Senior Programme Associate (Site Engineer)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

Ethiopia has made important development gains over the past two decades, reducing poverty and expanding investments in basic social services. However, food insecurity and under nutrition still hinder economic growth. According to government estimates, 7.88 million people require food assistance.

In Ethiopia, the WFP Ethiopia Country Strategic Plan [CSP] (2025 – 2030) endeavors to ensure that targeted food-insecure and vulnerable populations benefit from more sustainable and inclusive food systems and increased resilience to shocks to meet their food and nutrition needs. WFP is working to support and implement humanitarian and resilience interactions and interventions in Somali Region with areas under Dollo Ado.

WFP Engineering provides cost-effective, high-quality, timely, and sustainable water infrastructure to help both WFP and other humanitarian and development actors realize the SDGs. The unit has extensive experience partnering with other UN agencies, governments, and NGOs and the broader humanitarian and development community to provide an efficient response in emergency situations, as well as in longer-term development programmes.

The Dollo Ado suboffice in the Somali region plays a key role in implementing a wide range of livelihood and resilience activities, including resilience programmes for refugees and host communities with additional projects that are expected to start soon, expanding the scope (geographic and thematic) as well as magnitude of resilience and livelihood activities in the areas under responsibility of the Dollo Ado office. Almost all the initiatives have water management component that requires complex technical engineering, agronomist and community engagement competences for designing and implementing irrigation schemes, water harvesting infrastructures in adequation with the local environment and the community knowledge.

JOB PURPOSE:

Under the overall supervision of the Resilience Programme Officer and Head of the Sub Office, the Engineer will provide construction engineering, water management for agronomist purpose and community management expertise to contribute to the efficient delivery and quality outputs of Irrigation as well as other water harvesting infrastructures construction projects.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):

• Contribute to the implementation of WFP Policies, standards, norms and practices ensuring compliance with wider WFP policies, procedures, guidelines and operations.
• Liaison with the communities and the Local Authorities to obtain necessary authorization for the implementation of the projects
• Act as a liaise between the various stakeholders. That include the community members, consultants, contractors, supervisors and the general workforce involved in the project. Ensure the translation of the engineering designs into understandable concepts to the stakeholders.
• Monitor and control the quality of all materials used, and all works carried out by the contractor are in accordance with the contract and national standards.
• Test every construction material before use, send test results for the project manager for decision making.
• Assurance of the quality of the works during construction, continuously inspecting the materials and construction operations with regard to workmanship and compliance with the specifications. Carrying out independent testing in the field and/or in a laboratory and informing the project manager in order to approve or disapprove and certify the works that conform to the contract. Maintenance of permanent records of results of all the tests made.
• Act as the main technical adviser on a construction site for subcontractors, crafts people and operatives; Setting out, levelling and surveying at the site; Checking plans, drawings and quantities for accuracy of calculations; Ensuring all materials used and work performed are as per specifications.
• Provision of notice to the contractors of any defects and deficiencies and communicate issues to the project manager for any of the improper works, where provided under the contract.
• Supplying all relevant documentation required to resolve disputes (if any) with contractors.
• Prepare and share daily progress report for CO Engineering unit
• Keep written records and photographs of every stage of the works and produce a final report when the projects are complete.
• Make recommendations to the sub-office/country office to certify works have been completed in accordance with the contract.
• Oversee quality control, health and safety matters on site.
• Resolve any unexpected technical difficulties, and other problems that may arise.
• Ensure that all construction works being carried out by Contractors on behalf of WFP are executed in accordance with health and safety best practice, and in accordance with Ethiopian Labor Law, and in accordance with the ethics of the United Nations.
• Other as required by the supervisors.

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Secondary school certificate. First University degree in Civil Engineering; Agronomist/water Engineering or related Engineering discipline is highly desirable. Accreditation to “Professional Engineer” or “Chartered Engineer” status, or recognized equivalent by an appropriate national or international regulatory authority is a plus.

Experience:

• Seven years of solid experience as site engineer, project engineer or project manager out of which one year of experience in managing or supervising water resource, irrigation schemes or drainage channels projects is highly desirable.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Has worked effectively on a large number of varied design and construction projects from inception to completion.
• Experience of working in difficult security environments
• Knowledge of UN Procurement procedures
• Familiarity with FIDIC international contract formats
• Experience of working in the Humanitarian context
• Proficient in using Microsoft Project Microsoft Application Software (Outlook express, PowerPoint, Word and Excel) including AutoCAD or ArchiCAD.

Language:

• Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Somali.

Skills Required:

• Civil / Engineering / Cotm
• Hydraulics / Water / Engineering