Job Opportunities at DAI Kenya - Development Alternatives, Inc.

Purpose

• The Infrastructure Engineer will support the Infrastructure Manager in overseeing construction activities in the designated region. This will include, but not limited to, the management of small-scale construction and rehabilitation development projects during the design and implementation phase in liaison with Architecture & Engineering (A&E) firms and construction contractors. He/She will work closely with the Infrastructure Manager in developing the Construction Implementation Plan. He/She will participate in all planning and construction meetings with the A&E and construction contractors. He/She will review construction documentation, maintain records, conduct construction inspections, and assist in handing over completed projects to stakeholders upon conclusion. He/She will also support the infrastructure manager in evaluating the potential environmental impact of any construction projects and work with the team to develop mitigation measures in accordance with USAID regulations.

Summary of Primary Duties

The Infrastructure Engineer will support the Infrastructure Manager in all Objective 2 activities that further the sustainability of water service delivery in the nine target counties, including oversight of construction activities. The Infrastructure Engineer, in liaison with the Infrastructure Manager, will be required to manage the infrastructure activity planning, implementation, and monitoring as it relates to construction activities in the designated region. He/She will ensure compliance with USAID’s regulations, provide strict quality control, and ensure adherence to environmental, health and safety standards. STAWI construction activities may apply to, but are not limited to;

• Solar Equipping of Boreholes including camera inspection, flushing and test pumping of boreholes
• Construction/installation of elevated steel tanks of different capacities
• Pipeline augmentations, pipeline appurtenances, Valve chambers, construction of ground level masonry water storage tanks, installation plastic tanks and related water works
• Construction/rehabilitation of pump houses and water kiosks
• Rehabilitation of water pans
• Construction/rehabilitation of sand dams and subsurface dams
• Construction/rehabilitation of livestock troughs
• Construction/rehabilitation of irrigation schemes including lining of canals
• Installation/rehabilitation of drip irrigation schemes
• The Infrastructure Engineer will support the Infrastructure Manager to integrate short-term technical advisors from subcontractors. He/She is expected to provide on-demand short term expertise in the use of rural water service delivery models, use of data for improved water service operations, and use of management information systems. He/She will ensure that strategic small-scale infrastructure investments are linked to identified needs, designed in an inclusive manner, and executed in accordance with the highest engineering standards and the project’s Construction Implementation Plan (CIP). He/She will conduct initial scoping and needs assessments in the nine target counties. This criteria will then be used to identify specific infrastructure activities where STAWI programming would have the greatest potential to provide sustainable and equitable impact. He/She will support the infrastructure Manager in reviewing designs and ensure that all construction activities are completed according to specifications and in compliance with GOK codes and USAID rules and regulations. He/she will support the infrastructure manager in ensuring that all infrastructure activities are completed according to specifications and support sustainable service delivery activities, including the inspection of completed projects, training, and handover to beneficiaries.

Essential Duties

• In Liaison with the Infrastructure Manager support the selection and design of small-scale construction projects for water and irrigation to ensure quality and value add county government, WSPs and beneficiaries.
• Provide quality assurance and quality control for the design and construction of infrastructure in compliance with USAID and Government of Kenya environmental and construction codes, reporting, and management requirements and DAI policies.
• Ensure collaboration and use of participatory approaches with communities and county officials.
• Ensure compliance with environmental and climate resilience requirements, ensuring that all infrastructure meets quality standards.
• In liaison with the infrastructure manager, develop detailed SOWs, RFPs, RFQs, or BOQs and provide appropriate inputs on specifications, deliverables, and contract evaluation criteria.
• Support review and advise on contract change (variation) orders as needed.
• Participating and keep records of site progress meetings.
• Support the infrastructure manager to confirm proper operational status prior to commissioning, and operators have the capacity and tools to operate infrastructure.
• Assist with the review of construction design documents to ensure they are of high quality and within the context of scope, schedule, and budget.
• Ensure inclusion of women, youth, and disadvantaged groups both as beneficiaries and as contributors to the construction projects.
• Monitor and ensure environmental mitigation activities following the Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring (EMMP)
• Contribute to and participate in STAWI activity planning, reporting, events, and learning activities.
• Understand DAI and USAID rules, regulations, processes, and systems for compliant project implementation.
• Ensure safeguarding of construction staff and a strict zero tolerance policy towards corruption and unethical behavior
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
• Travel to the field as required to oversee and manage construction activities effectively.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of engineering (civil, structural, water, environmental) is required. An advanced degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience, with substantial experience in community participation, institutional development, design, construction, or construction management and oversight.
• Proven experience working with contractors and consulting firms.
• Experience working on USAID construction projects and knowledge of USAID policies, strategies, and regulation is preferred.
• Familiarity with water and irrigation small-scale construction projects involving climate resilient infrastructure and renewable energy.
• Proven experience in the complete construction project life cycle, including contract award, defects liability periods, project completion, and handover.
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, power point and proficiency in knowledge & application of AutoCAD and other related CADs
• Registration with an engineering regulatory body i.e EBK and or KETRB
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Experience working in Isiolo or Makueni county is highly desired.
• EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE ASAL REGION IS HIGHLY DESIRED.

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Project Background:

• The USAID People-Centered Governance (PCG) Activity is supporting local governments in southern Somalia to improve their effectiveness and legitimacy. To accomplish this objective, the project implements activities aligned with two mutually interrelated and reinforcing immediate results, IR1) that District Councils (DCs) are fairer and more inclusive and IR2) that DCs improve their performance. PCG will engage at the Federal, State and local levels and will eventually work in several districts within the three (i.e., Hirshabelle, Jubaland, and Southwest) federal member states of Somalia.

Role ’s Purpose:

• The Communications Specialist will work with the Project Team to design and manage all aspects of internal and external project communications.
• S/he will support the assessment of appropriate communications channels and media through which to reach key audiences and help refine audience segmentation by identifying critical differentiators across gender, ages, literacy levels, etc. in order to better target communications and ensure broad accessibility and transparency of PCG Activity announcements and information.
• The Communications Specialist will contribute to the development of high-quality knowledge and learning content including data visualizations, success stories, case studies, and other reporting that informs learning activities and support adaptive management decisions, contributing to the overall success and impact of the project.
• S/he will also support the promotion of project activities through key communication channels and will engage critical partners and communities of practice through strategic outreach and innovative multicultural communication practices.
• The Communications Specialist will be instrumental in maintaining a strong and positive project image and effectively capturing and disseminating the project's achievements and lessons to support ongoing learning and improvement.
• The Communications Specialist will be based in Mogadishu, Somalia or Nairobi, Kenya with extensive travel to Somalia.

Key Duties and Responsibilities :

• Identify key audiences for project communications; design and carry out rapid assessment of communication channels most utilized by key audiences to inform communications strategy, including audience segmentation and communication approaches for reaching target audiences.
• Collaborate with the project technical team to ensure integration of communications and knowledge management activities that complement and report on national, state and district -level program activities.
• Work with the MEL/CLA Director to develop and execute the project’s overall communications strategy, catering for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Facilitate communication, knowledge management, and visibility of the project's activities, achievements, and lessons learned, ensuring that project outcomes are effectively shared with relevant stakeholders and contribute to the project's overall success and impact.
• Deliver high-quality writing and communications support. Develop communications materials including weekly talking points and presentations, website content, fact sheets, presentations, reports, photo-reporting and other collateral materials that effectively showcase the project's impact, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Support PCG’s reporting to USAID, including Monthly Updates, Quarterly Progress Reports, Annual Reports and the Final Report.
• Working closely with PCG technical staff and subcontractors to identify and craft stories that showcase impact, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists and communication officers within the government, civil society, and implementing partners, thus managing media inquiries and coordinating press conferences, interviews, and events to further enhance the project's public presence and impact.
• Work with technical and security team to ensure communications are nuanced for the local context, ensuring the promotion of local ownership and managing the identification of USAID in a way that does not overshadow the role of local government or negatively impact the perception of the activity.
• Work with the DCOP and COP to determine appropriate branding and marking approaches for each activity in each district, identifying opportunities where it is appropriate to identify and promote USAID support, and those where the identification of USAID would be detrimental to the success of the activity and an exception to USAID branding should be requested.
• Identify key events and other opportunities to connect with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Liaise with USAID/Somalia’s Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) team to ensure Activity is aligned with USAID communication priorities and the Branding Implementation and Marking Plan is current and up to date with any required changes.
• Other duties assigned by the MEL/CLA Director, Deputy Chief of Party, and/or Chief of Party that are consistent with the overall focus of the assignment.
• Travel to the field and satellite office as required.
• Understand DAI and USAID rules, regulations, processes and systems for compliant project implementation
• Ensure safeguarding of staff and a strict zero tolerance policy towards corruption and unethical behavior
• Uphold DAI ethics and values in all aspects of the job

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as communications, journalism, political science and international relations is required. An advanced degree or equivalent is preferred.
• 8+ years of relevant professional experience in communications, including drafting outreach materials, developing and implementing communications plans, and managing communication events.
• The ability to absorb technical information quickly and present it in an interesting and digestible.
• Proven experience engaging diverse audiences through communications functions.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and deliver necessary inputs on time.
• Relevant experience working in Somalia on USAID-funded programs in a related role preferred but not required.
• Technical experience exposure in governance programs is highly desired.
• Strong computer skills (MS Office Suite) required.
• Familiarity with social media and website content management a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Fluency in both English and Somali is required.

Skills

• An articulate individual with excellent communication and personnel management skills, capable of relating to people at all levels of an organization.
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• An energetic, forward-thinking, and creative individual with high ethical standards and a professional image.
• A highly organized and self-directed individual with strong technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and a focus on operational excellence.
• Demonstrated initiative and self-motivation in handling all assigned tasks with minimal supervision.
• Honesty, trustworthiness, initiative and self-motivation demonstrated in handling all assigned tasks.
• Attention to detail, the ability to manage one’s work, take initiative, set schedules and meet deadlines without close supervision.
• A strong team player with a positive attitude.
• Flexible under pressure and in response to changing needs.