Project Officer - Water Engineer at Practical Action Kenya

The Project Officer-Water Engineer, will primarily be responsible for the following:

• Undertake WASH service needs assessment for people living in rural including ASALs, poor urban and peri-urban settlements (slums)
• Plan, design and implement appropriate low cost water (protected springs, shallow wells, solar powered bore holes, rainwater harvesting) and sanitation (VIP, leach pits, pour flush, septic tanks) systems/technologies targeting the needs of rural including ASALs, poor urban and peri- urban settlement dwellers
• Participate in the identification and mapping of water resources in Practical Action Project areas.
• Prepare and cost technical designs and specifications for WASH technologies
• Draw terms of references for and supervise contractors and consultants undertaking technical assignments for Practical Action
• Advise the programme on appropriate water and sanitation interventions, clearly providing spatial and temporal justifications e.g. with reference to existing facilities, villages, migration patterns for ASALs etc.
• Ensure delivery of project to time and budget avoiding both over- and underspends
• Build capacity of service users on operation, maintenance and sustainability of WASH facilities and services; in addition to strengthening and promoting local level water management institutions
• Work with Water Service Providers (WSPs), County Governments and Water Service Boards (WSBs) to expand the reach and coverage of water supply networks in underserved low income urban and peri-urban areas
• Engage in advocacy/ policy influencing for low cost WASH technologies and approaches at the County and National government levels
• Develop monitoring and documentation tools for successful WASH models and dissemination in workshops and conferences
• Support routine hydro-geological surveys and environmental impact assessments within the cluster area and follow-up to obtain requisite approvals from WRA, NEMA, Water boards etc
• Contribute to project planning, monitoring and reporting across WASH and DRR.

The prospective candidates should possess:

• Bachelor’s degree in Water Engineering or related discipline. Diploma holders with relevant experience may be considered.
• Specialised training in project management and/or community development is desirable
• At least four (4) years working experience in designing and implementing water and WASH projects.
• Good understanding of dryland environment and water resources
• Previous working experience in, and understanding of sanitation challenges in ASALs and Lake Basin
• Previous working experience with an international NGO will be an advantage