VAC-11550 Senior Water Associate Engineers

Funded by USAID, the project “Improved Access to Water and Sanitation Services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh” was initiated in September 2021.

The project aims at improving access to clean and safe water, hygiene and sanitation and increasing the resilience of communities affected by floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces. It is expected to last until December 2026.

The project is articulated around three main components:

• Improve quality and reach of water supply services and increase access to community and household sanitation (Infrastructure);

• Provide more effective, gender-responsive and transparent WASH services through enhanced capacity of government and communities (Capacity Building);

• Reduce waterborne diseases and improve resilience of communities through improved community and household hygiene practices (Behavioral Change).

The project has started with a participatory needs assessment phase in coordination with all its stakeholders identified priorities and precising the specific outputs under component 1 i.e infrastructure development

Functional Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of Senior Project Manager, the direct supervision of the WASH Specialist and the guidelines of NESPAK engineers, the Senior Water Associate Engineer will be responsible for planning and the supervision of all engineering works taking place under WASH UNOPS projects which includes the capacity building part before the handover. The Senior WaterAssociate Engineer will also be in charge of the management of the health, safety, social and environmental (HSSE) procedures on all the sites he will be supervising (see specific responsibilities for more details). Finally the Senior Associate will be managing the Associate Engineer as well as working closely with the Community Engagement team to ensure a holistic and sustainable approach to all implemented systems.

• Support with technical assessments of WASH infrastructures;

• Review and give opinion on designs of WASH infrastructure works;

• Monitor costing of WASH infrastructure works, services or equipment to ensure its optimal use;

• Planning of WASH infrastructure team work;

• Follow up WASH infrastructure works schedule;

• Support with the procurement of WASH infrastructure works, services or equipment;

• Supervision of WASH infrastructure works;

• Contract management and monitoring of WASH infrastructure works;

• Support on defining, preparing and conducting the trainings required for the proper management of the infrastructure

• Support with the refresh training whenever is required during the follow up period, which includes DNP 

• Reporting on project’s infrastructure components as well as capacity building;

• Handover of WASH infrastructure works as well as the management system and DNP management;

• Personnel management, serving also as Focal point/Team leader of the WASH staff on the field and act as In-charge Field Office

Specific responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to:

Assessment:

• Support in conducting technical assessment, including capacity building gaps, with the contractor prior to commencing of works and notify the WASH specialist if there is a change in scope.

• Support WASH Specialist as well as Design Firm in technical assessment to the targeted activities

• Support WASH Specialist in liaising with the Public Health Engineering Department, Tehsil Municipal Administration, bureaucracy, law enforcement agencies, local authorities, Headmasters/Mistresses of schools, to guarantee the smooth implementation of the project.

• Facilitate the enumerators for getting information in the field for training need assessment

• Support Design Firm and WASH team on preparing and conducting any sort of surveys

• Work closely with community engagement department in identifying capacity building gaps

• Facilitate the required information for preparation of reports

Design:

• Support as required in preparation of designs for all the WASH systems

• Support in preparing all the required documents for the tender processes

• Support on giving feedback on potential designs improvement as per implementation goes.

• Support in reviewing the trainings content to address the capacity building gaps

Costing:

• Support procurement department in conducting researches, costs analysis and market surveys to estimate the costs of water supply, sanitation and solid waste management works, services or equipment.

• Review and monitor the cost databases related to those works, services or equipment, based on thorough research and cost analysis.

• Support in preparing budgets for water supply, sanitation and solid waste management renovation/construction works at different levels (from preliminary estimates to detailed budgets) based on the stage of the project, the time available and the level of accuracy required. This needs to include needs of capacity building as well as spare parts and consumables for a year, tools, etc.

• In collaboration with the WASH Specialist, include the cost of the Health, Safety, Environmental and Social (HSSE) requirements in the cost estimates for the works.

Planning:

• In collaboration with the WASH Specialist, the Procurement Associate and the MEAL/HSSE focal point, support in preparing the implementation plans, monitoring them.

• Suggest to the WASH Specialist and procurement team on all the resources necessary to implement the works as well as the soft components as community engagement and capacity building (in case of direct implementation) or the resources necessary to supervise and monitor the works (human resources, site premises, fleet, material, equipment, etc.).

Procurement:

• Participate in the preparation of tender documents for water supply, sanitation and solid waste management works, services (including capacity building related activities) or equipment; advising the PM and other team members on the best selection criteria (including HSSE criteria), and drafting documents in UNOPS e-sourcing procurement system.

• Participate in the related tender processes (conduct pre-bid meetings, provide clarifications to bidders, coordinate site visits, participate in bids opening, etc.), always acting in compliance with the provisions of the Procurement Manual.

• Participate in the evaluation of the related bids (conduct detailed and substantiated technical evaluations, verify and assess the references submitted by the bidders, etc.), always acting in full compliance with the provision of the Procurement Manual.

Supervision:

• Supervise the contractors daily works on site and assure quality assurance and adherence to the provided parameters.

• Participate and supervise, in collaboration with the service provider and/or NGOs the Capacity Building training.

• Record every issue identified in the field and forward it to WASH the Specialist for a timely solution.

• Inform the WASH Specialist on any urgent issues during construction, capacity building sessions and post/follow up.

• Assist in the implementation of full health, safety, social and environmental (HSSE) procedures, monitor the HSSE practices of the Contractor, assess risks and issues on site, address HSSE risks and issues observed with the Contractor, report weekly on risks and issues, sensitize and train the Contractor’s workforce to improve their HSSE practices (weekly briefings, specific toolbox talks), report on HSSE incidents, participate in incidents investigations, manage emergency contact list, ensure presence of PPEs, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher, provide first-aid when required.

• Assist in the implementation of the required activities related to Capacity Building and the ones from CE that require Engineering input.

• Report to WASH Specialist through the remote monitoring application RMS (training will be provided), enter accurate data on assessments and works performed, make recommendations on issues and seek instructions when needed;

• Confirm that all works and systems are installed according to approved specifications, drawings and BOQs, perform regular quality checks.

• Perform any other tasks as may be assigned.

• Ensure that complete organized construction and training records (memos, instructions, reports, pictures, test results, etc.) are kept for all sites.

• Monitor and track the progress of the works and address all implementation issues (technical, quality, supply chain and logistics, changes, variations, human resources, financial, health and safety, environment, etc.). Reporting:

• Daily report on quality of material, process, BoQs follow up, etc

• Weekly report to WASH Specialist on work progress, including issues, actions taken, risks and mitigation measure for each risk etc

• Support WASH Specialists with recording lessons learnt

• Report any changes in the original design, structure and plans

• Report on progress as per indicated/submitted plan by contractor

• Report on trainings process, results, comments, feedback, etc

• Weekly reporting on Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Plan for each site as well as any Gender related issues.

Contract management of WASH infrastructure works:

• Support in water supply, sanitation and solid waste management contracts initiation ( start-up meetings, right of access to the sites, inspection of the sites’ setup and the contractor’s equipment, review and approval of contractors’ key personnel and subcontractors, etc.), this includes all contracts for capacity building trainings and any required spare part, tool or consumables purchased.

• In collaboration with the WASH Specialist and the Procurement Associate, support in ensuring the formal management of the works and technical trainings contracts in line with UNOPS contracts modalities and procedures (prepare contractual notices and directions, prepare taking over certificates and final completion certificates, determine claims, prepare variation orders, prepare contract amendments, enforce delay damages and other financial penalties, manage disputes, terminations, arbitration processes, etc.).

Training:

• Support capacity building team with the trainings, supervising the process and its timely delivery

• Facilitate the monitoring process of the trainings as per capacity building plan and training documents

• Support on the capacity building follow up period after implementation and refresh trainings

Handover of WASH infrastructure works and DNP management:

• Support in drafting procedures for testing, commissioning, training users and handing over water supply, sanitation and solid waste management infrastructure works.

• Monitor all testing, commissioning, training and handover procedures are implemented and documented at all times.

• In collaboration with the WASH Specialist manage the one-year Defect Notification Period following the end of the infrastructure works (respond to complaints from users, visit sites handed over, assess complaints and identify possible defects, liaise with the contractors to enforce the rectification of defects through the use of all applicable contractual instruments, monitor the rectification of those defects, manage issues in coordination with the PMO Manager and IPAS PMI whenever required, liaise with the authorities when necessary, build the capacity of the relevant government entities to ensure the long term maintenance of the works delivered, issue Taking Over Certificates and Final Completion Certificates and close the contracts in accordance with UNOPS policies and procedures, contribute to the operational and financial closure of the project).

Personnel Management:

• Serve as Team Leader/focal point for the field staff in the specific assigned location (Dera Ismail Khan or Umerkot). This involves just ensuring proper productivity levels, coordination, attendance to office or field activities, being focal point on the field issues for the communication to management, etc. Ensure that the directly managed staff (associate water engineer) has a minimum weekly plan to follow and that this plan is properly updated and communicated to management. 

• Report to project manager.

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