JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Reference:
Job Title: / Engineer “EU – North Pacific - Readiness for El Niño (RENI) project”
Work Unit: / GEM
Responsible To: / EU – North Pacific – RENI Project Manager
Responsible For: / Design and delivery of drought preparedness measures in the three countries and contribution to regional training, technical exchange arrangements, and capacity building for the EU – North Pacific - Readiness for El Niño (RENI) project.
Job Purpose: / The objective of the RENI project is to enhance the resilience of the people of FSM, Marshall Islands and Palau to the shocks and insecurities resulting from extreme El Niño events through structural and capacity building actions. The Engineer will be primarily responsible for the provision of engineering and policy support to the North Pacific countries in water and agricultural sectors related to readiness for future El Niño (drought) events and to provide training and capacity building support. Position based in Suva, Fiji.
Date: / December 2017
Vision:
“All CROP (Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific) agencies contribute to achieving the vision embodied in the Pacific Plan of a region of peace, stability, economic growth, good governance and sustainable development. SPC is committed to these values and to working in partnership with national, regional and international organisations and development partners to serve its members.”
Organisation Context:The Pacific Community (SPC) is a regional organization assisting Pacific Island Countries and Territories to achieve their development goals by delivering technical, scientific, research, policy and training services. The SPC works across the region to assist member countries to better manage vulnerability and risks such as those associated with climate change, natural disasters and water security, including through the implementation of national and regional donor-funded projects.
One such project is the EU-funded RENI project, which aims to enhance the resilience of the people of FSM, Marshall Islands and Palau to the shocks and insecurities resulting from extreme El Niño events. The specific objective of the project is to strengthen the implementation of a sustainable, multi sectoral approach to readiness for future El Niño events.
The key result areas of the RENI project are:
· Uptake of key individual and community behaviours that support El Niño resilience strengthened.
· Local area structural measures implemented to support El Niño resilience building and paying special attention to the rights of women and vulnerable groups in outer islands.
· National measures – institutional, planning and technical – implemented to support resilience for future El Niño events.
The project will be delivered by a team of skilled professional specialists from SPC, in collaboration with national stakeholders and CROP partners, International Organization for Migration, UN agencies and other development partners. National stakeholders will include persons from agencies responsible for climate change, disaster risk management, finance and planning agencies, and sector ministries. National Authorising Officers to the European Union will also be engaged to ensure that activities complement new and existing regional programmes and other EU activities.
Key Result Areas:The position of Engineer, RENI project, encompasses the following major functions or Key Result Areas:
1. Selection, design and installation of national on-the-ground measures that contribute to food and water security and drought preparedness in consultation with local and national stakeholders.
2. Contribute to regional training, technical exchange and capacity building support arrangements.
3. Provide assistance to the Project Manager to coordinate project activities at the national and regional level and the sharing of drought preparedness measures with other Pacific countries.
The requirements in the above Key Result Areas are broadly identified below.
Jobholder is accountable for
/Jobholder is successful when
Selection, design and installation of national on-the-ground measures that contribute to food and water security and drought preparedness in consultation with local and national stakeholders.· In consultation with national counterparts and communities, identify and select on-the-ground measures that contribute to drought preparedness.
· Contribute to the design and implementation of behavioural change activities that contribute to the long-term sustainability of the project’s activities.
· Design (including engineering design and preparation of works and other contracts), and procure the goods and services required for the on-the-ground measures.
· Oversee the implementation and installation of the drought resilient measures in collaboration with local stakeholders.
· Provide training in the monitoring and maintenance of the drought resilient measures to local and national stakeholders, taking into account the different skills and needs of men and women.
· Compile asset registers and oversee the handover of all equipment, materials and on-the-ground measures. Ensure agreements are in place for their continual maintenance. / · National counterparts and communities fully involved in the selection of the drought resilient, on-the-ground measures.
· Communities (including men, women, youth, elders and those with disabilities) adopt lifestyle changes that contribute to improved drought preparedness (in collaboration with other team members)
· On-the-ground drought resilient measures designed and goods and services procured in full compliance with SPC and EU’s procurements procedures.
· Drought resilient measures installed with local stakeholder assistance where appropriate.
· Men and women trained in the monitoring and maintenance of the drought resilient measures.
· Agreements for continuation of activities in place and asset registers compiled and signed.
Provision of technical assistance, training and capacity building in food and water security and drought preparedness within the overall context of disaster and climate risk.
· In collaboration with other partners, organise and assist in the delivery of consultations, training and attachments in drought readiness in the context of disaster and climate risk, and including natural resources management.
· Provide technical advice and input into the preparation/revision of national, local and sector-based policies and action plans relating to disaster and climate risk and the adoption of a multi-sectoral approach.
· Assist with the recruitment of short and medium term technical assistance for the provision of disaster and climate risk advice and training where necessary.
· Provide input into technical studies where required.
· Assist with, and contribute to national and regional steering committee meetings and lessons learned meetings.
· Assist with the supervision of national project officers/coordinators. / · Consultations, training and attachments effectively delivered and national capacity built in drought preparedness.
· National/sector-based and local policies and plans prepared and/or revised based on sound scientific evidence.
· External technical assistance effectively delivered (where necessary).
· Technical studies effectively delivered to contribute to the knowledge base.
· National and regional (steering committee and lessons learnt) meetings successfully delivered.
· Capacity enhanced of national project officers such that they contribute effectively to project delivery and sustainability of activities.
Provide assistance to the Project Manager to coordinate project activities at the national and regional level and the sharing of drought preparedness measures with other Pacific countries.
· Provide input to the preparation of overall and annual project work plans, procurement plan, gender/rights-based integration plans, communication plans, risk strategies, monitoring and evaluation, exit and closure strategies
· Assist with ensuring all funded technical services, supplies and equipment procured in accordance with requirements of SPC, donor and project countries.
· Assist with the overall implementation of the project’s work plan such that a multi-sectoral approach to drought preparedness is adopted in the countries.
· Assist with preparation and timely submission of progress and annual reports, work plans for the EU, quarterly reports from national coordinators/project officers.
· Develop and present reports and briefings to senior officials where required.
· Assist the Project Manager to identify and address risks to project delivery in a proactive manner.
· Assist the Project Manager with coordination and provision of project visibility.
· Where required, assist in the provision of technical advice to effectively communicate lessons learned and inform SPC’s development goals.
· Where required, assist in the provision of technical assistance for the development of high-quality national and regional funding proposals. / · The project is fully implemented according to the EU agreement, budget, costed work plan and the operational policies and procedures of SPC, donor and project beneficiaries
· Procurement of all necessary services, supplies and equipment is carried out in accordance with SPC, donor and project beneficiaries’ procurement procedures
· Implementation strategies effectively delivered including but not limited to monitoring and evaluation, gender integration, communications, risk and exit
· Quarterly, progress and annual reports are complete and submitted in a timely manner
· Briefings and reports are provided to relevant senior officials when required
· Risks to project delivery identified at an early stage and addressed in an effective manner by the Project Team.
· Contributions provided so that high quality communication products highlighting the project’s activities produced and distributed.
· Timely and effective technical assistance provided to enhance SPC’s development goals
· High quality funding proposal components developed.
Note
The above performance standards are provided as a guide only. The precise performance measures for this position will need further discussion between the jobholder and supervisor as part of the performance development process.
Work Complexity:Most challenging duties typically undertaken:
· Designing and delivering the on-the-ground measures to fit the project budget and timeframe, needs of the countries and the targeted communities and fully complying with SPC and EU procurement requirements.
· Delivery and installation of on-the-ground project activities in remote, inaccessible outer islands
· Ensuring the sustainability of the project’s activities in the countries
· Working across multiple agencies in ensuring delivery of result areas of the RENI project
· Assisting countries to adopt a multi-sectoral approach in the delivery of the RENI project
· Working across diverse technical and operational networks of climate change and disaster risk management
· Balancing work required from country counterparts with the needs of other donor funded projects in the region
· Coordinating and facilitating information exchange, networking and partnership building; management of consultants and both small and large work contracts
K
Functional Relationships & Relationship Skills:Key internal and/or external contacts / Nature of the contact most typical
External –
§ Regional organisations, e.g. CROP, IOM, UN agencies
§ Donor – EU and other development partners
§ National government agencies
§ National NGOs, civil society, private sector and women’s groups
§ Recipient communities in the countries
§ Media (national and regional)
§ Consultants and firms
§ Climate change and disaster risk management networks
Internal
· GEM Director
· SPC Operations and Management teams
· Project team
· Professional staff in GEM, LRD, SSD, SPL, PHD, CCES, RRRT / Consultation, reporting and negotiation
Consultation
Direct national liaison
Service provision and support
Public relations
Strategic collaboration (research and extension activities)
Reporting, liaising, facilitating, and coordination of project support and activities
Level of Delegation:
The position holder does not have budgetary sign-off.
Person Specification:This section is designed to capture the expertise required for the role at the 100% fully effective level. (This does not necessarily reflect what the current position holder has.) This may be a combination of knowledge / experience, qualifications or equivalent level of learning through experience or key skills, attributes or job specific competencies.
Qualifications
Essential: / Desirable:Tertiary qualifications in water resources engineering, environmental engineering, civil engineering or related discipline. / Qualifications in project management, business management, financial management, and disaster and climate risk.
Knowledge / Experience
Essential: / Desirable:· At least 10 years professional experience related to provision of engineering and technical advice in fields relating to civil engineering, water resources engineering, natural resources engineering and environmental management.
· Demonstrated experience in the design, procurement and implementation of works contracts particularly, but not exclusively, in water and agriculture sectors.
· Demonstrated experience in incorporating climate and disaster risk into engineering projects.
· Proven track record in managing the delivery of technical assistance and training.
· Experience with multi-stakeholder participatory and consultation approaches including gender sensitive and rights-based approaches.
· At least 3 years previous experience in working within regional and/or international organisations delivering technical/engineering services to developing countries.
· Excellent interpersonal skills in the multicultural environment of the Pacific Islands.
· Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).
· Excellent computer skills across necessary applications. / · Implementation of aid delivery projects in the North Pacific countries.
· Experience with design and implementation of works contracts in water and/or agriculture sectors.
· Experience of working with small communities in Pacific islands.
Key Skills /Attributes / Job Specific Competencies
The following levels would typically be expected for the 100% fully effective level:
Expert level / · Competency in designing and delivering engineering measures in small Pacific Islands, especially in water security and agricultural sectors.· Competency in participatory and consultative approaches, working with communities, and the adoption of gender sensitive and rights based approaches.
· Experience with implementation of projects that also address climate change, disaster risk and environmental management in remote locations.
· Experience with procurement of goods and services for different types of organisations.
· Capacity building and mentoring skills;
· Efficient delivery of outputs and writing skills,
· Ability to work under pressure.
Competency Advanced level / · Effective communicator and a good listener;
· Excellent written and spoken English
· Attention to detail;
· Decision making skills;
· Coordination and liaison
· Analytical skills in prioritisation, problem solving and management of risks
· Understanding of climate change (science, adaptation and mitigation) in the Pacific island region
· Computer literacy, particularly with Microsoft Office and related project management software.
· Ability to deal with confidential information in a professional manner.
Working Knowledge / · Behavioural change methods
· Gender-sensitive and rights-based tools
Awareness / · EU and SPC procurement policies and procedures.
Key Behaviours
All employees are measured against the following Key Behaviours as part of Performance Development: