Water & Habitat Engineer

PURPOSE

WatHab Engineer plans, designs and implements engineering projects within the scope of the ICRC's water and habitat assistance objectives, with supervision and limited coaching. S/he carries out needs assessments and surveys and plans new projects. S/he is responsible for the implementation of all or part of the WatHab programme within their area of geographic responsibility, acts as a key interface with external stakeholders and reports to management on stakeholder relations and the general situation.

Minimum required knowledge & experience

• University degree in architecture, civil or structural engineering, hydrology, hydraulics, geology or similar.
• Excellent command (spoken and written) of English.
• Proficient in use of drawing software if working in construction and hydraulic engineering.

• 6-8 years' professional experience in a related field. 1–2 years' professional experience at an international NGO an asset.
• Advanced knowledge of water and sanitation or construction engineering.
• Experience managing 4–6 technical support staff.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Assessment and Planning

• Carries out field assessments focused on technical, social, and institutional aspects;
• Develops her own elaborate understanding of context and humanitarian needs in the area of responsibility and advises management on possible areas of intervention and priorities;
• Analyses collected information and writes comprehensive assessment reports, consolidating inputs from various internal and external sources;
• Proposes independently projects to address evidence-based humanitarian needs and as per strategy.

Project Design and Management

• Develops structured concepts of intervention to address humanitarian needs, based on in-depth studies where necessary, and writes comprehensive project proposals;
• Performs detailed calculations and prepares technical designs and documents (bill of quantities, drawings, technical specifications, etc.) for engineering projects in collaboration with relevant stakeholders;
• Consults technical experts where necessary, ensuring the timely mobilization of expertise as necessary, both internally (experts) and externally (consultants) and manages all (contractual) relations that come with it;
• Prepares tender and contractual documents in close collaboration with Logistics and in accordance with ICRC rules and regulations;
• Manages contractual relations with contractors in accordance with ICRC rules and regulations;
• Supervises project implementation and ensures compliance with project documents, ICRC standards, and local building codes/standards, taking corrective action if necessary, proactively and independently;
• Manages relationships with relevant authorities throughout the project cycle and ensures handover of projects to the beneficiary.

Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) / Reporting

• Proposes comprehensive MEAL strategies in consultation with
• Monitors and evaluates projects as per agreed monitoring strategy independently, reports challenges and proposes proactively corrective measures;
• Draws lessons learned for his area of responsibility, drives a continuous improvement process, and feeds back into the broader WatHab strategy at country level;
• Creates and maintains up-to-date project files in electronic databases (WPA, TeamSpace, SharePoint, etc.) as per institutional and departmental information management guidelines;
• Maintains precise financial follow-up and ensures timely financial forecasting on project level.
• Contributes to institutional reporting and prepares specific progress and project reports.

Contacts and Networking

• Attends information/coordination meetings within the wider humanitarian community as appropriate, ensuring mutual exchange of information and avoiding duplications.
• Develops and maintains contacts with relevant interlocutors (e.g. water establishment, municipalities, etc.) and keeps interlocutors informed on ICRC activities.
• Develops and maintains a network of local contractors, suppliers, and consultants.

Emergency activities In response to urgent humanitarian needs

• Plans, organizes and supervises the implementation of ICRC emergency activities.
• Might be required to work on weekends and outside normal working hours.