Somalia: Field Engineer-Somali National

Background
Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a part of Danish Refugee Council (DRC). DDG has operated in Somaliland since 1999 and in South Central Somalia since 2007 clearing mines and other explosive remnants of war. Our programme has since grown to include other aspects of Armed Violence Reduction, namely:

• Strengthening local institutions and enhancing local capacity for addressing safety needs
• Addressing immediate threats to life and limbs by explosive remnants of war
• Addressing small arms as a tool of violence
• Building capacity for conflict management and peace

The programme is rooted in a participatory process, where DDG assists target communities to assess their safety and security situation, define and prioritize their safety and security needs and identify resources to address these needs (Community Safety). At times this requires construction or refurbishment of facilities at community and district level, typically police posts, armouries meeting halls, feeder roads, and other basic infrastructures such as schools, health facilities and a like. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental and non-profit organization, founded in 1956, that works in more than 30 countries around the world.

Key Duties and Responsibilities
The Field Engineer will oversee construction of civil engineering projects in South Central, ensuring that project outputs are relevant to the needs of partners and beneficiaries, cost-effective and that they meet quality and safety standards. The Field Engineer reports to AVR Manager for South Central. He/she will work closely with other DDG colleagues.

The Field Engineer will support DDG Somalia construction activities in South Central. He/she will also establish close relations with DRC Counterparts (1 x WASH and Infrastructure Manager for Somalia and Ethiopia and Senior Engineers in specific Somali regions), maintaining a two-way dialogue on standards and technical issues and providing support when agreed and occasionally referring to the DRC Infrastructure Manager for support

General Responsibilities and Tasks:
Procurement and project management

• Ensure sound management of construction projects from procurement through community structures by hiring contractors or using community own force, on-site monitoring and budget control in accordance with DDG/DRC in-house standards and donor requirements
• Preparation and review of technical drawings, bid and tender documents, market data, BoQs and BoMs
• Manage relations with contractors
• Liaison with and technical support to community and local government representatives in relation to community-driven construction projects

Technical support

• Develop and review engineering designs, templates and in-house standards documents against standards and technological requirements
• Advise DDG programme staff on technical matters related to construction including monitoring market prices
• Certify payment as per the physical progress of the construction.

People management

• Supervision, management and capacity building of national staff (workshops are likely to be planned in collaboration with DRC Infrastructure team on the ground)Train national staff, e.g. programme coordinators and national engineering staff

Security

• Ensure compliance with DRC/DDG in-house safety system

Planning and reporting

• Contribute to team work-plans
• Ensure proper and timely financial and narrative reporting in compliance with internal and external reporting requirements
• Maintain a database of construction works
• Document results, challenges and remedial actions

Representation/Liaison

• Represent DDG towards externally as required
• Establish routine collaboration and coordinate with DRC colleagues concerning tools, standards and ongoing project activities

Fundraising and programme development

• Support Country and Regional Director in proposal writing, particularly elements related to construction including development of budgets

Accountability

• Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives in the field as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of DDG’s activities.

Other

• Any other reasonable task as may be assigned by his/her supervisor/senior Management.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil/Architectural Engineering or other relevant qualification.
• Minimum of 6 years work experience of which a minimum of 3 years field experience in a developing country context
• Knowledge of participatory approaches and tools to community planning, monitoring and evaluation
• Proven experience in construction project management
• Good experience of report writing and editing is required
• Proficiency in written and spoken English is required
• Familiarity with relevant computer programmes including spreadsheet construction, and their practical application
• Practical knowledge of AutoCAD, ArcGIS or other GIS programmes is required.

Personal competencies

• Excellent communication, coordination and representational skills. Demonstrated leadership capacity and professional experience at a senior level.
• Demonstrated ability to make clear and articulate presentations (orally and in writing) of complex information. Strong analytical skills.
• Demonstrated capacity to work with minimal supervision and maintain a high level of initiative and engagement. Demonstrated capacity to recognize when and where proactive action is required and to initiate timely and appropriate action.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and diplomacy and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with staff and other stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural team and to coordinate with diverse stakeholders.
• Local knowledge and past experience at community level ,knowledge of local language.
• Political and cultural sensitivity, including ability to adapt well to local cultures
• Proven ability to function well in a volatile and very restricted environment
• Political and cultural sensitivity, including ability to adapt well to local cultures
• Ability to resist external pressures

Languages:

• English and Somali (working language): fluent with excellent writing capacities

Conditions

Duty station: Baidoa, Somalia with frequent travel to other areas in Somalia and elsewhere as required.

Contract: 9 months - with good possibilities for extension. Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Demining Group Terms of Employment for National Staff

Start date: 01 January 2016

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered. CV-only applications will not be considered. Please provide references, but do not attach any written recommendations. Applications sent disregarding this official application process will not be considered.

Please submit your application and CV by email to jobs@ddgsom.org with the subject heading “Field Engineer’’, no later than 16th December 2015 4pm Somali time.

This position is open to Somali nationals only.