Community Infrastructure Engineer Consultant

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance

Job Title: Community Infrastructure Engineer

Type of Contract: Regular Consultancy

Division: WFP Engineering and PRO-R

Duty Station (City, Country): WFP Headquarters, Rome, Italy

Duration: 11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

This position will be with WFP at Rome Headquarters with frequent travels across WFP operations and requires the engagement of a competent civil engineer with project management experience in particular community assets creation, disaster risk reduction, and climate action.  The Community Infrastructure Engineer will report to the Chief Engineer and Chief of PRO-R and designates to support and ensure effective implementation of engineering best practices, standards, and technologies across Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) activities, where these require specific engineering services or construction activities. The main tasks required of the position would include providing technical advice to PRO-R (WFP’s Asset Creation, Livelihoods and Resilience Unit) to develop operational procedures, related technical steps and processes for a range of Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) programmes that require engineering support. In addition, the engineer will provide support to WFP Engineering in relation to contractual strategies, expertise and guidance in relation to engineering design and review, project management, construction procurement processes and contract management for construction activities, public Procurement Contracting in a UN Environment and technical support to WFP's programmes.

The engineer shall be able to demonstrate a strong competence with progressively responsible roles in one or more of the following engineering technologies: hydraulic engineering, competence in water infrastructure design/constructions, planning and programming engineering projects with community-based interventions.

The engineer should have experience as a project manager with a focus on the design and construction of infrastructure. The engineer assigned to this position will require experience in construction contract management, including knowledge and experience of international construction contract law; and FIDIC or related construction contract formats.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONIBILITIES

WFP Engineering at Rome Headquarters is established as a corporate resource of engineering expertise within WFP, mandated to provide engineering services or construction activities to WFP operations, to interagency operations where WFP has a leading role, or to humanitarian organisations, consistent with WFP's mandate, whether in routine or emergency operations; and accountabilities for governance, risk management and resources in engineering services and construction activities to reinforce technical quality and sustainable outcomes across WFP operations.

In parallel, WFP’s Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) initiative under PRO-R addresses immediate food needs through cash, voucher or food transfers. At the same time, it promotes the building or rehabilitation of assets that will improve long-term food security and resilience. FFA activities aim to create healthier natural environments, reduce the risks and impact of climate shocks, increase food productivity, and strengthen resilience to natural disasters over time.

WFP Engineering and PRO-R have strengthened existing working relationships between functional areas to develop and maintain operating arrangements that will ensure adherence to standards and best practices for FFA activities, which require specific engineering services or construction activities. To accomplish the task, the engineer, in coordination with the PRO-R unit, will identify, review and propose procedures to improve FFA activities with components that require engineering support.

The duties required shall include but are not limited to the following:

1. In consultation with regional and global technical focal points, as and when required, support COs through the provision of technical advice on ongoing design processes related to asset creation programmes and activities.
2. Provide technical advice for COs during the development of project proposals, design, and implementation strategy for water infrastructure projects and complex FFA activities, including those under L3 emergencies, as and when required.
3. Provide guidance on engineering aspects for FFA activities and project management services, and when required, taking into consideration country-specific technical requirements, using best practices, standards and innovative technologies that comply with WFP standards and processes.
4. Conduct, when required, analysis of project proposals to ensure business case and technical feasibility of the activities and that the project objectives are attainable within the prescribed resources and timelines.
5. Document engineering support to FFA activities and assist PRO-R in documenting and sharing good practices.
6. Act as the focal point between WFP Engineering and PRO-R and requested by RBx to support COs in the development of country-specific FFA Implementation Manuals (to support national government-led asset creation programmes).
7. Support HQ, RB and CO FFA teams to obtain details and provide agreed solutions related to ongoing practices, standard procedures, needs and challenges encountered during FFA projects. In consultation with regional FFA, regional FFA Engineering FPs(where available) and the HQ FFA team, identify additional areas of information and guidance that could help identify areas of work outside of FFA that could require engineering support.
8. Act as the interlocutor between PRO-R and WFP Engineering to provide technical support to WFP Engineering and CO Programme for the potential inclusion of FFA activities (limited to the scope of Level 3 activities within the FFA-Engineering activity matrix) to be implemented by NGOs and Programme through FLAs during the implementation of WFP Engineering led construction contracts
9. As requested, tasked, participate in field missions for reviewing specific assets and provision of technical support and training as required.
10. Review and propose update activities under the FFA-Engineering matrix to ensure appropriate risk management measures
11. Identify as required and assist in the development of specific technical reference sections related to the potential inclusion of engineering aspects (for example, planning, design, technical elements, implementation and management and references) in the FFA PGM manual.
12. As requested, participate in CO level design reviews (that is, reading, interpreting and critique/comment on technical drawings, schematics and computer-generated reports) of specific FFA activities/assets, providing advice and recommendation.
13. As requested by CO/RBx offices, support the development of training modules (virtual and written) that include adherence to best engineering practices, standards and processes within the FFA approach.
14. Operate computer-assisted engineering and design software and equipment to perform engineering tasks.
    

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Terms and Conditions

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.

http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

Deadline for applications: 14 August 2020

Ref.: VA No. 123532

Qualified female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.