment, and practices;
• Actively participate in training on surveying, maintenance, rehabilitation, design, modelling, and other relevant skills and support BWE’s technicians and skilled workers through continued coaching;
• Support the implementation of improved WE service improvement, operation, maintenance, contract management, and workforce management processes.

Procurement Processes (10%)

• Coordinate with WW-GVC on contract management and provide timely material and works requests in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures;
• Ensure supplies and works meet both BWE and WW-GVC’s standards and specifications.

REQUIREMENTS

Education

• A university degree or equivalent in the field of Water/Hydraulic Engineering or similar.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 2 years of engineering experience in water-related consulting, contracting, operations, institutions, academia, research, etc;
• Previous experience in Lebanon;

Skills and Abilities

• Good written and spoken communication skills;
• Commitment to knowledge transfer and capacity building of colleagues and partners;
• Ability to maintain professional relationships with partner organizations, public institutions, and service providers;
• Proven organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and perform under pressure;
• High tolerance for lengthy processes, and ability to patiently and persistently follow-up;
• Ability to think strategically and conceptually and to translate these into concrete results;
• Capacity to work autonomously and in problem prevention/resolution;
• Integrity in line with WeWorld-GVC’s values and ethical standards;
• Cultural, gender, religion, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Availability to commit for a long-term deployment.

Languages

• Professional written and spoken English;
• Native spoken Arabic.

Computer Skills

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint;
• Professional skills in CAD;
• Basic skills in Hydraulic Modelling software.

Desirable skills and competencies

• More than 3 years of engineering experience;
• Previous Experience in the Bekaa;
• Previous experience working with public utilities;
• Experience in contract management of infrastructure works;
• Professional skills in GIS and/or Hydraulic Modelling software