Public Health Engineer

About Afghanaid

Afghanaid is a British-registered international NGO, which has worked in Afghanistan for over 30 years. We assist community-driven processes that address the rights and fundamental needs of people in some of the most remote areas of Afghanistan, providing basic services, supporting development of rural livelihoods and responding to humanitarian emergencies. We are headquartered in Kabul, and operate 20 provincial and district offices across Badakhshan (north-eastern region), Samangan (northern region) and Ghor (western region), as well as a Marketing and Fundraising office in London. We employ around 160 personnel, 97% of whom are Afghans.

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Health Engineers will be responsible to oversee implementation of the planned engineering works of water facilities. He/ She will be based in the target area and travel to target communities for conducting assessment of the destroyed water facilities/sources, latrines, prepare designs, BoQ. The Public Health Engineers will lead the repair works from assessment until the end of construction works, and will be actively involved in the assessments, site selection, and the technical surveys of the selected water sources. All activities will be carried out in line with the policies and procedures laid down by the Cluster and Afghanaid.

Duties & Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

The following are the key areas of responsibility for this position:

• Data collection, jointly with the communities, for the establishment of a baseline of WASH indicators for each of the target villages including schools, mosques and health facilities located within these villages as well as for each family regarding hygiene practices.
• Pay regular field visits to programme areas to observe progress, compliance of design, work specifications and quality of the work
• Support community WASH committees in operation and maintenance of the water supply system. Their capacities will be built to manage community water and sanitation infrastructure; and as a pre-condition to the partnership, community agreement will be secured for the creation of a fund contribution by user groups, to cover operation and management (O&M) cost of the facilities and systems, for which project will provide O&M kits to each O&M committee. Special emphasis will be given to the inclusion of women in the committees.
• Supervise the implementation of the service improvements, including oversight of contractors and updating design drawing as per field requirements.
• Prepare design and BoQ for Repair, and construction of the Piped schemes and latrines, in accordance with the SPHERE standards, 
• Verification of the appropriate standard and quantity of materials used in water and sanitation schemes.
• Ensuring construction of projects in accordance with approved designs
• Providing training to community members on proper operation and maintenance of schemes
• Work in close cooperation with all key stakeholders including government authorities, community leaders, beneficiaries, partner organizations, and other providers.
• Repair and construction of shallow wells with hand pumps for villages not covered under the PE schemes;
• Provision of skilled and semi-skilled training on construction of low cost sanitary toilets, upgrading of existing latrines as well as rehabilitation and construction of community water supply schemes and hand pump mechanics systems.
• Water quality management: The project aims to provide potable water adhering to WHO standards; to ensure this water quality testing for microbial contamination (using DelAgua water testing kits) will be undertaken to help in making the selection of water sources and ascertain the quality of the new systems. Communities will be trained on the use of DelAgua kits. Where needed, water purification assistance will be provided (e.g. musafa)
• Conduct training to the repair and maintenance focal points in targeted communities.
• Provide project weekly/monthly report from their accomplished activities and raise the challenges to the project PC/PM on timely manner
• Ensure sound coordination and networking with related project department/sectors.
• To liaise, where appropriate, with members of the external design team and other associated organisations available in the targeted area.
• Seek and document evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) in accordance with the relevant professional institution's requirements.
• Any other duties as and when assigned by the line manager, MD and/or Directorate.

Job Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education & Professional Qualification

Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in Civil Engineering.

Work Experience

3-4 years Work Experience

Having Adequate experience in rural water supplies, sanitation and hygiene promotion and one or more other relevant areas (e.g. infrastructure, community development, natural resource management and renewable energy). The post holder must be aware of and sensitive to the particular needs of women in this context.

Professional Skills, Competencies, Values and Attitudes

Afghanaid seeks a responsible and dependable Public Health Engineering with strong initiative, judgment and adaptability as well as excellent skills in communication, organisational, interpersonal relations, decision-making and reporting skills.

Specifically, the holder of this position should also demonstrate the following:

1. Proficiency in computer software MS Office etc.
2. Able to design the infrastructure projects in computer
3. Effective Communication & Representation Skills
4. Reporting writing skills
5. Ability to deal with difficult, often challenging work situations.
6. Behavioural role model for peers and fellow team members.
7. Competent to work with significant levels of autonomy and able to meet tight deadlines.
8. A results-oriented approach to delivering work priorities in personal workload,
9. Creative and innovative in conceptual and analytical thinking
10. Able to communicate in Dari Pashto language, good in English
11. Personal integrity, sense of humour, intuitive and self-motivation

Specifically, the holder of this position should also demonstrate the following:

Key Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Highly developed reporting, budget monitoring, and management skills.
• Excellent knowledge of community development and social mobilisation.
• Proven management ability and strong interpersonal skills – team player.
• Problem solving and leadership skills.
• Gender sensitivity.
• Sensitivity to the Islamic culture.
• Commitment to support/develop the capacity of the national staff and of rural communities.
• Personal integrity and a sense of humour.
• Knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities in personal workload.
• Knowledge of exit strategies and sustainability issues.

Desirable

• Able to design the infrastructure projects in computer
• Familiarity with English
• Effective Communication & Representation Skills
• ability to work in multi-ethnic/lingual/cultural environment

Submission Guideline

Please email a covering letter and your CV, by no later than 13 Aug 2022 to vacancies@afghanaid.org.uk , including your name and the job title in the subject line. Your covering letter should be no more than 1 standard A4 page in length and explain how you meet the essential and desirable position requirements and why you feel you would be a suitable candidate for this role. Your CV should be no more than 4 pages and include 3 professional references including your current employer. The precision and style with which you present yourself in your covering letter and CV will be given significant weight in short listing candidates. Application with no proper subject (requested above) will not be considered.

Functional Area

Engineering

Countries

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