VAC-15188 Project Engineer

Organizational context:

• Our client supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian & development projects around the world. Their mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations (UN), governments & other partners to manage projects, infrastructure & procurement in a sustainable & efficient manner. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our clients vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing their partners’ expectations.

• With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, our client offers its partners the logistical, technical & management knowledge they need, wherever they need it. A flexible structure & global reach means that the organization can quickly respond to partners’ needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. Our client in Somalia is a good example of where they are increasingly involved in complex implementation in areas of peace & security with multi million dollar projects to support police development & justice involving countless stakeholders in a hugely complex & politically charged environment.

Somalia country office:

• Somalia is amid major new political & security developments that will offer a greater possibility for peace & security than the country has seen in over 20 years. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), established in 2012 & international community have driven a process of rebuilding of functioning government institutions & processes through Somalia’s peacebuilding & state building priorities under the Somali compact (2013 – 2016), based on the Busan “new deal for engagement in fragile states” agreement. The Somalia national development plan (2017 – 2019), builds on this foundation laid by the compact & sets the priorities for national recovery & development in full collaboration with national & regional governments. A landmark electoral process in late 2016 & early 2017 resulted in a peaceful transfer of power to a new President & government, in place since February & March 2017 respectively. The government has set out an ambitious agenda for its term (the period to 2021). At the London Somalia conference in May 2017, a security pact was agreed by Somalia & the international community, which will allow for sustainable, long term security based on mutual accountability.

• Our clients Somalia Country Office (SOCO) is largely focused on assisting partners with the implementation of physical infrastructure projects including construction & rehabilitation of rule of law infrastructure, transport infrastructure (roads, airports) & public administration infrastructure. Our client also plays a leading role in supporting the FGS in the implementation of various donor funded projects & programs.

Job specific background – Building emergency capacity of six regional hospitals:

• Our client will implement sub component 3.1 building emergency response capacity at hospitals of the additional financing for the Somalia COVID – 19 emergency vaccination project funded by the World Bank (WB). Our client will rehabilitate six regional hospitals, one in each Federal Member State (FMS) of Somalia as well as in Banadir. The effort will include developing capacity for blood transfusions, respiratory therapy, triage response, solar powered oxygen & isolation centers’. Further, it will help upgrade the infrastructure & develop the capacity to manage climate emergencies, including preparedness & response plans, creating a climate emergency hospital response team & upgrading medical capacity to handle the impacts of climate shocks (such as malnutrition, injuries, drowning & climate sensitive diseases).

The Project Engineer provides technical assistance & expertise with reference to the design & construction works as well as field coordination, ensuring high quality & consistency of work, for the aim construction works. S / he promotes a collaborative, client focused, quality & results oriented approach in the project team. S / he will report to the Senior Project Manager. The Project Engineer will be based in the office as well as conduct missions to the sites, under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager the Project Engineer will perform the following activities:

Engineering & construction supervision:

• Oversee surveying works, engineering control of the works etc.

• Verification & checking of setting outs as per the construction drawings for the start of the construction of new structure.

• Interacting daily with the Site Engineers to follow up the contractor presence, the site work & supervise the Site Engineers & with clients to interpret their needs & requirements, participate in supporting construction approval & inspection activities & report to the Senior Project Manager.

• Liaise closely with engineering personnel, ensuring accuracy of construction activities including the administration of the contracts as it relates to claims.

• Understand the technical specification & scope of work of each contractor & where required to assist the contractor to manage, plan & coordinate monthly, weekly & daily construction activities including monitoring site safety & construction quality.

• Liaise closely with engineering personnel to identify & solve construction issues in a timely fashion, consulting & keeping the Project Manager informed.

• As tasked by the Senior Project Manager, supervise construction works & administer works execution as per the contractual provisions & the design specifications.

• Ensure quantity / quality control & time schedule consistency.

• Verify that works are consistent with the project technical specifications & inform promptly of eventual deviations.

• Support the overall management of works implementation & timely report to the Senior Project Manager to ensure construction works are completed on time, within budget & to quality standards.

• Report & recommend remedial actions regarding potential delays & / or cost overruns to the Project Manager.

• Provide data & information about project work to the Project Manager for reporting purposes.

• Provide regular supervision of the project work progress & quality for on time delivery.

• Assist the Senior Project Manager in the preparation of project / contracts related documentations such as project plan, periodic progress reports, site monitoring reports, stakeholder meeting minutes, engineer’s instructions & variation orders, contractor’s bills review reports, certifications, client hand over documents & contracts close out reports.

• Liaise with & provide support to, other offices within the country as required.

Reporting:

• Actively support the Senior Project Engineer & all relevant stakeholders with the supply of data & information including, but not limited to project implementation & completion reports & other related documents.

• Ensure accurate & timely reporting of implementation plan progress as well as conditions on site through daily / weekly site records.

• Prepare & submit to the Senior Project Manager a weekly or monthly (or as requested) detailing all project matters including resourcing & scheduling, quality, health & safety, environmental & financial, as well as any issues relating to possible delays, cost overruns, variations & any other matter as agreed with the Project Manager.

• Produce any appropriate documentation identified by the Senior Project Engineer in a professional & accurate manner.

Work package performance & delivery:

• Understand the full scope of infrastructure works, activities & resources required to deliver them to the available timeline & budget.

Assist the Senior Project Manager to develop & monitor work package implementation plans including:

• Overall Infrastructure Work delivery plans, stage plans within tolerances set by the project board and in line with overall Project Plan

• Quality, Health & Safety and Social & Environment plans

Risk & issues plans:

• Infrastructure human resource plans & budgets.

• Support the Project Manager to manage communications & ensure stakeholders are aware of work package activities, progress, exceptions & are in a position to accept handover products.

• Liaise with any external suppliers or other managers.

• Support the Project Manager to manage the production of the required products, overall progress & use of resources & suggesting corrective action where necessary.

Knowledge management:

• Ensure highest standards of knowledge management, ensuring quality & complete archiving of project infrastructure products.

• Contribute to the project evaluation process, highlight challenges associated with the project & feedback into a continuous improvement cycle.

• Provide training & knowledge transfer to national personnel & contractor’s personnel including advice on good construction practices, environmental management practices & appropriate health & safety standards during construction.

• Contribute to the dissemination & sharing of best practices & lessons learned for development planning & knowledge building.

Personnel management:

• Support & motivate the technical team.

• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established.

• Ensure safety & security for all personnel & comply with UNDSS standards.

Core values & principles:

• Understand & respect our clients sustainability principles.

• Look for ways to embed our clients sustainability principles in day to day project management.

• Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at workplace.

• Champion & communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders.

• Understand & respect national ownership & capacity.

• Understand the principles of the Paris declaration on aid effectiveness & mainstream them into the project plans.

• Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff.

• Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts.

• Strive to build strong partnerships & effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. UN, governments & Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) or other relevant partners).

Accountability for results & the use of resources:

• The project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency & results. If a project or process is not in line with this, it is the responsibility of the SPE to raise the issue with a supervisor.

Excellence:

• Contribute to innovation & the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability & quality.

Monitoring & progress controls:

• Ensure that the project(s) produce(s) the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. The Civil Engineer is also responsible for the project producing a result capable of achieving the benefits defined in business case(s). Contribute to the overall business targets & needs.

• Accuracy of infrastructure work package planning & delivery (according to approved plans).

• Timeliness & accuracy of reporting on work package performance.

• Full compliance (& evidence) with HSSE & Quality Management System (QMS) for infrastructure work package, demonstrated through completeness of records according to the document management guidance.

• Identification & implementation of continuous process improvement.

• Close out of all Defects Rectifications on Infrastructure Work package and final completion certificates/handovers

• This role works under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager.

• University degree (bachelor’s / first level) in civil engineering or related field is required, an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in civil engineering or related field is an advantage, project management certification (Prince2 Foundation) is desirable.

• A minimum of 4 years experience working in construction management is required.

• Experience working in infrastructure & project management is an asset.

• Experience in health & safety management is desired.

• Experience in design management & supervision of construction activities is an asset.

• Work experience in post conflict / fragile environments & hardship is desirable.

• Competence in the use of all commonly used computer software spreadsheet, scheduling tools, MS project, Google Suite, AutoCad & other computer programs is an added advantage.

• Some experience in the UN system organizations and/or a developing country is desirable

• Fluency in written and oral English required

• Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

• Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others.: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilising appropriate leadership styles

• Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

• Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

• Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behaviour. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

• Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks, Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

• Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

• This role has no team management responsibility.

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.