Infrastructure Project Manager (Wash&Shelter) - NORTH

ABOUT THE STRUCTURE…

Solidarités International is an International NGO working with vulnerable populations, mainly victims of armed conflicts and natural disasters. Specialized for nearly 40 years in the coverage of vital needs, S.I. takes charge of emergency and reconstruction programs.

With respect for cultures and close to the people, Solidarités International implements its programs by combining its skills with those of its employees and local managers.

Solidarités International's teams, made up of around 270 expatriates and nearly 2200 local employees, are today present in 18 countries in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Caribbean where they are particularly committed to fighting diseases related to unsafe water but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods.

ABOUT THE JOB

General objective:

The project manager is in charge of implementing and achieving the objectives defined in the MADAD 3 project’s proposal.

He/she is in charge of supervising the operational teams allocated to the different components of the MADAD 3 project:

1) Support to North Lebanon Water Establishment (NLWE) through direct implementation of wash infrastructure work and service improvement support to Qobayat branch of NLWE;

2) Installation of decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DWWTS) in informal tented settlements (ITS) in North Lebanon and Bekaa.

3) The supervision and capacity building of a local NGO, which will be in charge, as partner, of implementing community engagement activities in area targeted by the first component, supporting NLWE.

He/she guarantees the proper execution and the quality of the implemented activities and, if applicable, suggests adjustments or developments to ensure relevance of the project.

The MADAD 3 project is built as a consortium in which the project manager will support the role of technical lead for the component related to installation of DWWTS in ITS, representing the consortium at Water Sector level and supporting SI in organising the working relationships with the partners.

The main challenges:

• Understanding of intervention contexts:
  • Intervention supporting the North Lebanon Water Establishment (NLWE) targeting the area under NLWE Qobayat local office
  • Informal Tented Settlement (ITS) contexts and constraints, specifically related to the installation of sanitation facilities, this in North Lebanon and Bekaa
• Understanding of different aspects of the project:
  • Development of long term infrastructure project in collaboration with NLWE, dealing with specialist consultants and contractors’ work implementation
  • Design, installation and monitoring of wastewater treatment system in ITS
  • Training and capacity building of a local NGO
  • Technical support to other NGO for wastewater treatment system installation
• Implementation of project’s activities within a consortium of 5 WASH partners
• Supervision of a local NGO implementing community engagement activities

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

• Understanding of SI WASH intervention in Lebanon
• Integration within SI WASH team
• Recruit 2 activity managers and 1 construction supervisor as member of the infrastructure team
• Take over discussions and collaboration with the NLWE, especially its local office of Qobayat
• Launch preliminary technical assessment within target areas
• Launch the partnership and define the action plan with the identified local NGO which will ensure community engagement activities under SI supervision

List of main tasks:

Project relevance, quality and design

• Contribute to establishing assessments and surveys
• Contribute to define Solidarités International’s local strategy and contribute to the annual programming by proposing new activities
• Propose technical approach and a financial, human and logistical scope for the project to be implemented
• Ensure a high quality of intervention for both components and ownership of the project activities
• Facilitate evaluation missions
• Write the technical annexes and chapters (including the logical framework) for the proposals
• Implement activities in compliance with the annual operational strategy, Solidarités International’s technical requirements and the financial donors’ criteria

• Evaluate the relevance of the activities carried out, as well as the effectiveness of the interventions and their appropriateness with respect to contextual developments and the populations’ needs
• Propose adjustments to the project, if necessary
• Ensure that the project under his/her supervision achieve the required results within the project timeframe
• Ensure that project objectives meet sustainability requirements and, if required, compliance with established norms and standards
• Participate in building the operational teams’ abilities with respect to techniques or new methodologies
• Ensure regular collaboration and supervision of the local NGO selected as partner to implement community engagement activities in order to achieve the required results within the project timeframe and ensure relevance

Implementation and operational monitoring

• Plan activities and activity cycle in the light of objectives established in the proposal
• Used the project management, monitoring and evaluation tools for activities implementation and adaptation, particularly the  planning and monitoring timeline
• Propose and implement quality criteria and monitoring indicators for the project
• Support and advise to the base’s logistical department for the purchase of specific materials for activities implementation
• Support and advise to the logistical department for the contract design and contractor/consultant selection for activities implementation and needed studies
• Plan and supervise the project implementation he/she is in charge of, being sure to meet deadlines and adhere to predefined technical specifications
• Guarantee the quality of the work implemented
• Anticipate any issues linked to carrying out the project activities
• Suggest any adjustments to be made to the project activities depending on contextual and indicator developments
• Work with the administrative department, contribute to developing and monitoring budgets relative to his/her project and monitor expenses and budget forecasts
• Ensure the monitoring of activities implemented by the local NGO selected as partner and suggest adjustments to the activities, if necessary

Capitalization

• Use the capitalization tools proposed by Solidarités International
• Participate in the centralization and distribution of procedures, guides and tools linked to the project activities
• Capitalize on intervention methods and techniques and on the experiences acquired by Solidarités International and other participants in the project activities
• Write procurement and handover reports before the end of his/her contract and send it to the appropriate persons on the mission and at headquarters

Personnel management  

• Participate in validating the hiring of national technical staff for activities
• Define the prerequisites for opened positions together with the administrative department; adapt existing job descriptions if required
• Greet and brief the new employees working on the project
• Identify and pass on any training needs for the teams
• Set up technical training depending on operational needs and identified training requirements
• Manage and support the team under his/her responsibility
• Lead work groups and thematic meetings
• Evaluate and assess the performance of colleagues under his/her direct supervision
• Ensure adherence to security regulations by personnel under his/her supervision

Reporting / communication / representation

• Pass upward to the relevant persons any information on the security situation or on any event that could impact Solidarités International activities and the safety of the teams
• Draft activity reports and any annexes relating to specific activities for the financial donor reports and/or amendments
• Ensure that all reports are delivered on time and in the correct format
• Maintain a local operational communications network and good relations with local and government authorities, financial donor representatives, UN agencies and other international agencies
• In his/her assignment area, represent Solidarités International’s at meetings or forums concerning the project activities
• Represent the organization when asked and/or delegated to do so
• Reply to headquarter information requests regarding specific needs
• In collaboration with the WASH coordinators/ Field Coordinator, prepare the administrative documents (MOU, handover, etc.) to be jointly signed with government authorities, communities or partners
• Ensure collaboration, coordination and official communication with the national and local authorities, especially the NLWE main office in Tripoli and its branch of Qobayat.
• Ensure adapted communication and information with local authorities, as municipalities to ensure access and smooth implementation of the project’s activities.
• Support and participate to the coordination with the MADAD 3 project consortium partners
• Represent Solidarités International among the consortium as technical lead for the component related to installation of DWWTS in ITS and represent the consortium at Water Sector level.

ORG CHART POSITION (reporting and functional relationships)

Line manager:  Field Coordinator

Line report(s) on base: Activity Managers

Functional managers: WASH Coordinator

Requirements:

Education:

Master degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering. Strong experience may substitute for formal education.

Experience:

• 3 years of documented experience in water sector domains for direct implementation of infrastructural works
• Knowledge of Near/Middle-East Context is an advantage
• Knowledge of Lebanese context and work in coordination with Water Establishments is an advantage
• Previous experience with NGO is an asset

Technical skills and knowledge:

• Problem solving and analytical skills with the ability to assess challenges and recommend solutions
• Strong management and training/capacity-building skills
• Computer literacy with very good command of MS Office Suite and AUTOCAD

Soft skills and spirit: 

• Excellent diplomacy skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to delegate
• Flexible (will have to take on responsibilities that might not be directly on his/her JD)
• Adaptability to changing work environment and possible volatile security situation
• Stress management skills: ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, with peaks of heavy workloads;

Languages:

• Fluent English and Arabic: speaking, reading and writing skills
• French are assets

Others: 

• Commitment to the fundamental principles of SI’s charter and ethics

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post: 2,000 USD – Basic salary

Vacation: 1.5 Paid Leaves/month

Social and medical cover.