Technical Lead at Millennium Water Alliance

Job Summary

MWA is the prime implementing agency in a consortium of local partners that will be working in nine Arid and Semi-Arid counties of Kenya. The WASH Infrastructure Lead will report to the Chief of Party and will provide technical oversight on the program’s activities that are geared towards improving management, efficiency, and equitable access to water for productive purposes. The WASH Infrastructure Lead will work in a dynamic team at the Program Hub and at the implementing partners’ level. The position holder will also ensure integration with other activities within STAWI and collaboration with government and donor funded activities that are related to water for productive purposes.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

The WASH Infrastructure Lead will provide technical oversight in the planning, decision making and implementation of the following functions:

• Offer technical backstopping on all water infrastructure activities including review of engineering designs and supporting tendering and supervision of construction works.
• Ensure the integration and collaboration of STAWI’s water access activities with other related government and donor funded efforts within the nine target counties.
• Lead efforts to empower local youth and women led enterprises with business skills to expand and sustain their agropastoral ventures.
• Provide technical guidance on water related conflict mitigation efforts under STAWI.
• Support the compilation and review of partner’s periodic reports, tracking of indicators and achievement of targets related to water for multiple purposes.
• Actively contribute to program documentation, learning and knowledge management.
• Promote and support development of a program culture that reflects collegiality and peer support, accountability and high performance, innovativeness, and continuous quality improvement to achieve desired results.
• With input from STAWI implementing partners and in conjunction with USAID and key stakeholders, participate in determining annual priorities, develop work plans.
• Contribute to the success of regular program meetings including technical working group meetings as well as program management meetings for improved collaboration and share lessons and common practice.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years-experience in implementing water for productive use systems in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in East Africa.
• Master’s degree preferred in a relevant field such as Civil, Water, Biosystems engineering. An undergraduate degree in a relevant engineering field is mandatory.
• Up to date registration with relevant engineering bodies in Kenya.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing, strengthening, and sustaining agropastoral business ventures and an understanding of market systems development concepts.
• Experience working through local partners and offering technical backstopping is preferred.
• Previous successful experience as a technical lead on USAID funded programs is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in successful program management and understanding of the project management cycle.
• Proven ability to provide effective and primary representation with high profile donors and government stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in donor report writing.
• Experience in using MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and virtual meeting software.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Excellent relationship management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.