Conservation and Resource Protection Team Lead, Lebanon Water Sanitation and Conservation (WSC)

Project Background:

The Water Sanitation and Conservation (WSC) Project’s purpose is the enhanced conservation and protection of Lebanon’s water resources through achieving three objectives: 1) capacity of wastewater (WW) and sanitation management expanded; 2) efficiency of public water utilities to manage water resources increased; and 3) citizens’ water stewardship enhanced. The availability of usable water resources in Lebanon—a strategic priority country to the U.S. Government’s Global Water Strategy—is at risk, jeopardizing the well-being of citizens and the social compact between the Government of Lebanon (GOL) and its people. In achieving WSC’s three objectives, USAID also hopes to gain fuller municipal and community integration—women and youth included—and a more substantial private sector role in Lebanon’s water sector, as well as greater sustainability of water sector enhancements.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The Conservation and Resource Protection Team Leader will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Evaluating, planning and implementing hard and soft activities and projects related to water resource catchments (basins), source water protection, improved management of water allocation for irrigation and potable water, and irrigation water conservation.
• Supervising, coaching and mentoring the Conservation and Resource Protection Engineer/s.
• Planning and implementing water resource protection activities in selected WSC intervention areas and building on the Bekaa Irrigation Master Plan to rehabilitate irrigation schemes to support efficient use for irrigation purposes.
• Working closely with the Local Governance and Civic Engagement team to provide technical due diligence in support to initiatives that sensitize communities to increase subscription to irrigation services and the collection of irrigation fees in areas of intervention.
• Providing input and technical support to the Local Governance and Civic Engagement team to expand civic engagement by strengthening CSO capacity to promote water awareness and conservation activities and education.
• Providing input and technical advice to increase the LRA’s capability to detect and resolve cases contributing to Litani River pollution.
• Providing support to other WSC teams in planning and conducting community engagements resulting in sustainable water conservation and protection plans.
• Providing input and technical due diligence to the infrastructure assessments and design outcomes to confirm the appropriateness of W/WW and irrigation infrastructure upgrade opportunities in selected intervention areas in conjunction with water management best practices.
• Working closely with Design and Construction team members to develop technical scopes of work for irrigation water conservation projects.
• Working closely with the water establishments and other WSC teams to implement water safety plans (WSPs).
• Working with other WSC team members to improve communal sanitation management and to develop a communal sanitation management pilot in the base period.
• In Year 3, assess pilot results through stakeholder interviews and surveys, socialize benefits (addressing water resource protection) with unions of municipalities, determine options for scaling, and build the union’s capacity to replicate this model and ensure its sustainability
• Working with other WSC team members to utilize WSPs to inform the design of a “citizen scientist” program and to train local communities on WQ monitoring and safety communication. Support LRA to develop investigation procedures and use “citizen scientist” programs to detect, analyze, and report data and pollution cases.
• Supporting partnering efforts with Water Establishments, LRA, municipalities, WUAs, farmers and the private sector during the WSC base period to develop local community engagements resulting in sustainable water conservation and protection plans; and coordinate and support pilot initiatives to promote circular economy (WW/sludge reuse) opportunities for agricultural sector.
• Working with other WSC team members to seek win-win solutions that improve industry water use and wastewater treatment to include increasing water reuse and reducing effluents.
• Working to improve the  LRA’s capability to reduce pollution by capitalizing on LRA’s newly proactive approach to water resource protection, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI)’s Litani groundwater assessment, and USAID’s LWP and LRBMS investments to monitor seasonal water volume/quality changes in the Litani River. Coordinating support of universities such AUB to facilitate LRA field investigations, continuing IWMI’s identification of pollution and groundwater over-extraction hot spots.
• Planning, convening and managing stakeholders—industries, farmers, and citizens—for water resource protection awareness and education events.
• Working with the WSC DCOP to increase public utility capacity to manage irrigation sources efficiently, reducing water needed for irrigation, and redirecting water resources to domestic supply.
• Introduces municipalities, CSOs, water users associations (WUAs) (if existent) to the benefits of drip irrigation and to promote its use for water conservation.
• Supports BWE to analyze the positive impact on groundwater and partner with municipalities and farmers to reduce illegal groundwater extraction.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Design and Construction Manager and provide other types of technical support for sound decision making and problem solving as needed.

Qualifications:

• An engineering degree from a recognized university in agricultural, water resources management, or environmental engineering or a water resources management, natural sciences, conservation, and water and wastewater engineering management degrees.
• Master’s degree and/or experience in water resource management, wastewater management, and environmental management are a plus.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in water resource management/protection, conservation and/or natural resource management, pollution prevention/ abatement, (may include up to 3 years of water/ wastewater and/or irrigation infrastructure construction management related work experience) Or minimum 5 years professional experience if the candidate has a relevant master’s degree.
• 4 years of experience managing and supervising other professional level staff.
• Experience working on USAID projects and/or equivalent donors and knowledge of USAID policies, strategies, and regulations.
• Excellent interpersonal relationships with national and international staff in a multicultural environment and with multidisciplinary teams
• Proven track record of project management experience and organizational skills.
• Strong report writing and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to develop solutions for complex construction and technical related problems and to develop resolutions in a timely manner.
• Experience working with public administrations such line ministries, Regional Water Establishments, municipalities, industries, agricultural organizations, universities, and civic action groups.
• Excellent report writing skills and Fluency in Arabic verbal and written skills, and excellent verbal and written English skills.

About DAI

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work.  DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.