NGO JOBS

Organization: International Rescue Committee
Country: Central African Republic
Closing date: 28 Oct 2013

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

BACKGROUND:For over a decade, CAR has suffered from a multi-faceted crisis marked by chronic poverty, political instability, and violence. In December 2012, the Seleka rebel alliance took control over much of the country and, after a short period of attempted negotiations and peace talks, carried out a coup d’état in late March 2013. Since then, public services, governmental offices, police and military forces, schools, health provisions, and other services have come to a standstill. The planting season was heavily disrupted in a country with 80% of the population involved in agricultural work and protection issues are having a cross-cutting impact on all sectors. As a result, the chronic humanitarian needs facing CAR have become acute in many parts of the country requiring immediate and intensive humanitarian action to respond to the multi-sectoral needs at hand.

Scope of WorkThe Water/Civil Engineer Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing IRC’s construction and rehabilitation activities in Nana Gribizi and Ouham Pende prefectures of CAR. These activities will focus on infrastructures related to economic infrastructure, school facilities, and ground-water systems and rehabilitation. The activities and projects that the position oversees involve both direct implementation and supporting implementation by communities through consulting engineers and contractors. The post, therefore, involves ensuring that design, construction and field supervision are conducted to a high professional standard by IRC employees and the private contractors.

The position reports to the Area Program Coordinator also based in Kaga Bandoro.

Responsibilities

Program management:Supervise the design (directly or contracted) of infrastructures that are adapted to population needs and context and match international and national norms and standards. Support communities to establish and oversee implementation of systems for controlling the quality of supplied construction materials; closely monitoring market prices; tracking works progress against work plans, and controlling the quality of the final construction outputs.Support communities to manage, in a strategic manner, construction/rehabilitation budgets and/or budget components to ensure an appropriate and efficient use of resources in the area of operation.Oversee implementation of grants and reporting systems and management of budgets, including budget forecasting, development of spending and work plans and indicator tracking sheets related to construction activitiesSupport communities to ensure that bidding process are done in a in a consistent and transparent mannerContractors management:Oversee the engagement of independent contractors for construction projects under governance and rights programmingEnsure proper provisional and final handover of infrastructure from IRC or the contractors to both the communities and the local authorities. Coordination:Work closely with the APC and other Program Managers to ensure an integrated program approach and design as well as joint response to challenges to meeting the education and ERD program objectives in both Nana Gribizi and Ouham Pende prefecturesLiaise regularly with APC and Grants Manager to provide updates on the program, discuss emerging challenges, and collaborate on the design of new programs or changes to existing programs.HR management:Manage the IRC construction team; provide leadership and supervision. Actively promote staff development, conducting mainly on-the-job trainings with a view towards promoting high performing national staff to managerial positions. Write job descriptions; establish hiring criteria for project staff, interview and select staff as needed.Actively manage performance of construction team staff, including setting yearly objectives for each staff member and providing them with informal semi-annual review and formal annual performance review based on these objectives.Limit, identify, document and dismiss staff involved in fraud and corruption.Reporting:Produce monthly reports and provide direct strategic advice to the APC, Grants Manager, and Country Director, so as to adjust the programmatic priorities and implementation modalities as necessary. Contribute to the production of required reports for donors, in collaboration with the Grants Manager as requiredREQUIREMENTS:

Degree or equivalent experience in engineering or construction.2+ years of construction site management and/or engineering experience, preferably in an international setting and/or in Africa.Water and sanitation engineering/construction experience.Ability to work independently while being a strong team player.Ability to work well under unstable security, administrative, and programmatic pressures.Ability to manage a team and to show flexibility (balance between quality of the construction and respect of community decision making process)Advanced knowledge of usual desktop software such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.Knowledge of engineering / drafting related software is preferable

The Civil Engineer/Construction Program Manager will be based in Kaga Bandoro, but may make occasional visit to Bocaranga field office if/when necessary.

How to apply:

Please apply online:http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH02/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1&r...