PROJECT (WASH) ENGINEER – For Filipino Nationals Only At Islamic Relief

JOB LOCATION:

Cotabato City with frequent travel to project locations in the Municipalities of Datu Hoffer and Shariff Aguak, Province of Maguindanao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)

JOB PURPOSE:

The Project (WASH) Engineer supports to ensure the effective, efficient, quality management of Islamic Relief USA funded project, “Community Resiliency through Ecological Integrity (CORE). The CORE project is a Sadajah Jariyah on Resilient Communities through COVID-19, Water and Climate Actions.

CORE is a 24-month project which focuses and promotes “Sadaqah Jariyah” that brings about positive effects on a community in the long-term, beyond immediate relief through installing durable water system where the poor and most vulnerable people in the communities of Datu Hoffer and Shariff Aguak municipalities in the province of Maguindanao, Philippines will be able to access affordable, quality and potable water and helping poor families start a community-based enterprise which is foreseen to continue generating profit for the long-run.

The Project (WASH) Engineer reports to the Project Manager and provides essential support to the team to achieve project success. She/He will also closely work with MEAL, Finance, Admin and Logistics, Human Resources, Advocacy and Communications teams about project management, planning, and implementation.

Overall, the Project (WASH) Engineer working with the Project Manager and the project team shall ensure a range of tasks i.e., effective planning and implementation of project activities, timely and quality donor reporting, liaison, and networking with relevant local government units (LGUs), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM), provincial and national government agencies, other I/NGOs, UN agencies, faith-based sector and leaders, local NGOs, and the private sector.

REPORTING TO: The position directly reports to the Area Program Manager

Project Key Objectives:

Overall, CORE is a “Sadaqah Jariyah” for poor communities and public service delivery facilities to access quality and affordable fresh water for domestic, commercial, and agricultural use. Moreover, CORE is envisaged to address economic and resiliency gaps.

Objectives:

1. Expand the Level II or III water system of the community-based cooperative.
2. Sustainable livelihoods through an income generating facility established.
3. Communities are aware, educated, and acting for resilient and sustainable development.
4. Communities are aware, educated, and acting for water and climate resiliency.
5. Project partners, relevant stakeholders, and project implementers acquired competencies on water and sanitation, resilient and sustainable development, and climate resiliency.

Key Roles/Responsibilities

The Project (WASH) Engineer directly reports to the Area Program Manager, she/he is expected to support the latter in the delivery of project management functions.

The Project (WASH) Engineer works closely with the project team and particularly with the Community Development Facilitator, on the ground, with regard the following key aspects of the project.

Infrastructure Development

1. Community-based water system (Level II or III)
2. Community-managed small scale water refilling station with related service assets)
3. Plant nursery (native trees, etc.)

Capacity Building Activities

1. Water-based enterprises development
2. Ecosystem-based resilient livelihoods
3. Cooperative management, governance, and financial management
4. Ecological integrity and community resiliency
5. Climate, water, and COVID-19 resiliency
6. Community problem solving, climate and community resiliency
7. Behavioral change communication

Organising, Mobilising, Advocacy and Influencing

1. Organising, planning, and mobilisation of youth
2. “Mashwara” or Inter-faith and Inter-cultural dialogue (On community responsibility, climate, and water resiliency.

Robust Evidence-based Project Framework, Learning, and Knowledge Product Development

1. Baseline activities
2. Market analysis
3. Learning Plan and Learning/Research Paper
4. Annual project review with stakeholders

JOB DESCRIPTION

Project and Team Management

• Supports the planning, management, and implementation of the project in line with the approved project documents.
• Establish strong teamwork and good professional relationship within the project team and inter-teams.
• Supports mentoring, coaching of the project team and the project partners and provides proper feedback.
• Support in the development of a project implementation plan with clear benchmarks and ensure monitoring of progress against the benchmarks.
• Ensures the project is compliant and adhere to development and humanitarian principles i.e., Do No Harm, Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS), Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (MERS), etc.
• Ensure that safeguarding, protection, and inclusion principles are mainstreamed in all the project activities. And that, overall, the project is compliant with Islamic Relief’s safeguarding, protection, and inclusion policies.
• Support and/or lead the proposal development of new or follow-up projects based on lesson learning when asked by the management.
• Supports in ensuring that all project-related records are held, created, or used.

Project Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensures that all project assessments, review, monitoring, lessons learned, and evaluation processes are followed including supervision of internal and/or external review.
• Collaborate with MEAL team in ensuring project MEAL-related processes are in place and implemented.
• Provides guidance and support to partners and/or project team in project planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

Reporting

• Ensures that donor reporting requirements and standards are met including writing and timely submission of project updates and quality reports.
• Ensures continuous improvement in reporting and analysis by using Islamic Relief project management standards.
• Ensures that stakeholders are informed of the project accomplishments and/or highlights regularly.

Financial Management

• The Project (WASH) Engineer closely works with the Area Program Manager and the Finance team concerning spending, forecasting, budget versus actual, analysis, etc.
• With the Finance team and Area Program Manager, ensures periodic budgets are implemented and when necessary, recommend actions to address budget variances.

Networking and Partnership Building

• When delegated, represent Islamic Relief Philippines in events and meetings organised by the UN agency, I/NGO, institutional donors, faith-based organisations, private sector, etc.
• Establish strong rapport with like-minded organisations, and other actors to generate support, a pool of expertise, and resources for the project.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Ready to support any emergency-related actions.
• Supports in ensuring that project staff understand and can perform their roles in an emergency.

Others

• Contribute to developing the organisational strategic plan.
• Performs other tasks that are needed to ensure deliverables of project implementation are met.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

ESSENTIAL

Qualifications

Graduate of Bachelor/Masters in Civil/Construction/Material Engineering from a recognized institution.

Knowledge/Experience

• Minimum of 2-3 years working experience in a local or international I/NGO particularly in WASH sector with at least 2 years in a similar position.
• Experience with a variety of construction projects (house and school rehabilitation, toilet construction, water supply).
• Knowledge of national and international construction and engineering standards.
• Willing to move to field using local available transport.
• Sound knowledge of and commitment to participatory approaches to working with communities, and innovative approach to working on these issues with a proven commitment to people empowerment methodologies

Skills

• Excellent communication skills – able to communicate and report on technical points, both orally and in writing.
• Willing to learn local techniques, culture and humanitarian and development issues of the BARMM region.
• Communicates honestly, openly, and consistently. Shares information appropriately and ensures that views of all members of the team are freely expressed.
• Good numeracy skills with knowledge of budgeting and cost estimating are required.
• Problem solving skills and self-management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Willing to adapt to IRW’s norms and values without compromising personal beliefs and principles.

Languages

• Fluency in Tagalog (written and spoken is essential)
• Fluency in English (written and spoken is essential).

IT Skills

• Good IT skills. Knowledge of Auto CAD, Microsoft Office Word and Excel.

DESIRABLE

Knowledge/Experience

• Experience supervising laborers is an advantage.
• Experience working with INGOs in developing countries.
• Experience in community development, WASH integration, Livelihood and emergency programmes.
• Knowledge of broader disaster prevention/mitigation techniques is also an advantage.
• Strong understanding of the BARMM development and humanitarian contexts and has experience working in BARMM.

Disposition/Approach

• Should be prepared to do extensive field visits to other locations within the Philippines.
• Able to work flexible hours when necessary to carry out the task completion.
• Flexible & patient.

Physical

Energetic and able to operate in situations which may be arduous.

Interests

Construction and Engineering, humanitarian relief, development, Disaster Risk Reduction, Community Development etc.