WASH Technical Assistant-Construction Engineer at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

WASH Technical Assistant-Construction Engineer

Employer: Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Employment: Full-Time | Contract

Place of Work: Aysaita - Ethiopia

Posted date: 9 hours ago

Deadline: March, 20/2025 (7 days left)

Job Description

Position: WASH Technical Assistant-Construction Engineer

Reports to: WASH Project Manager

Duty station: Aysaita

Travel: Inter Zone travel 80%

Duration and type of contract: 6 months (Fixed Term)

Locations: Ethiopia North Afar Semera

Responsibilities

The main purpose of the position is to ensure effective planning and quality implementation of the WASH infrastructures. The WASH technical assistant will assist the WASH Officer-Engineer in providing technical support in the development of NRC’s WASH programming with a particular focus in monitoring and supervision of infrastructure works. He/she will also work closely with the community and the other Project Officers and assistants in the field to ensure the timely delivery of quality WASH programs and will assist the WASH Officer-Engineer in the planning and design of (future) projects.

Generic responsibilities

1. Ensure adherence to NRC policies, tools, handbooks, and guidelines
2. Implement delegated support function portfolio according to plan of action
3. Prepare and develop status reports as required by management
4. Ensure proper filing of documents
5. Promote and share ideas for improvement of the support function
6. Help plan and carry out need assessments, baseline studies periodic studies, and feedback findings to the stakeholders.
7. Collect data from the Woreda water utility office, community representative, and WASH committees and relevant and prepare regular reports on activities and WASH conditions for monitoring
8. Promote safe WASH practices, including appropriate use and maintenance of WASH facilities and services
9. Facilitate appropriate community involvement in the design and delivery of essential WASH infrastructure services and facilities.
10. Supervise WASH infrastructure construction activities in line with relevant standards, codes of conduct, and humanitarian principles.

Specific Responsibilities

• Establish water distribution points by installing water tanks and fixing pipes and faucets.
• Ensure pipeline works and construction of new water distribution points are executed as per the plan and design.
• Execute water supply scheme rehabilitation works together with the support from government
• Identify and assess public hygiene risks around water distribution points and respond quickly to avoid these risks.
• Mobilization of beneficiary communities to maintain the established/rehabilitated/protected WASH facilities
• Liaise with the WASH Officer-Engineer and contribute to the formation/training of Water supply and sanitation committees for the established/rehabilitated/protected water sources and WASH facilities
• Participate in the collection of useful data that are needed for water supply response
• Assist the WASH Officer in the inspection of water systems pumps and other water supply systems to ensure they are operational.
• Together with the WASH Officer-Engineer, perform compliance inspection of new construction which pertains to the settlement's water distribution system to determine that all fittings are installed and by prescribed standards, plans, and specifications.
• Assist in major repairs and installation of new materials, supplies, machinery and/or equipment
• Conduct water quality monitoring and disinfection by sphere and WASH cluster guidelines and standards;
• In charge of monitoring all construction activities of the WASH project.
• Assess, supervise, and follow the quality of construction and rehabilitation of latrines and solid waste disposal pits
• Mobilize the community for the construction work, whenever needed
• Ensure that latrines and solid waste disposal are constructed/rehabilitated in line with design standards, guidelines, and criteria established
• Undertake daily progress monitoring of construction works and workforces (contractors, carpenters, masons, or daily laborers, etc).
• Oversee appropriate management of construction equipment and materials at site/s(such as cement, Iron bars, wood poles, CI sheets, nails, stones, sand, gravel, and the like) and strictly follow and reduce wastage of construction materials.
• Prepare periodic construction progress and stock reports and submit them to the WASH Officer-Engineer and logistics.
• Support the WASH NFI distribution.
• Collaborate with other agencies (Government authorities and IPs) and represent DRC in the implementation area.
• Conduct technical assessment, develop safe and inclusive designs/BOQs, supervision, and prepare actual BOQs, as-built drawings and payment documents for all construction activities conducted by other CCs like education, FSL and others.
• Perform any other duty assigned by the immediate supervisor.
• Represent NRC in WASH meetings and coordination platforms
• Carry out other related tasks as directed by the line management

Qualifications

Generic professional competencies:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering field
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in monitoring and supervision of WASH Infrastructure construction projects
• A Diploma and/or certificate from a qualified educational institute with Water Supply installation and networking works (Plumbing and pump installation), Building Construction
• Strong knowledge and experience in engineering and construction projects with related processes such as tendering of works, monitoring of construction sites, etc.
• Previous experience working in complex and volatile contexts
• Report writing skills and computer skills in word processing and spreadsheets. Skills in reading and understanding technical drawing software (preferably AutoCAD) and project management software are desirable
• Good knowledge of English (speaking and writing)
• Strong organizational skills and ability to coordinate and manage a diverse array of activities and stakeholders
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and mediation skills and ability to work independently
• Good interpersonal and communication skills

Context/ Specific skills, knowledge, and experience:

• Experience in undertaking hygiene promotion in a relief program is essential.
• Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to explain and present technical information
• Possession of strong administrative and management skills with a willingness to follow relevant policies and procedures
• Experience in capacity building and training of staff and target groups
• Cultural awareness and experience of working where insecurity is a major issue
• Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is essential; fluency in Tigray and Afara is an advantage
• Ability to work independently in a result-oriented multi-tasking and multi-cultural environment and manage conflicting priorities.
• Proven ability to use MS Office software (especially Word and Excel) is essential. Experience with other computer programs such as SAP 2000 and Microsoft Project would be an advantage.

Behavioral competencies

• Handling insecure environment
• Planning and delivering results
• Empowering and building trust
• Communicating with impact and respect