Programme Engineer | Syria | 2024

Chemonics seeks a Programme Engineer to support education programming in Northwest Syria. The project aims to provide children living in Northwest Syria with safe, inclusive, and quality education that meets their specialized learning, psychosocial, and protection needs. The Programme Engineer will be responsible for assessing technical engineering outputs and understanding the general technical requirement for the Manahel project. This position will be based in Syria. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Position Description:

The Programme Engineer will design and evaluate technical engineering deliverables. Current project activities requiring engineering expertise include the rehabilitation of primary schools and the replacement of tent school complexes with dignified learning shelters. Activities will include technical oversight and quality assurance for the full duration of this activity, This includes input at all relevant stages of the procurement process for relevant goods and services, including the subcontract partner tendering stage, evaluation stage, and in reviewing implementation and deliverables.

Responsibilities Include:

• Providing technical oversight, monitoring and advisory services of all rehabilitation and dignified shelter-related activities, including preparation of the terms of reference and requests for quotations for the installation, modification, and refurbishment of learning spaces as well as environmental mitigation plans and monitoring reports;
• Serve as a non-voting member on technical evaluation panels for the aforementioned services, providing voting members with professional technical feedback on the plans received;
• Review technical deliverables provided by vendors, ensuring they meet structural viability, environmental impact standards, and quality assurance requirements;
• The project engineer will need to ensure each construction/rehab activity complies with Chemonics’ Environmental and Social Safeguarding Framework (ESSF). The ESSF requires preparation of 1) an environmental mitigation plan (EMP) for each site that will detail mitigation measures required to address potential impacts of construction/rehab works; and 2) an environmental monitoring report (EMR) for each site that will summarize and report on the implementation of mitigation measures detailed in the EMP and how effective they were to avoid or mitigate impacts;
• Provide the Manahel team with suggestions regarding feasible technical approaches to achieve program goals, and critique proposed technical approaches as needed;
• Collaborate with contracted partners and Chemonics head office staff analyze and provide inputs on the structural viability of rehabilitated and new structures, ensuring they can withstand natural disasters;
• Ensure environmental impact analysis is integrated into the procurement process and activity workstreams;
• Advise subcontractors and the Manahel team on environmental best practices and compliance with relevant Syrian environmental laws and regulations;
• Work with the Manahel team to prepare and implement required environmental mitigation plans and associated monitoring reports for each planned construction/rehab activity;
• Certify in writing, completed works for purposes of progress payments and final project acceptance;
• Verify that subcontractors obtain and maintain all required approvals from relevant civil and administrative actors;
• Conduct field site visits to monitor quality of rehabilitation and dignified shelter projects and the compliance with architectural ,installation plans and environmental mitigation;
• Monitor the schedule of rehabilitation and installation works to ensure it remains in line with programme schedules;
• Regularly communicate with the Deputy Team Lead, Procurement Specialist, and relevant compliance staff regarding project schedule and sequencing of activities. Alert the Deputy Team Lead immediately to any concerns regarding the project works;
• Prepare weekly reports;
• Other duties as assigned.

Person Specification:

To perform this job successfully, the programme engineer must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the principal duties.

Essential Skills:

• Proven ability to delivery technical engineering services in civic spaces in northwest Syria;
• Relevant bachelor’s degree in engineering is required, advanced degree and/or professional certifications is preferred;
• Demonstrated experience designing and evaluating project designs utilizing prefabricated structures;
• Strong understanding about the context, conflict and security situation in Syria, previous experience in Syria strongly preferred;
• Experience working with different levels of stakeholders; local actors, local and International NGOs;
• Knowledge of the political, humanitarian and education sector dynamics within the Syrian context;
• Team player with strong communication and writing skills;
• Fluency in Arabic, with strong speaking and writing skills in English.

Desirable Skills:

• Previous work on FCDO or other donor-funded projects highly preferred.

Attitudes and Behaviours:

• Demonstrate enthusiasm and interest in work by acting ethically and projecting a positive attitude;
• A professional manner and a friendly disposition. Commitment to excellent customer service;
• An ability to relate positively to people of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

Safeguarding:

At Chemonics, safeguarding – protecting a person’s right to live safely, free from violence, abuse, and neglect – is integral to the work we do. We integrate safeguarding measures to protect our staff, partners, and communities from all forms of violence and apply a survivor-centered approach that is trauma-sensitive, human-rights informed, intersectional, and locally led. Within this role, all candidates must confirm their ability and willingness to commit to the below:

• Ensure the way they are carrying out their work is not putting children at risk (or further risk) – this means constantly scrutinizing their work through a child safeguarding lens and talking to children about possible design/implementation “flaws”;
• Promote the message of child safeguarding to colleagues in other organizations and local institutions, children in their own and beneficiary families, and community members in general;
• Be vigilant about observing possible child abuse/harm in their personal and professional lives.

Period of Performance:

8 months.

Location of the Assignment:

The assignment will be conducted in Northwest Syria with intermittent regional travel.

Supervision and Reporting:

The Programme Engineer will report to the Deputy Team Lead – Risk and Operations.

Feedback on Application:

We will review the applications on a rolling basis. Due to the expected high volume of applications it will not be possible to provide any specific feedback to candidates prior to the closing date, post closing date all candidates will be notified if their application has been successful or not. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.

Chemonics is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.

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