Public Health Engineer - Officer

JOB PURPOSE: This position will be part of an integrated Humanitarian programme in the Bekaa Valley. The WaSH component will include both public health engineering and public health promotion activities with the aim of providing comprehensive WaSH assistance to vulnerable persons. The appointed person will support the provision of water and sanitation services and the construction and rehabilitation of WaSH facilities, ensuring they are completed to the agreed specifications and within the agreed project timeframes, as well as ensuring maintenance of built facilities and participating in assessments as required.

REPORTING LINES:

Reports to:  Programme Manager

Staff reporting to this post: Public Health Engineers assistants

DIMENSIONS:

• The position will represent Nabad in our areas of operation and be responsible for supervision of the efficient delivery of activities, including ensuring a high quality of construction work and ensuring that strict health and safety procedures are adhered to at all times. The selected candidate will be a key member of the site supervision team, which will consist of site engineers, tradespersons (masons and plumbers etc), and maintenance staff.
• The position may be requested to carry out assessments of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and prepare recommendations and BOQ’s for required construction, repair or rehabilitation works. This may be carried out with other partners.
• In addition, and as needs arise, the position will be a part of the emergency response team, responsible for designing and installing light, rapid and simple toilet, shower, hand washing and water collection facilities. The scope of work will vary depending on the circumstances.
• The position will be expected to directly manage a team of PHE assistants, ensuring oversight of daily work activities and performance objectives.
• The role will involve at least 60% presence in project sites, irregular work patterns and volumes

       KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

       Programme Implementation

1.  Provide direct management and oversight over the PHE activities, including drafting key project management documentation, including work plans, spending and procurement plans, and monitoring progress and challenges of implementation, as well as coordinating closely with other team members, and Oxfam teams
2. To assess emergency WaSH-related needs especially taking into account the broader perspective of Public Health.
3. Contribute to the design, management, and communication of a transition to sustainable, partner-led implementation approach, including a responsible exit strategy
4. Source and provide technical resources and support needed to complete scopes of work, including reviewing the quality of the work completed, the adherence to health and safety standards and ensuring the work stays within assigned schedules and cost targets.
5. With the Programme Manager, establish systems and controls for site supervision, including daily site checks and documentation of the ongoing work.
6. Act as key focal person with the implementing partners and contractors, ensuring positive, transparent and accountable working relationships.
7. Together with the team, ensure regular contact with the beneficiaries is maintained in target areas including refugee representatives, peer group members, as well as with the wider community members, with particular attention to vulnerable groups;
8. Work with the project team to define the methods of community participation that ensure the greatest possible participation of vulnerable groups, and mentor team members in the implementation of appropriate approaches for community engagement and provide feedback as necessary;
9. Support team member in delivering capacity development activities for community focal points and peer group members and in preparing and facilitating community consultations on project activities, encourage activities that allow for feedback and suggestions from community members, and ensure this information is used to inform project activities and approaches
10. Contribute to monitoring learning and developments of community focal points and groups, impact of activities and adapt project activities and approaches accordingly in coordination with the programme manager and relevant technical coordinators
11. To ensure full monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning practises are integrated into programme implementation, including closely monitoring of outputs, documenting lessons learned and monitoring and resolving non-compliance.
12. If requested by the Programme Manager, participate in assessments of existing water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in other parts of Lebanon, producing recommendations and BOQ’s for WaSH activities construction and rehabilitation work.

Programme approach:

1. Adhere to Nabad code of conduct and procedures and ensure these are applied in the implementation of PHE activities, including raising awareness and building the capacity of Nabad staff on these standards and how to action them.
2. Ensure accountability to beneficiaries, designing and implementing regular, transparent and two-way communication with stakeholders, including refugee representatives and peer group members. This should include active community participation in the design, implementation and monitoring of activities with a specific focus on vulnerable/marginalised groups, ensuring feedback is incorporated into Nabad’s programming.
3. Reflect on national and international WaSH programme experience to contribute to PHE /WaSH learning reviews and actively participate in monthly programme quality meetings.
4. To support the mainstreaming of gender into all activities including the introduction of mechanisms to enable women to participate in decision making around public health engineering issues.

Coordination

1. As requested, participate in WaSH field based meetings with other stakeholders, and coordination and communication with the Water Establishment and municipalities.
2. Ensure appropriate internal and external representation, sharing regular reports to the Programme Manager and attending external meetings with Oxfam , key stakeholders e.g. Government, UN, NGOs.

Staff Management

1. Direct Management of the PH Engineers assistants
2. Provide overall day to day support and management of the PH Engineers assistants and close coordination with Oxfam wash team and members
3. Ensure that all members of the works supervision team contribute to maintaining a positive relationship with contractors, beneficiaries and other key stakeholders.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCE:

• Civil, Mechanical or Environmental Engineering degree qualified (or other relevant qualification) and have a strong background working with in the construction environment,  ideally working with Lebanese’s construction companies and detailed knowledge of setting out procedures, dimensional drawings, and site supervision procedures. Experience could substitute for a formal qualification, but not vice versa
• Over 5 years of relevant experience as a Site Engineer/Architect. .
• Team and site project management experience.
• The ability to present concise reports, sometimes at short notice, reflecting the problems and possible solutions for particular situations. Diplomacy, tact and administrative skills in order to work with people at managerial and, on occasion’s possibly senior government levels is important.
• The post holder should be at ease in working with local communities and Syrian refugees.
• Well developed interpersonal and team skills and proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations.

• Good written and spoken English and spoken Arabic is essential