Assistant Public Health Engineer

Team Purpose

Despite the Syrian refugee crisis, the Bekaa Water Establishment (BWE) currently operates under major financial deficits, mostly due to the (i) low subscription rates and even lower bill collection rates for water provision, (ii) high rates of non-revenue water due to leakages in the supply systems and illegal water consumption by Lebanese residents, Syrian refugee and also water truckers, (iii) high energy demand and cost for water pumping, and (iv) no cost recovery for wastewater collection and treatment services.[1] A major bottleneck to the provision of a reliable water service provision in Lebanon, and the Bekaa in particular, is the energy requirements for water pumping. Intermittent electric energy supply by the grid in the Bekaa has necessitated that most water systems are equipped with generators to supplement electricity deficiencies. This comes at a considerable cost for fuel to power generators.

Oxfam, with funds from the Swiss Cooperation Office in Lebanon, will implement the project “Empowering the Bekaa Water Establishment in transitioning to more effective and sustainable water service provision in crisis affected Lebanon’ that aims to contribute to the effective and sustainable water service provision to crisis affected Lebanon, by improving financial returns for the BWE, through ensuring cost recovery to the BWE is made in return for water and sanitation services provided to Syrian refugees residing in Informal Tented Settlements and lowering the operational cost for water production with the construction and operation of solar water pumping systems. The project further co-funds other Oxfam WaSH interventions.

Job Purpose

This position will be part of a WaSH Humanitarian programme in the Bekaa Valley, that aims to contribute to the effective and sustainable water service provision to crisis affected Lebanon, by improving financial returns for the Bekaa Water Establishment (BWE), through ensuring cost recovery to the BWE is made in return for water and sanitation services provided to Syrian refugees residing in Informal Tented Settlement and lowering the operational cost for water production with the construction and operation of solar water pumping systems.

The public health engineering activities will provide WaSH assistance to vulnerable persons. The appointed person will work in a WaSH (water sanitation and hygiene) team of Public Health Engineers (PHEs) and will provide or supervise the provision of support and assistance (including some administration) to the programme.

The post-holder (APHE) is expected to:

• Implement tasks as set by the Senior Public Health Engineer (PHE) and include some routine checks in response to requests. The APHE will be assigned responsibility for supervision of construction works across multiple sites as directed, ensuring a high quality of construction work and facilitating smooth delivery of the projects and ensuring that strict health and safety procedures are adhered to at all times.
• Have experience in the construction environment and will have adequate knowledge in sub surface plumbing, reinforced concrete laying and general building construction.
• Will be a part of the site supervision team consisting of Site Engineers, and skilled persons (Mason, Plumber etc).
• Set performance objectives with line manager, as well as managing the process for those within your own team.
• Work patterns are routine.
• Field work requirements are 80%
• Flexibility, Willingness to learn and enthusiasm for humanitarian work

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Programme Implementation

1. To work with the implementation partners and contractors on assigned tasks as set by the PHE D1
2. To follow up and monitor workers at the work site, and ensure all the construction or rehabilitation of infrastructure and water and sanitation facilities are in accordance to technical specification and method statements.
3. To follow the works implemented, including daily and weekly site visit
4. To report regularly, verbally and in writing to the PHE D1.
5. With the PHE D 1, establish systems and controls for daily site checks and documentation 
6. Create and maintain a good relationship with the implementing partners and construction workers and sub-contractors
7. To produce non-conformance reports, establish a database and contribute to the close out of non-conformance.
8. With the guidance of the PHE D1 a, ensure that health and safety monitoring is incorporated into all daily site supervision activities.

Programme approach

1. To be familiar with and abide by international humanitarian standards, including the NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct, the People in Aid Code, Oxfam International procedures and ensure these are applied in the implementation of PHE activities, including raising awareness and building the capacity of Oxfam staff on these standards and how to action them.
2. To be familiar with and abide by the Oxfam partnership principals and approach.
3. To ensure that all PHE programmes activities take gender issues fully into account. This includes the introduction of mechanisms to enable women to participate in decision making around public health engineering issues
4. Maintain a good relationship with the implementing partners and contractors
5. Responsible for keeping a log of all 'lessons learnt" during the project

Coordination

1. As requested, participate in WaSH field based meetings with other stakeholders.
2. Actively participate in weekly team meetings.
3.  Communicate with PHPs and protection teams
4. Collect and report community level programme information

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Civil, Mechanical or Environmental Engineering degree qualified (or other relevant qualification) or student. Experience could substitute for a formal qualification, but not vice versa.
• Over 1 years of relevant experience
• Diplomacy, tact and administrative skills in order to work with people.
• The post holder should be at ease in working with local communities and Syrian refugees.
• Well-developed interpersonal and team skills and proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations.
• Good written and spoken English and Arabic.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Sympathy with the aims and Objectives of Oxfam.

[1] Oxfam 2017, Feasibility assessment for Water Service Provision to ITSs in Lebanon. A Case study of North Bekaa.