WASH Consultant (Civil Engineer) at WaterAid

Job purpose

• The WASH Consultant, who should be a Civil Engineer with bias in civil construction and structural designs will support planning, designing of WASH infrastructures, especially public toilets, water facilities and strategic implementation approaches, WASH service delivery including urban sanitation, influencing and advocacy priorities of WaterAid Nigeria at the national and state level.
• The job holder will play a key role in the delivery of key components of the project objectives, including construction of facilities, operation and maintenance and will be required to support evidence-based advocacy by WaterAid at State and LGA levels with a view to improving access to WASH in Nigeria.
• The job holder will also be responsible for delivering the approach, plans and activities for sector strengthening & support, ensuring that the design and intent of the field level programming is aligned with that agenda, and that evidence generated from WANG field work and technical innovations are used in influencing of policies and programmes at local, state and national levels.
• The role will also support WANG innovative approaches for improved sanitation service delivery in rural, small town and urban areas.
• This will include sanitation marketing approaches, Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS), equity and inclusion in the sanitation service chain and supporting institutional capacity strengthening strategies, via policies, guidelines, regulations and WASH Action Plan development. 

Accountabilities 

Technical capabilities 

• Ability and experience in civil engineering design and interpretation of WASH facilities.
• Ability and experience in WASH facilities construction and supervision.
• Competence in use of engineering software such as AutoCad, 3D designs and  other similar software for engineering designs and drawings.
• Sound engineering judgement for climate resilient WASH facility construction and environmental remediation of facility premises.
• Ability to supervise and manage contracts and contractors at site for timely delivery of projects.
• Innovative/technological ideas in integrating WASH inclusiveness in facility design, construction, and supervision of WASH infrastructures.
• Experience and competence in project management, reporting, monitoring, evaluation and communications and relationship with contractors and other partners.
• Competence for conducting technical assessment of WASH facilities for rehabilitation, new constructions, and development of BEME, General and Particular Technical specifications for tendering purposes.
• Experience and competence in tendering and procurement for technical contracts, especially WASH infrastructure construction and or rehabilitation.

Sector Strengthening 

• Under the guidance of the Head of Lagos Programme, support the development 
  of approaches and plans aimed at reducing WASH sector bottlenecks at State and 
  LGA levels in Lagos state. 
• In collaboration with the media team, build networks for WANG’s work on CSO participation and citizenship engagement on WASH governance, urban water and sanitation sector reform in Lagos state. 
• Ensure that WaterAid Nigeria WASH Programme delivery at the field level is designed to positively impact the building of better WASH systems and generate replicable results that can be profiled to contribute to universal access for Nigeria. 
• Follow up on trends in sector processes, strategies and practice and advise the Head of Lagos Programme on possible actions in terms of delivering organizational messaging at key fora.
• Organize knowledge sharing sessions with staff towards ensuring that all staff have clear knowledge and understanding of WaterAid Nigeria’s intent, goals and activities in the WASH sector strengthening arena. 
• In collaboration with colleagues, assist in the marketing of WANG’s models to key sector stakeholders. 
• With the support of the Head of Lagos Programme, manage WANG’s capacity building support to all identified partners. 
• Provide on demand technical advice and support on WASH infrastructure development. 
• Co-ordinate WANG staff and partners’ capacity development in relation to sector capacity strengthening related issues in the state of operation and maintenance of WASH infrastructure.

Policy influencing 

• With the support of the communication unit, develop case studies, position papers, policy messages /briefing notes, web articles etc. on key WASH sector issues to achieve influencing outcomes of WaterAid work in Nigeria. 
• Raise public awareness of issues in collaboration with Communications and Media team. 
• Support the design and delivery of activities targeted at strengthening WASH services infrastructure development, operation and maintenance.

Research and documentation

• With the support of the Head of Lagos Programme, document and share learning on WASH infrastructure development and maintenance through civil society engagement, citizenship engagement/empowerment, rights of stakeholders, gender, equity and inclusion. 
• In collaboration with the M&E Manager, perform various tasks involving data collection, data maintenance, and data analysis using statistical software and other computer programs. 
• In collaboration with the Sanitation and Hygiene Coordinator, perform various tasks involving CLTS, sanitation marketing, Hygiene promotion and behaviour change, and HBC campaigns.
• With the support of SPEL develop, administer, and periodically evaluate institutional development tools which take into account access and rights, equity & inclusion and other key components to effectively evaluate performance of the WASH sector. 
• In collaboration with SPEL Team, support documentation and learning processes 
  among partners and sector institutions.

Policy dissemination 

• With the support of the Head of WASH/Programme synthesise findings and recommendations from completed research(es) on WASH innovations and climate resilience WASH conducted by WaterAid Nigeria into practical WASH programming actions. 
• Manage collaborative case studies, impact surveys and other research to adequately inform stakeholders about the critical issues in WASH service delivery and design. 
• Initiate and support in dissemination events to share policy research reports. 
• Develop and share briefing notes on sector support and WASH innovations, operations and maintenance in collaboration with the Head of Lagos Programme. 

Networking and Representation

• Represent WaterAid through participation in meetings, seminars and other strategic/important events that support achievement of WaterAid goals at national and state levels. 
• Represent WaterAid in key sector events nationally or state (when assigned). 
• Participate in sector discussions, build and maintain relationships with key sector ministries, institutions and other strategic partners who are critical to realizing WANG strategic priorities at national and state levels. 
• Actively engage in dissemination events to share research reports on a wide range of sector strengthening themes and solicit feedback from sector stakeholders. 
• Build relationships and partnerships with government institutions, donors, universities, private sector and research institutions. 
• Identify and build relationships with wider sector development stakeholders for effective collaboration towards the achievement of WaterAid’s objectives.  

Support to Fundraising

• Provide specifics on demand research and gather information as may be required to develop concept notes and proposals to grant funders. 
• Actively participate in the design and development of quality projects and proposals for the CP especially with regards to sanitation marketing, private sector engagement, urban sanitation and WASH service delivery at community level.

Person specification

Leadership and Teamwork

• Provide adequate leadership and demonstrated team spirit among State level team members and HQ staff. 
• Be responsible for final delivery of specific WASH programmes/projects in the state of operation for effective and evident delivery of projects. 
• Provide leadership for prudent financial management and operation of state level project accounts. 
• Be responsible for monthly, quarterly and annual reports of state level operations and project management. 
• Provide effective leadership for management and protection of WANG assets in the state office and with partners. 
• Ensure that partners effectively carry out their duties and responsibilities during project implementation. 
• With the support of state level staff, prepare state level work plans, budgets and project implementation strategies for effectiveness.

Essential Criteria

• Must have a University degree in civil engineering or related field. A Master’s degree in Environmental/structural Engineering will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience of which at least 3 must be in WASH Programme/project management, sanitation and hygiene promotion, community management with any reputable national/ international/ donor agency. 
• Experience in construction supervision and has vast experience in the use of engineering software such as AutoCad and 3D designs using various engineering software.
• Strong in proposal writing, project design, implementation strategies, monitoring evaluation.
• Sound knowledge of basic project management approaches, experience with conducting formative research and using research outcomes to make programme decisions. 
• Experience in developing strategic & operational plans. Able to effectively organise self and other, plans and prioritise in line with such plans. 
• Excellent relationship building skills. Able to build and maintain trusting relationships, negotiate, influence, and resolve conflicts. 
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with multi-level stakeholders including donor representatives, government officials and community level actors. 
• Experience of working in, and solid understanding of the Nigerian WASH Sector. 
• Strong analytical and research skills. 
• Strong communication skills, including active listening and ability to effectively convey information and ideas verbally and in writing. 
• Significant relevant and proven experience preferably in CSOs/NGOs engagement. 
• Commitment to WaterAid’s values and ways of working. 

Desirable Criteria

• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Existing links/network in the WASH Sector.