Wastewater Senior Associate

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Wastewater Senior Associate will be based initially in Pakse with frequent visits to Kayson. Later, the position might evolve and be based in Kayson with frequent visits to Pakse.

The main role of this position is to ensure a smooth development of wastewater related construction works and the mobilization of local authorities in the adoption of related wastewater strategies and regulation to ensure sustainable operation of the wastewater facilities.

PURPOSE

The Wastewater Senior Associate will support the Senior Officer to implement in Pakse and Kayson all those project activities related to KOICA projects Phase I and Phase II, Outcome 3, which are related to wastewater facilities design, procurement and construction and support to provincial and local authorities in the adoption of policies ensuring sustainability of such infrastructures.

The Senior Associate will report to the Wastewater Officer and will ensure the alignment of the project with national and local legislation and development plans. This will be done in cooperation with the Project Implementation Unit, which is composed of main local authorities stakeholders (DPWT, PCOMS/KCOMS, NAMPAPA and Major’s Office). In addition, the Senior Associate supports the technical partner BORDA to accomplish with its supervision and construction control responsibilities.

ENGAGEMENT

• Liaises between PIU, communities, village local authorities and GGGI teams (focal point) for consultations related to wastewater facilities construction and operationalization.
• Engages with Kayson and Pakse local and provincial authorities to ensure smooth implementation of construction works and discussions about associated regulations and tariffs.
• Supports technical partner with consultations and data collection (qualitative and quantitative) to feed the design of new wastewater facilities.
• Supports the development of awareness campaign related to wastewater management.

DELIVERY

For delivery of KOICA Phase I O3

• Carry out daily visits to construction sites verifying works.
• Provide feedback about construction progress on a daily basis to GGGI Wastewater Officer.
• Oversee work schedules and coordinate with subcontractors.
• Daily coordination with BORDA and PIU members in support to Pakse Senior Officer / GGGI Pakse team members.
• Ensure that constructors respect contract terms and quality requirements in support to BORDA.
• Participate in weekly construction reporting meetings with PIU members in support to GGGI Pakse team.
• Crosscheck BORDA monthly reports and endorse them.
• Participate in Monthly construction meetings in support to GGGI Pakse team.
• Support activities related to community engagement in the context of sewage network construction.
• Support O&M training activities in cooperation with BORDA.
• Support the handover and commissioning of the infrastructure to local authorities

For delivery of KOICA Phase II O3

Before construction works start:

• Support situational analysis in both locations Kayson and Pakse to help the technical partner to develop designs of the new infrastructures
• Support the engagement of authorities / PIU in the design process (including the selection of the sites)
• Support the tendering process
• Once construction starts his/her duties will be the same that those for delivery of KOICA Phase I O3

For both Phases, he /she will support the Wastewater Officer with the engagement of Pakse and Kayson provincial and local authorities during the development and approval processes for the Fecal Sludge Regulations and associated tariff with Provincial Assembly.

REQUIREMENTS  

QUALIFICATIONS

• An university degree or higher in civil engineering, specialization in environmental engineering is a must.  
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in infrastructures construction, knowledge and experience with DEWATS technology is necessary to fulfill this position needs.
• Fair command of written and spoken English in addition to Lao’s mother tongue.

FUNCTIONAL  

• Ability to apply related concepts in the adaptation contexts of Lao PDR. 
• Ability to communicate substantive issues to engage technical staff and leaders.  
• Ability to build and manage complex multi-stakeholder relationships at the technical level. 
• Ability to engage with community leaders, local authorities, implementing stakeholders  and government counterparts at relevant levels in a polite, professional and effective manner.
• Ability to work in an organized, systematic manner, and decision-making abilities.
• Able to communicate, listen to others, and contribute to an environment for open communication across cultures. 
• Maintain a high degree of professional integrity at all times, both internally within GGGI and externally to GGGI’s partners and clients. 

CORPORATE  

• Understand and actively supports GGGI’s mission, vision and values. 
• Promote the optimum use of public resources. 
• Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect and partnership. 
• Process and share information easily. 
• Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily. 
• Promote creativity and innovation among staff. 
• Be able to lead where needed and provide solutions to project-level challenge. 

WORKING CONDITIONS 

The Senior Wastewater Associate X7 grade level in GGGI’s national salary scale. The annual base salary starts from USD 15,877. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate's experience, academic background and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision. This is a national position and does not include relocation benefits or additional transport allowances.

GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members. 

GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI's Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The GGGI Lao PDR program has been expanding rapidly in the areas of climate change, green cities and green investment mobilization. Since 2018, GGGI has been implementing a range of Readiness and Preparatory Support Program projects focused on building national capacity and policy for green finance, capacity building, climate modelling, energy efficiency, electric mobility and climate policy. GGGI has also undertaken a range of activities and projects to support Lao PDR’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). In addition, since 2019, GGGI has been implementing sanitation and fecal sludge treatment solutions in Pakse, Lao PDR, across interventions spanning infrastructure, policy, financing, regulation and capacity development. The country office has workspaces in the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport at central level, as well as the Vientiane Capital and Champasak Province governments. 

GGGI Lao PDR’s Water Unit leads implementation of projects and outcomes related to water and wastewater policy and planning, water and wastewater infrastructure and technologies, and flood management and resilience at a national level. Key projects within the portfolio include Phase I of the KOICA-funded project “Wastewater and Solid Waste Treatment Capacity Building” through which GGGI is providing technical assistance for improved wastewater in Pakse City; Phase II of this project, also supported by KOICA, through which GGGI’s support in the wastewater sector will be extended to Kaysone, Savannakhet; and a new project “Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Adaptation” (NATURA), funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), aimed to increase the resilience of urban communities in Vientiane Capital through a range of interventions, including nature-based solutions, to improve urban wetland management for urban flood resilience. Along with project delivery, the Water Unit also engages in business development for the water and wastewater sectors, as well as water-related knowledge sharing and capacity development at the national and local levels. To support this work, GGGI is seeking a Wastewater Senior Associate with experience working in decentralized wastewater technologies to support KOICA phase II project implementation in Pakse and Kayson in those activities related to wastewater management.