Closing date

24 November 2024

Senior Engineer; MSDSP

BACKGROUND

The Public Organization ‘Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP)’, a project of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in the Republic of Tajikistan is a leading rural development organization working in four regions of Tajikistan covering over 1,600 villages. MSDSP is supported by numerous donor organizations to undertake multi-input area development activities that contribute to improvement of quality of life in rural Tajikistan by fostering: i) effective participatory governance through civil society institutional development, ii) sustainable agricultural intensification and land management, and iii) improved and expanded public services, and iv) private services for socio-economic and environmental development.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Project title: Integrated Natural Resources Management in Zarafshon Valley for Equitable and Sustainable Development (INVEST).

Overall Objective: Livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and community resilience are enhanced through strengthened sustainable management and protection of natural resources in the Zarafshon Valley.

Specific objectives (SO):

SO1: Increased productivity, diversity and income from crops, horticulture, and livestock as a result of improved climate resilient, sustainable, and equitable farming practices. 

SO2: Increased biodiversity and reduction in soil and pasture degradation and disaster risk as a result of inclusive, integrated and sustainable natural resource management.

SO3: Improved diet diversity and consumption choices (nutrition status) in target households, especially for women of reproductive age and children.

SO4: Improved equitable and sustainable access to and use of safely managed domestic water, sanitation and hygiene systems and services resulting in reduced water borne diseases.

Duration: 5 years.

Target locations: Panjakent, Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts of Sughd oblast.

OVERALL OBJECTIVES

To coordinate and successfully implement the project construction activities, MSDSP is looking for a highly motivated and experienced Senior Engineer (SE). Under the RPM supervision and close coordination with the SPO, the SE will coordinate the project team towards efficient and effective achievement of the project expected outcomes by developing project Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for construction activities, coordinating the DIP implementation process and monitoring activities in close coordination with MSDSP project staff and other regional staff of MSDSP Sughd. The SE is expected to establish and maintain efficient partnership and coordination of the project implementation with relevant staff, project partners, and recipient of the project. 

DUTY STATION AND REPORTING LINE

The SE will be based in the Ayni office and report to Regional Programme Manager (RPM) MSDSP Sughd and SPO.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Coordination 

  • To oversee and coordinate the work of field engineers in developing the design briefs, design documents, review and construction of WASH infrastructure, including safe drinking water supply systems, sanitation facilities and wastewater treatment solutions in the project targeted areas to ensure the compliance requirements
  • Oversee and coordinate the pre-construction assessments of potential sites for drinking water supply systems and sanitation facilities and ensure that the selected sites for construction of water and sanitation facilities are technically and financially feasible to implement.
  • Effectively coordinate with design consulting firms and institutes to ensure the design of the water and sanitation facilities are completed on time and with the high quality (design of the drinking water supply systems, public facilities, etc.).
  • Facilitate the tender process and ensure the best design consulting firms/ institutes and contractors are selected for execution of the work.
  • Develop the tender report and ensure the timely submission and timely selection of the designers/ contractors.
  • Coordinate with contractor and develop a realistic schedule of works for construction activities and establish a progress tracking mechanism. 
  • Track and analyze data to inform decision-making, regularly share results and information with stakeholders, including AKF Tajikistan, and to produce analytical reports highlighting potential risks to project objectives and improving the project efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Establish and maintain strong partnership relationships with relevant staff of AKF/MSDSP Tajikistan and project partners, beneficiaries, local government structures, business entities and community-based organizations towards achievement of the expected outcomes of the project.

Annual planning and reporting

  • Coordinate the development, consolidation, and execution of an annual DIP of the project. 
  • Develop and agree a detail schedule of works for individual sites in close coordination with the design consulting firms/ institutes and contractors.
  • Prepare and submit narrative and financial progress reports in time and to the required quality.
  • Support and provide input for preparing of quarter and final report of the CS WASH project.
  • Manage the project team through weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly planning and performance tracking to ensure tasks are understood and executed on time, within allocated budget and according to MSDSP policies and procedures.
  • Manage the project budget and continually carry out value engineering on each project site to reduce the construction cost.
  • Develop monitoring and evaluation (M&E) methodologies and tools for the project in coordination with Regional MSDSP M&E Officers, maintain and apply the methodology and tools throughout the project duration.
  • Conduct regular field monitoring visits.
  • Review and update periodically a risk analysis to identify a wide range of risks around security, social exclusion. 
  • Ensure gender equality is mainstreamed into project design, planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
  • Ensure the safeguarding requirements are met in the process of project implementation and monitored accordingly.
  • University degree in civil and/ or industrial engineering, architecture, geotechnical engineering or any other relevant technical degree. A university degree in civil engineering with the specialization in water and sanitation is preferable.

Management (project, staff, budget)

Monitoring & Evaluation

Safeguarding/Gender

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Experience:

  • Minimum five years of construction management and supervision experience, preferably with focus on rural infrastructure development and utilizing participatory approach for rural development.
  • Minimum three years of demonstrated experience in implementing water and sanitation projects in the rural mountain areas.
  • Experience in managing a team of engineers
  • Experience in design management, like working with local design consulting firms and institutes
  • Practical experience in using and applying local building Codes, especially in water supply and sewage systems.
  • Practical experience in working with Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and cost estimation formats as per the government rates & standards.

Special skills & knowledge: 

  • Experience in implementing activities based on detailed implementation plans.
  • Experience in compiling and writing narrative project progress reports.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Tajik and/ or Russian languages, knowledge of English language will be an asset.
  • Excellent skills in MS Office application (Word, Excel, e-mail, and internet).
  • Good skills in using Autodesk AutoCAD, Graphisoft ArchiCAD or any other relevant CAD software’s
  • Knowledge of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures related to donor compliance.
  • Knowledge of groundwaters, borehole design, drilling and construction.
  • Ability to think critically, to identify and manage risk.
  • Ability to communicate effectively.

APPLICATION PROCESS

A cover letter (2 pages maximum) and resume (2 pages maximum) clearly demonstrating how applicants meet essential qualifications and asset criteria should be submitted to hr.recruitment@akdn.org by no later than 24 November 2024. Only full packages will be considered. 

Please also note that in case of revealing any inaccurate data in candidates working history or personal documents MSDSP Tajikistan has the right to withdraw the application at any stage of the recruitment process.

MSDSP strongly encourages qualified female applicants for this position. MSDSP seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities and that staff members are able to keep an appropriate balance between work and private life.

For more information on the Aga Khan Foundation and Aga Khan Development Network visit: http://www.akdn.org  

MSDSP Tajikistan recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to equal opportunity, safeguarding of children from abuse and zero tolerance of sexual harassment.

DISCLAIME

By sharing their online Application Form with MSDSP in response to this job application, applicants consent for MSDSP to keep this information on file for recruitment and human resources management purposes.