Purpose of the position
This position will be responsible for the design, application and maintenance of quality standards, process, materials and products. It will focus on the design, implementation and management of quality standards in line with good sector practice. As part of this remit, the position will drive the strengthening of WaterAid’s technical quality
Responsibilities:
Technical Design
• Lead the development and implementation of technical standard designs in line with good sector practice and special needs of people
• Develop design criteria’s and implement in line with the sector practice and assure compliance with all regulatory
• Lead technical evaluation of contractors and consultants.
• Ensure the implementation of standard designs through training coaching, monitoring and on-site support
• Engages with external stakeholders and institutions in the country and elsewhere that are leaders in design and program quality to ensure that WaterAid is learning from the good practices and lessons of others.
• Lead the technical design of water and sanitation facilities as well as prepare bill of quantities
Quality assurance
• Develop and initiate standards and methods to ensure quality, timelines and efficiency of all activities implemented in the project
• Ensures the technical quality of engineering plans, designs and implementations.
• Assure compliance with all regulatory, contractual, environmental and health and safety procedures.
• Assure delivery of reliable products and services to projects on time, meet or exceeding expectations and specifications
• Follows up the implementation to ensure quality and recommend corrective actions
• Works closely with stakeholders to ensure agreed standards are being implemented
• Performs technical quality tests before final handover
• Monitors evaluates and reports project implementation
Management
• Participate in proposal development by developing technical designs and preparation of costs
• Support the selection of good performing contractors and suppliers
• Prepare TOR, bill of quantity and construction agreements
• Provide technical support as required by the technical service director and interact with technical staffs and supplies
• Interface and communicate with technical and management staffs to ensure implementation of high technical quality in WaterAid
Person Specification
Knowledge and experience
• A Master’s degree in Engineering related field is an advantage.
• Proven track record and expertise in design and quality assurance
• Strong understanding of the Ethiopian development context.
• Strong experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Good familiarity with participatory research and planning methodologies.
• Good knowledge of relevant software applications (EG: Autocad, Watercad, Office, Access, Project, Atlas, Nvivo, STATA, SPSS, etc.)
• Bilingual capacity in English/Amharic mandatory. Ability to work in other Ethiopian languages is an advantage.
Skills
• Conceptual and strategic thinking
• Effective communication
• Ability to deliver to tight deadlines and to multi-task
• Strong team building, group facilitation and motivational skills
• Strong information gathering, analysis and presentation skills.
• Ability to negotiate and generate consensus.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Power Point) and internet use
Behaviours
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, especially matrix and distance management environments
• Provides vision and direction
• Values driven
• Actively develops staff
• Promotes high performance
• Promotes innovation and learning
• Behaves consistently in approach to work and decision-making
Physical Environment and Demands:
Typical office working environment, with visits to the field in different conditions.