Water/hydraulics Engineers To Water Establishment (We) –3 Positions

  Title: WATER/HYDRAULICS ENGINEERS to Water Establishment (WE) –3 positions Duty stations: Tyre/Saida, Tripoli, BeirutReporting to: Beirut-Senior WASH SpecialistTripoli-WASH SpecialistTyre Saida-WASH OfficerFor all duty stations: DG Water Establishment overall managerial supervision Contract type: Individual SSADuration: 6 months Start date: As soon as possible I. OBJECTIVESThe consultant will primarily support Water Establishment activities which are targeted directly to support the stabilisation programme. II. BACKGROUNDFrom 2014, WASH Programmes are being formulated and delivered within the framework of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), shaped by the former humanitarian programme and led by the Government of Lebanon with international organisational support.  The UNICEF WASH Programme has been scaled up in the drive towards stabilisation through the LCRP, providing support and services to all vulnerable communities in Lebanon. UNICEF also performs sector coordination roles in both the humanitarian and stabilisation domains, providing senior technical advisors to support the WASH sector stabilisation implementation.The Government of Lebanon in year 2000, recognised the need to undertake a more strategic water resource management approach, culminating in the introduction of new water sector legislation, Law 221 with subsequent amendments. Since this time, a National Water Sector Strategy (NWSS) was released in 2010, with a ‘Water Code’ still to be ratified and Masterplan at national and regional levels to be developed. An important feature of the new legislation was the divestment of responsibility for water service provision to (4) Water Establishments (WE), which operate at a regional level, and planning and policy responsibility remaining with the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) at the national level. Due to capacity and institutional constraints however (including implementation of key regulatory tools such as the Masterplan), WEs have not been able to apply key measures to improve water supply reliability or to improve their financial viability. This together with the current Syrian Crisis has exacerbated the water scarcity situation within Lebanon and the need for effective intra-sectoral management particularly at the national level. Water and wastewater infrastructure across Lebanon is old and leaks significant volumes of water/wastewater. Excessive water extraction to maintain sufficient supply and contamination of water sources from leaking sanitation pipes are major problems that prevent Lebanon achieving a sustainable water management system. WASH stabilisation measures are being planned to restore/ strengthen Lebanese systems to pre-Syria Crisis levels, including for public water access in those most impoverished Lebanese communities, and to stem further environmental damage caused by poor wastewater management practices, both of which are compounded by underlying capacity and institutional reform weaknesses. Local government partnerships have been long established with the Water Establishments of the Northern and Southern Regions, and the Beka’a Valley which manage water and wastewater services in the areas most directly through the current legislative framework. The role of the water/hydraulics engineer is to perform specialised tasks to support the WE install and maintain efficient water and wastewater infrastructure. The engineer will undertake a wide range of technical and non-technical (project management related) duties focused on supplying, managing and maintaining clean water and sewerage/waste water services within the WE region. The work will encompass whole of project focus from conception through to planning, completion and handover. Asset management plays a major part in the job, involving repairing, maintaining and building structures that control water resources such as pumping stations, reservoirs and ageing infrastructure. Capacity building of SLWE staff is critical to ensuring technical skill is developed to effective sustain action in the longer term. Carefully targeted support, in capacity development, technical innovation and supporting institutional reform processes, aims to bridge humanitarian assistance with longer-term development objectives to foster more sustainable water resource management and practices in Lebanon. III. SCOPE OF WORKThe Consultant will be based in the WE and provide direct support to the WE Director General and staff. The Consultant will report to Director General of the respective WE. The WASH Officer in Tyre will monitor progress against the agreed TOR with the support of the Senior WASH Specialist in Beirut, and the Consultant will work closely with the UNICEF WASH and WE staff based in field office to deliver agreed outcomes. The Consultant will hold regular meetings with the WASH Officer to establish objectives and update him/her on the key achievements in delivery of the TOR.The Consultant will primarily, provide support to the WE in water/hydraulics engineering and report on the support given to the WE in this role. Should that workload permit, the Consultant may be requested to work on other tasks related to stabilization, especially training of WE staff. These decisions should be based on a common agreement from the WE and UNICEF.The Consultant will facilitate the delivery of the following tasks and responsibilities:•Develop plans and identify design innovative alternatives for new water resources and/or water efficiency programs. Design water distribution systems for potable or non-potable water. Produce designs for water distribution infrastructure including, initial outlines or full plans.•Design wastewater systems, including sewer improvement schemes and associated structures, such as pumping stations, pipework and earthworks (the scale of the design may range from an initial outline to a full, detailed design).•Provide technical guidance to the WE, including writing technical reports, reviewing technical submissions, assessing compliance with water and wastewater regulatory legislation, preparing guidelines and training modules, and maintaining awareness of current environmental issues. Monitor the progress of assigned projects, including from the feasibility stage, to design through to construction and handover, or supervising one section of a large project related to field of expertise.•Supervise the operation and maintenance of water and sewerage infrastructure.•Undertake project management responsibilities, including writing tender documents, managing contracts, managing project budgets and deliverables, present project details and technical information to stakeholders. Support other project managers and directors within the WE •Utilize a variety of specialist computer applications/simulation software in the performance of the role to collate, analyse and report relevant information.•Manage and maintain assigned water and sewerage infrastructure operations in SLWE.•By request of WE, liaise with relevant Water and Wastewater Sector stakeholders on behalf of WE, including local authorities, government agencies, clients, contractors, residents, suppliers, technical experts and other consultants;•Manage and train assigned WE staff, including other engineers, technicians and site workers to facilitate them to perform effectively in their assigned roles. IV.DELIVERABLES AND SCHEDULES•Provide monthly updates of the list of priority projects and their progress according to agreed report formats.•Provide monthly progress and status reports on WASH sector information collation.•Provide a handover report to the Director of WE and WASH Officer, UNICEF in a prescribed format upon completion of the assignment together with soft copies of all related documents, designs, data collation  and database analyses performed during the course of the assignment. V. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS•Monthly reports before the 5th of each month (conditional to receiving fee payment)•Meeting minutes 3 days after the meeting•Field visit monitoring reports 3 days after the visit.•Data input into database within 3 days of receipt. VI. PROFILE REQUIREMENTS•Advanced university degree in the field of civil engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental hydrology, watershed management, hydraulic engineering, or other related fields;•At least 5 years’ experience in planning and designing new water distribution systems, as well as evaluating and improving the efficiency of existing distribution systems;•Able to demonstrate a genuine knowledge and interest of the water industry and environmental issues in Lebanon;•Excellent analytical, team working and problem solving skills. Good time management, training, IT and communication skills;•Fluent English and Arabic language skills, and French would be an advantage;•Experience with international development cooperation agencies would be an advantage. VII. HOW TO APPLYQualified candidates are requested to apply online on http://www.undp.org.lb/jobs/index.cfm.Only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted and will receive official feedback. Incomplete applications or received beyond the deadline will not be considered.UNICEF is a non-smoking environment.UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.