Engineer and Infrastructural Advisor at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary

This role will support the implementation of the EU-funded pilot program titled ‘Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation in Northwest Nigeria. The project will be implemented through a Consortium led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Mercy Corps (MC), and the Center for Democracy and Development( CDD).

Katsina has been experiencing multiple dimensions of conflict, including farmer-herder strife, and acts of Banditry. While the conflict has many factors, it is rooted in the increased competition over land tenure and mismanagement of natural resources. The lack of or unimplemented policy frameworks on land access, resource use, and weak dispute resolution mechanisms, as well as a broader absence of social protection, have created a vacuum contributing to lawlessness and conflict. The conflict had its epicenter in Zamfara, however, with a false narrative, the subsequent mobilization of vigilante groups along ethnic and community lines and impunity, and increased access to light weapons, the conflict escalated to Katsina. Coupled with repeated and lethal cycles of communal violence and wider human rights violations and abuses, especially against women and girls. This proposed pilot project will complement the Government's efforts in conflict mitigation and community reconciliation by promoting an inclusive peace-building process in Jibia, Batsari, Danmusa, and Kankara LGAs in Katsina State.

The project’s overall objective is to reduce community violence, promote locally-driven peace initiatives, and mitigate conflicts over natural resources in Katsina State of Northwest Nigeria.  The project will contribute to strengthening the capacity of communities and local governments to manage their resources sustainably; reinforce their social cohesion; and build more resilient households and societies through the establishment of dialogue mechanisms inclusive of all social groups and authorities, provision of mental health and psychosocial support and the strengthening of the local governance system.

The Infrastructure Advisor will be responsible for providing expert advice to the project team related to the definition of refurbishment project tasks, architectural design, and infrastructure upgrades implemented by the external contractors. The individual undertaking this post will have responsibilities to support the program team in the development of the initial scope of works for infrastructure upgrades, to supervise the work of designing the architectural outlines, and to provide day-to-day guidance and supervision on the construction sites performing quality control mechanism over the works of contractors.  

The Infrastructure Advisor will be scrutinized by Mercy Corps Global and in-country Infrastructure Technical Support Units (TSU) and will be responsible to provide on-request reports to both support units. The person undertaking this position will work in close collaboration with various local governance structures-formal and informal to exchange information and ensure consistent and quality delivery.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Provide technical advice in the development of the scope of works for infrastructure designs and upgrades;
• Provide effective supervision of the architectural design works;
• Provide effective monitoring and supervision of construction/rehabilitation works performed in the field;
• Provide expert input to the overall execution of all infrastructure projects;
• Facilitate information development and information sharing.

Provide technical advice in the development of the scope of works for infrastructure designs and upgrades:

• Closely cooperate with the TSU/ consultants in the development of the initial scope of works for infrastructure designs and upgrades;
• Provide advice to the TSU/consultants related to technical expertise matters about the definition of the scope of works;
• Develop the tendering documentation necessary for recruitment of the construction works company/ consultants for designing the project proposal and necessary technical documentation for construction works;
• Evaluate the technical offers resulting from the tendering process.

 Provide effective supervision of the architectural design works:

• Supervise the work of consultants to ensure the architectural design is fully in line with the initial scope of works and infrastructure upgrades required;
• Supervise the work of consultants to ensure the architectural design and project proposal meet safety and security requirements, rules, and regulations;
• Develop the tendering documentation necessary for the recruitment of the construction works company/consultant to implement the project proposal;
• Evaluate the construction works companies’ offers resulting from the tendering process.

Provide effective monitoring and supervision of rehabilitation/construction works performed in the field:

• Supervise the works in the field to determine/verify delivery of contracted works according to the project proposal as developed;
• Effectively liaise with contractors and communities on the construction works sites;
• Report to the TSU on the progress in the field
• Report on issues that may arise during construction works;
• Through monitoring of the construction works sites ensure required quality, timely completion, and value for money of construction works;
• Provide certification for payments to confirm that milestones under construction contracts are achieved; including submission of the final Certificate of Completion of work

Provide expert input to the overall execution of all infrastructure projects;

• Provide technical expertise during the evaluation of bids for conformity with requirements;
• Provide technical expertise in contract management through stipulation of terms, application of special conditions if any, liability, commitments, and milestones;
• Ensure compliance with Entities’ Physical Planning and Construction Acts, by-laws regulating the construction of similar social facilities, technical regulations, general and special technical conditions, and professional codes;
• Perform other duties as delegated by the Program Manager.

Ensure facilitation of information development and information sharing in the project focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in engineering;
• Sound contributions to information sharing among project staff and project partners;
• Participate, as a resource person, in substantive and/or specific training sessions organized  for the project staff and the overall Mercy Corps teams;

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encouraging the learning of others.

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating the mandate of the joint impact and social cohesion projects

Results-Based Program Development and Management

• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work; researches linkages across program activities to identify critical points of integration; and monitors specific stages of projects/program implementation.

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Maintaining a network of contacts: maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership-related issues; analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders; innovation and marketing new approaches; enhancing processes or products; generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices, and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things

 Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position; possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks; strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning; and demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Client Orientation

• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client/community needs and reports back in a timely, succinct, and appropriate fashion; organizes and prioritizes work schedules to meet client/community needs and deadlines.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. 

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Manager, with close collaboration and consultations with the in-country and global Technical Support Units (TSU), the Senior Program Office, and NRM Advisor.   

Knowledge and Experience

• University degree in Civil Engineering / Architecture. A master’s degree will be an asset.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in supervising architectural design and construction works.
• Prior fieldwork experience in infrastructure construction and rehabilitation of projects.
• Experience in working with INGO regulations would be considered an asset.
• Advanced computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project, AutoCAD)
• Prince2 training and other related project management certification would be an asset.
• Fluency in the English language; fluency in Hausa is also desirable.