Infrastructure Development Officer – Re-Advertised 53 views

Overview of Helvetas and the project 

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is an independent development organization based in Switzerland and it has been operating for the last 65 years worldwide. HELVETAS is registered in Ethiopia as foreign organization with the Agency for Civil Society Organization to operate in the areas of Rural Infrastructure, Natural Resource Management, Support to CSO and Local Governments, Skill Development & Education and Emergency Response.

Under its Rural Infrastructure thematic area ‘Enabling the Environment for Transformative Connectivity in Rural Ethiopia’ project aims to start building the enabling environment to meet the full need for rural transport connectivity and in that process, provide transformative access to critical services in the coming three years in Amhara, Oromia, Sidma, SNNPR, Somali and south west Ethiopia regions. The project plan is to attain its objective through designing and testing the construction ecosystem by building trailbridges and improving feeder trails, create long-term capacity for national scale in government roads authorities, private sector, and supply chain & capture impact through focused evaluation and disseminate learnings to build global awareness.

Job Purposes

The purpose of the Infrastructure Development Officer for the project is to provide technical assistance and operational support on area of rural infrastructure development specially on suspension bridges and foot trail networks for the successful implementation of the Project. S/He will provide capacity development and technical support on area of trail bridge and trial improvement design, construction, operation and maintenance for staff, government, private actors, and community. S/He will closely work with regional road bureau and universities on area of inclusion of trail bridge in education curriculum, government plan and financing and web-based data management system.

Capacity Development and Technical support to key stakeholders

• Coordinate trailbridge need assessment to provide government partners and other stakeholders with the information they need to prioritize rural access in plans and budgets in collaboration with partnership and capacity development officer;
• Promote inclusion of trail bridge and trail improvement in government development plan;
• Closely work with universities for design improvement, innovation and inclusion of trail bridge technology in education curriculum;
• Advise and support on the design, BoQ, and other specifications of trail bridge and trail improvement in accordance with the design requirements, the partner’s internal rules, as well as regulations and policies, including applicable design manuals;
• Support government partners in all rural transport infrastructure engineering and related activities, including project design, preparation implementation and supervision, and co-ordination with other stakeholders as well as other donors and development partners;
• Provide inputs in the review of tender preparation and evaluation reports and support the evaluation of technical and financial proposals for contracts relating to project implementation;
• Develop capacity of the local teams, including regional, Zonal and Woreda level government stakeholders as well as project teams, working on the RTI planning, design and implementation;
• Collaborate with government technical teams in reviewing the operations performance of consultants and contractors, preparing completion reports, etc., so as to ensure that the lessons drawn from the implementation of past operations are taken into account in new project sites;
• Support and advise the government technical team to ensure quality and compliance with standards set by Ethiopian Road Authority/ERA;
• Undertake analytical work and provide technical guidance in the area of rural transport infrastructure focusing on and advice on how to ensure sustainability of benefits of trail bridges and foot trail networks.

Project Implementation

• Develop realistic Work plan for all engineering related aspect of the project in collaboration with project staff and partners;
• Ensure implementation of the project proceed according to approved work plan and correction are taken timely;
• Support the management of works, in accordance with its rules, regulations and procedures, including its works contracts, as well as in the completion of the project in accordance with the deadlines;
• Support procurement in accordance with procurement and construction strategies; And its rules, regulations and policies;
• Work harmoniously with rural communities, local government partners and other EETCRE team members to ensure projects are being delivered timely and effectively;
• Support the project team and government technical personnel to oversee and manage the construction of trail bridges and foot trail networks.

Quality assurance and Knowledge management

• Actively participate in designs and check designs of suspended and suspension bridges independently and design safety Lines for suspension and suspended bridges;
• Support the assessment of prospective bridge sites for technical approval (process survey, evaluate aerial imagery, preliminary design alternatives);
• Identify and anticipate potential risks and problems in a timely manner and advise the project on the implementation of mitigation measures and solutions while defining the intermediate steps required to carry out the project;
• Continuous monitoring and analysis of delivery data in the dashboard system;
• Coordinate quality control of project / program documents and deliverables;
• Prepare report, case story and document lessons;
• Coordinate and participate different study planned in the project;
• Closely work with staff, regional government, and university for web base data management development and functionalization.

Required Number – 2 positions out of which 1 will be based in Addis Ababa and 1 in Hawassa/Bonga 

Qualifications include:

Education

B.Sc degree in Civil engineering, Construction Technology and Management, Public Works engineering and related field of studies.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years relevant and progressive professional experience, especially in the field of rural roads construction planning, budgeting, design, contract management, construction supervision and monitoring;
• Quality control and quality assurance of suspension bridges and foot path networks;
• Good understanding of rural infrastructures in general and survey, design and execution of Trail Bridge and foot trail networks in particular;
• Good knowledge of monitoring and quality control. Capable to disseminate and transfer know-how. Good knowledge of physical progress reporting;
• Experience of working in an INGO and/or donor-funded road projects is advantageous;
• Understanding and knowledge of the Ethiopian Road Sector Development Program, working guidelines, standards and specifications.

Skills and Competencies Required 

• Proficiency in AutoCAD and Competences in the use of Microsoft Office applications (MS-Project, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is a plus;
• Understanding on issues related to local state building, gender, equity and poverty and working in conflict. Capable of working with multicultural team;
• Excellent command of English language, writing, reporting and communication skills;
• Knowledge and skill of GIS related software is an asset;
• Flexible, capable of working independently, high integrity, and hard-working;
• Fluency in  Sidamigna, Somaligna, or one of the languages speaking in SNNPR and/or South West regions.

Working Condition

This job will require field work in the Sidama, Somali, SNNPR, and South West regions of Ethiopia.  Because of the remoteness of the field work incumbent will expected to travel to remote trail bridge sites.