Secretary - Materials at Public Service Commission Kenya (PSCK)

For appointment to this grade, an officer must have:-

• cumulative service period of fifteen (15) years three (3) years of which should have been in the grade of Senior Principal Engineer Materials, CSG 6 and above or in a comparable and relevant position in the public service;
• a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering or its equivalent and relevant qualification from a university recognized in Kenya;
• a Masters Degree in any of the following disciplines: Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management or its equivalent qualification from a university recognized in Kenya;
• registration by Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) as a Professional Engineer;
• registration as a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK);
• valid annual practicing License from the Engineers Board of Kenya;
• a Certificate in Strategic Leadership Development programme from a recognized institution;
• demonstrated high degree of professional competence and administrative capability required for effective planning, direction, control and coordination of the engineering (roads) function; and
• thorough understanding of national goals, policies and objectives and ability to relate them to engineering (roads) function and aspirations of vision 2030.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Chief Engineer (Materials) will be responsible to the Principal Secretary for providing strategic leadership and direction in the implementation and management of the Engineering (Materials) Function.

• overseeing formulation, implementation and review of policies, legislation, regulations, strategies, standards, manuals, guidelines, procedure and frameworks pertaining to testing and research on roads and other construction materials and delivery methods;
• overseeing establishment, expansion and maintenance of materials testing and investigations laboratories and advising on their usage;
• overseeing provision of laboratory and testing facilities for investigation and testing of materials and advise on usage;
• overseeing prospection, mapping and testing of roads and other construction materials;
• facilitating development of specifications and provision of oversight on quality control and assurance in roads construction and maintenance;
• spearheading geotechnical investigations of foundation designs for highways and other structures;
• overseeing monitoring and evaluation of functional and structural performance of completed roads and other infrastructure;
• overseeing planning, designing, construction and maintenance of pavement structure for roads and other infrastructure;
• overseeing provision of consultancy, capacity building, technical support and advisory services to ministries, departments, counties and agencies (mdcas) on roads and other construction materials testing and research and delivery methods;
• facilitating research innovation, best practices and application of new technologies in roads and other construction materials testing and delivery methods;
• approving road design manuals, construction standards, consultants’ designs, payment certificate and fee notes;
• ensuring compliance with environmental, occupational health and safety regulations in the provision of laboratory services;
• facilitating preparation and implementation of disposal plans for laboratory waste in liaison with the relevant government agencies;
• facilitating certification of engineering technicians and administration of craft grade/test examination in liaison with other government agencies,
• facilitating designing, implementation and review of relevant professional development, graduate internship and industrial attachment programs in consultation with other key stakeholders;
• ensuring maintenance of up to date information, laboratory records, test reports stores and inventory pertaining to construction materials testing and research;
• preparing and submitting annual reports on roads and other construction materials testing and research, and cabinet memo & responses to parliamentary queries on matter relating thereto;
• managing and ensuring prudent utilization of roads and other construction materials testing and research assets and resources;
• overseeing preparation of strategic/ work plans, procurement plans, budgets for materials engineering services; and
• building capacity and managing performance.