Construction Engineer at Christian Aid

Department: International
Reports to: SPC-Livelihood & Resilience
Type of contract: Fixed Term
Contracted hours: 35
Contract length: 3 months

Role Purpose

• The   Construction   Engineering   would   lead   all   Christian   Aid   construction   related   activities   of Humanitarian response and livelihood programme.
• The role would take lead in planning, designing and overseeing the construction of building structures and infrastructure as well as maintenance to support   the   effective   implementation   of   Christian   Aid   funded   humanitarian   response   with beneficiaries implementing the project.
• To contribute towards the smooth implementation of WFP funded livelihood and resilience project working mainly within the humanitarian programme team but may have frequent contact with external partners during work

Role Context:

• The role works within the International Programmes role family positioned in Monguno, Borno, Nigeria and the role is part of the wider Nigeria Country Humanitarian Response Team.  The Construction Engineer will work closely with both Livelihood Programme Coordinator and SPC Livelihood and Resilience and the country team on humanitarian program.
• The position will be based in Monguno field office with frequent trips to project communities in Monguno and other locations in Borno State. The role holder will lead on the assessment and analysis of sites for households and communal activities, the design of high-quality implementation of plans.
• Responsible for production of designs, develop and construct a wide range of projects in physically and naturally built environment from conception through to completion.  Construction work across all project locations. He/She is saddled with the responsibilities of supervising construction work activities   through the engagement with other field staff, community project management committee, labour management committee and volunteers.
• In coordination with the emergency response team, he/she provides technical assistance to the field staff and beneficiaries, designs and rolls out capacity building activities on construction related activities and oversees the successful programme implementation.
• The person is also responsible for monitoring construction sites, working in collaboration with other community-based structures, local government and actors (including active participation in Technical Working Group meetings), and in sharing and incorporating learning into the programming cycle.

Key Outcomes:

• The Christian Aid all donor funded livelihood and resilience projects are successfully managed following Christian Aid’s humanitarian policies and procedures.
• All programmes are accountable to donors and beneficiaries.
• Assess needs reeled to infrastructure of the community including assessments, technical data, appropriate design.
• Oversee the timely delivery of the all construction related activities and ensure compliance with all donor requirements.
• Compliance with financial policies and  procedures especially regarding Food and Agricultural Organisation, coordination requirements for all donor projects, but including reporting requirements and contribution made to other team members in the development and implementation, partner capacity building and training
• Communicate and coordinate with project staff on technical questions related to construction and its maintenance.
• Robust  humanitarian  practice  and  minimum  standards  in disaster  response, as reflected  in policies and procedures, are successfully implemented.
• Effective projects and programmes delivered with impact in line with agreed aims.
• Humanitarian and financial policies and procedures complied with, in particular, reporting requirements.

Relationships
External:

• Represents Christian Aid with external actors including donors and government
• Liaise with other actors in emergency response for the region (UN, NGO, national and local authorities, incl. through established coordination mechanisms
• Working closely with Local and State governments stakeholder partners, LGA Officers and sectors to ensure effective management and coordination of the programmes.

Internal:

• Works with the country team in Nigeria, and staff in the Humanitarian division Regional Emergency Manager, Regional Programme Development and Funding Manager and Humanitarian Response Manager.

Decision making:

• Make decisions to ensure the al construction related project is led and managed effectively and effectively linked to the wider Nigeria programme.
• Proposes action Christian Aid should take in its response to the emergency and makes day-to-day decisions to guide the implementation and smooth running of the project.

Analytical skills:

• The post holder is responsible for overall lead of the construction activities of Christian Aid in North- East Nigeria and is expected to work with initiative and innovation, using analytical skills and their own judgement to recommend humanitarian programme decisions for the organisation in consultation with a wide range of country team and humanitarian colleagues and partner organisations. S/He has to look beyond the challenges as situation is complex. Detailed risk assessment may be required. S/He seeks for and initiates new and diverse sources of information to test solutions and direction.

Developing self and others:

• The post holder is expected to work independently under the supervision of SPC Livelihood and Resilience and support from the Programme Coordinator Livelihood / Humanitarian Response Manager / Regional Emergency Manager providing leadership and influencing strategies within the country and ensuring upholding of humanitarian standards and principles by Christian Aid staff and partners.

Person Specification

Applied skills/knowledge and expertise
Essential:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil/Construction Engineering, Building Technology, HND Building Technology 
• At least 3-4 years' post-graduate experience and managing construction projects in Nigeria
• Minimum one-year aid-related International NGO experience in North-East Nigeria.
• Extensive knowledge of discipline design standards, specifications, codes, and appropriate safety criteria
• Ability to adapt to tight deadlines, heavy workloads, and frequent changes in priorities
• Proficient in designing software programs as AutoCAD.
• A thorough understanding of and ability to apply the SPHERE standards on Construction related activities. In addition to knowledge of capacity building tools; of Sphere and Red Cross Code of Conduct; of HAP standards.
• Understanding of partnership approach to emergency/humanitarian work and experience of working with local partners.
• Working under own initiative with a variety of different stakeholders especially within the cluster systems.
• Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and facilitating capacity building skills.
• Strong report writing, analytical and documentation skills with Good interpersonal, organisational and communication skill Fluency in Hausa is required and Kanuri is desirable.
• Experience in working with a team as a strong team player with positive attitude.
• Good knowledge of and experience working with IDPs in Nigeria.
• Good understanding of gender-sensitive programming.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and a good command of Hausa Language.

Desirable:

• Specialized qualification in engineering work.
• Ability to speak and understand Hausa fluently and basic Kanuri
• Understanding of the political, social, economic and infrastructural context of the region and the humanitarian/development issues and challenges it faces of peace building and conflict resolution
• Experience of organisational development
• Experience in construction projects in humanitarian responses

IT competency required:

• Intermediate

Competency Profile 
LEVEL 2: You are expected to be able to:
 
Build partnerships:

• Take on different work when necessary to achieve a team or organisational goal.
• Actively consult with others to ensure you understand their needs or goals.
• Listen to and take on board fresh perspectives and views even if you initially disagree with them.
• Maintain  on-going  relationships  with  individuals  and  contacts  through  networks,  based  on mutual rapport and respect.

Communicate effectively:

• Make complex things simple for the benefit of others.
• Actively listen and question to check your understanding and draw out others when they are not expressing themselves clearly or seem to be holding back.
• Be sensitive to what others may be feeling, based on what they say, how they say it and their nonverbal behavior, adapting your style and approach to fit.
• Address difficult issues when they arise, being honest and open.

Steward resources:

• Implement ways to reduce the inefficient use of resources or pass the ideas on to someone who can make them happen.
• Estimate the resources needed to achieve your own work plans or objectives and to deliver them in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
• Set and communicate  realistic timelines  for achieving tasks, working out  how  best  to  adapt  as priorities change or unforeseen circumstances arise.

Deliver results:

• Prioritise,   plan   and   monitor   own   work   to   meet   own   and   team   deliverables   to   agreed performance or quality standards.
• Acknowledge  others’  priorities  whilst  being  prepared  to  say  “no”  if  there  are genuine  reasons why their needs cannot be met.
• Use  logical  processes  and  relevant  tools  and  techniques  to  report  on  information  or  analyse options.
• Make timely and considered recommendations or decisions based on analysis of available data, information and evidence.

Realise potential:

• Evaluate your own work and actively address gaps in knowledge and skills, without prompting.
• Recognise  how  you  react  to  feedback  and  manage  reactions  positively,  acting  on  specific feedback from others.
• Share your knowledge where it will help others to be more effective.
• Provide instruction, constructive feedback and guidance to others to help them learn.

Strive for improvement:

• Constructively challenge existing practice.
• Seek better ways of doing things, taking into account the possible implications.
• Make positive  suggestions  on  a  way  forward  when  faced  with  challenges  even  if  these  falls outside own scope of work.
• Look inside and outside Christian Aid for new ideas and evaluate them for own work.

Remuneration
Salary (full time): N8,501,197 Salary (full time).