Water Infrastructure (Engineer) Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing the Project entitled “Building Resilience to Cope with Climate Change in Jordan (BRCCJ)”, The goal of the seven-year project is increased climate resilient sustainable development in the country. Towards this aim, the project combines infrastructure development and natural resources management with principles of local capital formation at the community level. The project will have three interrelated components, which will work synergistically to address key barriers and enhance the impact of project investments. The components are designed to deal with the lack of infrastructure, limited capacity of rural farming households and weak institutional capacity. They include (i) Component 1: Climate Resilient Water Systems; (ii) Component 2: Climate Change resilience for Enhanced Livelihoods and Food Security; and (iii) Component 3: Scaling-up climate adaptation. Coherently with identified lesson learned in Jordan as well as with the GCF Gender guidelines, the project builds on the idea of inclusion of women as change agents for climate adaptation. The project will be executed jointly by FAO, UNDP, Ministry of Environment (MoE), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) indicating the strong collaborative and partnership approach which will be adopted during the implementation of the project. The project will capitalise on the strong experience and convening power that both FAO and UNDP have established in the country.

For the implementation of the Project, a project management unit (“PMU”) will be formed. The PMU will be responsible for day-to-day project management, providing human resources management, financial and procurement services, coordinate the Project activities, generate work plans and prepare reports. The PMU will be established within MoE and will report to the FAO.

Under the overall technical guidance of the CTA, the Water Infrastructure Specialist is a national full-time resource position, whose mandate is to contribute to the achievement of the BRCCJ outcomes and outputs.

Reporting Lines

The Water Infrastructure (Engineer) Specialist will be working under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), and in close collaboration with the Project Manager

Technical Focus

Water harvesting and collection, water management, water quality, water conservation structures, water use efficiency, treated and low water quality use, water users associations, modern irrigation technologies, smart agriculture.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the activities foreseen under Component 1 “Climate Resilient Water Systems for enhanced water security”, particularly Output 1.1.1 “400 public buildings and 7,850 households fitted with the rooftop water harvesting structures”, Output 1.1.2 “Reuse of reclaimed water from 3 Waste Water Plants optimized” and Output 1.1.3 “Landscape Resilience Plans”. • Initiate consultation and maintain dialogue with national and district-level administrative bodies (MOE, MWI, Governorates, WWTP management structure, other). • Develop the TORs of a baseline survey to be commissioned to a service provider. The study is intended to enable measuring subsequent changes and impact of installing the rooftop water harvesting structures. • Conduct at least 14 random site inspections to project sites to ensure delivery to beneficiaries identified in close coordination with the M&E Specialist. • Develop the TOR of two (2) gender-sensitive knowledge products on rooftop water harvesting structures to be commissioned to a service provider, in close coordination with the Social Inclusion and Gender Specialist and the Environment and Social Safeguard Specialist. • Supervise the execution of the above-mentioned activities in accordance with the technical specifications identified in the FP and PIM. • Monitor the implementation of all UNDP-led activities identified in Component 1. • Ensure that the government counterparts, particularly MWI, MOE, and WWTP Managers, are regularly engaged in the implementation of the project activities. • Provide technical backstopping in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of water and water infrastructure related activities in the three components. • Provide construction supervision and quality control of the deliverables provided to the project. • Ensure that the proposed water related activities are in line with the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP). • Contribute to design, approve, supervise implementation, and/or monitor - where applicable - the deliverables of the service provider: o Design water collection, harvesting and irrigation systems and structures. o Preparation of bills of quantity, costing, drawings, and bidding documents. o Development of O&M and water quality guidelines and manuals. o Preparation of topographical and hydrological maps for the project area. o Conducting rainfall and water flow analysis. o Identification/calculation of crop-water requirements. o Development of an early warning system. Accordingly, the Water Specialist will coordinate efforts with meteorological departments, stations, dam management and Civil Defence Department. • Review the impact assessment and survey results produced by the service providers. • Liaise and ensure synergy is in place with similar projects implemented by other donors or bodies within the project area. • Support the establishment (where applicable) and improve the performance of the existing Water Users Associations (Activity 1.1.2.3). Follow up on the hygiene training programme for the reused of reclaimed water targeting farmers and WUAs. • Develop TORs for the missions, experts/consultants and studies of relevance to water. • Participate in the evaluation of the technical offers submitted by the service providers. • Participate in project meetings, events and support visiting missions and experts/consultants. • Represent the project in meetings held in the field where the subject is focused on water and water infrastructure.Participate to the development of BRCCJ Communication Strategy and provide input on CC adaptation and water. • Develop awareness and information material related to water harvesting, collection and water-saving techniques. • Identify lessons learned, good practices and innovative approaches that can be applied, scaled up, or replicated in the project area and outside. • Identify synergies with other agricultural and CC projects and initiatives and explore means of collaboration based on collected lessons learned to optimise the BRCCJ outcomes. • Review the capacity building programmes (FFS, reclaimed water reuse by WUA and farmers, climate-wise women agents, other) proposed as part of the Project activities and ensure that the information and approach used is sound. Submit to the CTA a detailed capacity building plan for endorsement. • Provide training and improve the capacities of relevant project staff, beneficiaries and collaborators from other institutions.Participate in reviewing the project performance indicators and their milestones. Follow up on the objectively verifiable indicators at the outcome, result and output levels and report back to the M&E Officer. • Actively participate in the preparation of the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) at the beginning of each Project Fiscal Year (FY). • Prepare progress and periodic reports as required in BRCCJ. • Continuously monitor, assess, track and report on progress and achievements.Provide support to the chief technical advisor and other technical specialists. • Report to PM on management related matters. • Suggest to the Project Manager an acting Water Specialist from the PMU team to maintain the Specialist’s tasks during times of in-office unavailability. • Perform other project tasks and duties requested/assigned by the CTA through the Project Manager.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• M.Sc. degree in Water Engineering, Civil Engineering, • (7) years’ work experience in designing, implementing and supervision of water conservation and collection structures and engineering solutions • Experience in preparing contract documents, contract evaluation and awarding processes • Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages • National of Jordan

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Projects management and supervision • Water collection and harvesting and watershed management • Negotiation with contractors and service providers • Problem solving and mitigation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.