Head of Engineering and Asset Creation Officer for Resilience unit

Programme & Policy

Overview

Lead and manage engineering design and construction projects for resilience in DRC.

You have:

• Advanced University degree in Civil Engineering, preferably with a post-graduate or Master degree specialization in relevant engineering disciplines.
• A minimum of six years of experience in leading and managing construction projects at least three development countries, post-emergency or post-conflict.
• Proficiency in spoken and written in English and French.
• Good communication and leadership skills.
• Specialized knowledge and/or experience in engineering design.
• Good knowledge of public procurement procedures; international contract formats and construction management procedures.
• Experience of working within the Humanitarian Community and in field condition is required.

Are you a Civil Engineer/Asset Creation expert, experienced in Project Management with focus in the design and construction of infrastructure, eager to join the world's largest humanitarian organization in saving lives and saving lives? If yes, this opportunity is yours! We are looking for talented people who are committed to joining our efforts to eradicate hunger. We offer unlimited opportunities to grow your professionalism, talent and expertise. Start your journey to be a member of the world-wide effort to eradicate hunger. Currently, we are looking for a candidate to support our operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

WFP has a policy of affirmative action for women and qualified applicants from developing countries.

JOB TITLE : Head of Engineering and Asset Creation for Resilience

TYPE OF CONTRACT : International Consultancy (Regular Consultant) - CST II

UNIT/DIVISION : Programme/RBJ

DUTY STATION : Goma, DR Congo DURATION : 11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the second-largest country in Africa, covering an area of 2.34 million km². The population is an estimated 71 million people. Although the country possesses vast resources, a high proportion of the population (about 63.4 percent) live below the poverty line (under USD 1.25 a day) and is unable to meet its basic needs.

The situation in the country is fragile and the development challenges are major. The DRC is ranked 152nd out of 163 countries on the 2016 Global Peace Index and in terms of democracy, it is ranked 157th out of 167 countries on the 2015 Democracy Index of The Economist. On the Fragile States Index 2015, the DRC is listed in the category of “greatest concern and urgency”, with widespread conflict and insecurity caused by the struggle for the control of natural resources, access to land, ethnic tensions, and the activism of armed groups.

Poverty, conflict, displacement and vulnerability continue to undermine food and nutrition security for a growing number of Congolese people, particularly women and children. Despite considerable efforts by national and international partners, the food and nutrition crisis is deepening making it more and more difficult not to leave no one behind. The agricultural sector, pillar of the DRC economy, was destroyed due to armed conflict. Today, the sector is predominantly characterized by subsistence farming and smallholder agriculture on small and fragmented parcels of land. Farmers have very limited access to credit, agricultural inputs and equipment, and almost no incentive to invest in producing surpluses

To address these challenge, the World Food Programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo adopted new strategies in the face of shocks and crises, in ways that preserve the integrity of individuals, households and communities with a focus on merging humanitarian and development programming to better address overlapping risks and stresses. This “paradigm shift” focus on investing in empowering households/communities to reduce, mitigate and manage their risks in order to reduce the need for emergency assistance in the medium and long terms. Since the World Food Programme (WFP) in the Democratic Republic of Congo is systematically increasing its efforts to build resilience through Asset Creation interventions in several provinces.

The World Food Programme therefore seeks to strengthen its capacity to ensure the momentum created in the development of productive assets. To meet the increasing demands in planning, analysis and execution of project activities WFP is seeking services of an experienced Civil Engineer/Asset Creation Officer to manage the programmes in North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika and as may be required in Equateur.

Objective

The Head of Engineering and Asset Creation for Resilience unit will provide technical leadership and assistance in project design, implementation and management of the Asset Creation programme.

The main tasks required of the position will include engineering design and review; engineering project management; construction procurement processes; contract management for construction activities, public Procurement Contracting in a UN Environment and technical support to WFP's programmes.

In addition, the Head of Engineering and Asset Creation Officer for Resilience unit assigned to this position will assist the resilience and Safety Net Unit to develop operational procedures and related technical steps and processes for a range of Productive Safety net and Food Assistance for Assets programmes that require engineering support.

The Head of Engineering and Asset Creation Officer for Resilience unit shall be able to demonstrate strong competency and responsible roles in planning and programming engineering design or construction activities in community-based interventions.

The Head of Engineering and Asset Creation Officer for Resilience unit should have experience in Project Management with focus in the design and construction of infrastructure. The engineer assigned to this position will require experience in construction contract management, including knowledge and experience of international construction contract law; and related construction contract formats.

Reporting line****: Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Area Office and functional supervision of the Head of Resilience in Kinshasa, the Head of Engineering Resilience Unit and Asset Creation Officer for resilience unit will coordinate all the construction and safety net activities in the country which are developed and implemented in the framework of Act.

Responsibilities

Engineering duties

• Provide advice and support to WFP CO and Field Offices on a range of engineering services, project management and construction activities, including the implementation of WFP policies, standards, norms, and practices to ensure that outputs meet the established quality standards.
• Manage and conduct an analysis of project proposals to ensure business case and technical feasibility and that project objectives are attainable within the prescribed resources and timelines.
• Lead the creation of preliminary or detailed designs (preparing, writing and assembling drawings, schematics, masterplans, design calculations and reports, technical specifications) and requiring a detailed knowledge of the international standards and codes.
• Lead the preparation of project budgets or preliminary and detailed cost estimations to implement civil, structural, electrical, mechanical or special systems within the projects (including feasibility studies, or project schedules, or bids). Work-time estimates could be also required.
• Lead the preparation of project contract documentation and manage communication with procurement unit and WFP Head Quarters (HQ) Engineering Unit;
• support Field Offices with the preparation of Scope of Works, tender packages, tender evaluation, contracting and reporting.
• Attend coordination meetings, repare and review reports, minutes and correspondences prior to approval;
• Liaise with stakeholders, both internal and external to the organization;
• Undertake administrative tasks as required, and provide project management services for the projects where and when requested;
• Provide guidance and direction to contractors and design consultants;
• Lead the implementation of constrcution work and technical evlauations;
• Review and evaluate planned and ongoing construction projects works;
• Ensure establishment and maintenance of project performance monitoring, evaluation and reporting procedures, up to project completion;
• Lead and manage the engineering team in contractual matters (not limited to performance bonds, insurances, claims, advance payment guarantees etc.);
• Prepare and manage cash flow programmes involved in resilience project activities;
• Assist with the interpretation of the contract documents. Explain and or reconcile any ambiguities and or discrepancies in the contract documents and apply the various provisions of the contract documents;
• Lead the assurance of the quality of the works during design and construction.
• Lead the process in design reviews (reading, interpreting and critique/comment on technical drawings, schematics, and computer-generated reports) and giving advice and recommendation.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Technical Support to Asset Creation Project

• Lead developing specific technical reference sections related to engineering aspects (e.g. planning, design, technical elements, implementation and management, references, etc.).
• Engage with Asset Creation teams through questionnaires, conference calls and others, to obtain details related to ongoing practices, standard procedures, needs and challenges encountered during Asset Creation projects and other information that could help identify areas that require engineering support.
• Based on consultations with specific Field Office teams and together with the Resilience and Safety Net unit, develop brief guidance manuals for activities that require support for design, implementation and management processes.
• Document engineering support to Asset Creation activities and assist the Resilience and Safety Net uni in documenting and sharing good practices.
• Participate in field missions for reviewing specific assets, and provision of technical support & training as required.
• Lead, supervise and guide the Asset Creation related team, provide feedback and conduct regular staffing reviews in writing as appropriate.
• Work in close liaison with other persons responsible for managing Asset Creation activities ensuring fully integrated programming and fostering.
• Prepare, review and manage the Asset Creation budgets. Regularly report on spending and budget changes to the supervisor.
• Develop funding proposals as well as related communication material on Asset Creation in close cooperation with the communications unit. Present and discuss overall area of work and funding proposals to government, partners and donors.
• Ensure full alignment and coordination of workplans with FAO, UNICEF, government, and partners work in the same field of work;
• Develop and update operational guidelines and Standard Operation Procedure for Asset Creation and Public Work ensuring compliance to WFP standards and procedures;
• Develop, in close collaboration with the M&E unit, a comprehensive monitoring and assessment plan Asset Creation and Public Work activities planned;
• Liaise with internal and external counterparts (including government and donors) to ensure effective collaboration, monitor projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery;
• Ensure timely review the Asset Creation proposals and budgets and signing of the FLAs;
• Lead the preparation of accurate and timely reporting and/or communication on relevant Asset Creation activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders;
• Work with Productive Safety Net and Asset Creation engineer to define standard and respectable work norms, cash transfer rates and/or food rations;
• Identify linkages with organizations with similar projects in order to avoid the development of parallel and overlapping structures and maximizing synergies with programmes implemented by other actors;
• Organize, coordinate and manage a series of technical assessments, project component design, and monitoring and evaluation activities required to implement projects in coordination with other Programme activities;
• Liaise with implementing partners (internal and external) to monitor ongoing projects, ensuring effective collaboration, timeliness and efficiency and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
• Provide technical support for Country Office asset creation and maintenance activities as required.
• Provide detailed reports to the Head of resilience in Kinshasa at request
• Undertake regular field visits to the Sub-offices where resilience activities are implemented to support the advancement of works.

Staff management

• Supervision and performance assessment of resilience construction supervisor based in Goma and functionally supervise and performance assessment of resilience construction supervisors in other Sub-Offices.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced University degree in Civil Engineering, preferably with a post-graduate or Master degree specialization in relevant engineering disciplines.

Experience:

A minimum of six years of experience in leading and managing construction projects at least three development countries, post-emergency or post-conflict. Deep technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams. Experience in delivering training is an advantage.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Good communication and leadership skills;

  • Specialized knowledge and/or experience in engineering design;
  • Detailed knowledge of construction contract formats and contract management obligations;
  • Good knowledge of public procurement procedures; international contract formats and construction management procedures;
  • Experience of working within the Humanitarian Community and in field condition is required;

  Languages:

  Proficiency in spoken and written in English and French.

  TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP: http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

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DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS Sunday, 16 January 2022 (Midnight Kinshasa Time)

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TO APPLY

Interested applicants should complete their applications online at the WFP website: http://www.wfp.org/careers. Candidates are requested to create an account in WFP E-Recruitment system before applying. Please also include your CV with a cover letter, highlighting your motivation and suitability for this vacancy, as part of an online application.

Only short-listed candidates will be invited to the written test and the interview.

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Women applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org