Team Leader - Regional Senior Survey and Design Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2024-2026, FAO will continue to implement emergency and longer-term, resilience-building projects and programmes in the context of the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) and the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.

There are a total of two (2) positions, one position in each duty station\: Gardez and Herat – Afghanistan.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Afghanistan. S/he will work under the direct administrative supervision of the Head of the Regional Office, who will be responsible for all day-to-day supervision and under the technical guidance of the Team Leader, Water Resource and Irrigation Team. the performance evaluation will be done by the Team Leader, Water Resource and Irrigation Team in close consultation with direct supervisor.

Technical Focus

The Team Leader - Regional Senior Survey & Design Specialist will provide relevant technical assistance for efficient implementation of the Water and Resilience Services within their Regional Office.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Assist Head of Water and Irrigation Team and International Chief Technical Advisor in implementing all water resource and irrigation activities in the region of their assignment.
• Prepare technical proposal of the schemes under irrigation rehabilitation works and river bank protection works after conducting the technical survey and design and cost estimates for the submission to the WRI Team in Kabul for review.
• Prepare technical specifications and Bills of Qunaitieis for procurement actions and support the review/evaluation of responses
• Review and clear contractor’s payment certifications for approval and carrying out the role of engineer in accordance with the approved standard bidding documents. These services would include, but not limited to, supervising the contractor, certifying monthly payments to contractors(s), developing and implementing an effective construction supervision and quality control regime and ensuring timely completion of works.
• Coordinate with the implementing partners (IPs) to validate the quantification of work for cleaning of drainage canal system, soil and water conservation measures/ rain and flood water harvesting and improving watershed management to recharge groundwater and minor repairs of Karez.
• Monitor the beneficiary selection for cash for work (CfW) and the work progress in the field.
• Coordinate with the other agencies and institutions at the regional level for smooth implementation of water resource and irrigation related works.
• Liaise with the main office in Kabul for timely availability of all inputs for implementation of the rehabilitation works carried out by the construction companies and the ones carried out by the implementing partners.
• Conduct training courses and on-the-job training of staff, and water user groups.
• Promote the exchange of information with other Regional Offices as required.
• Report on periodic progress of work in the regional Offices, and signal in advance problems that may hamper such progress and help solve them;
• Performs any other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree (Masters) or University degree (Bachelor) in Civil Engineering, Water Resources engineering, Irrigation engineering or agricultural engineering or other related areas.
• For advanced degree a minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in water resource and irrigation engineering.
• For university degree minimum of ten (10) years professional experience in water resource and irrigation engineering.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and the local languages (Pashto and/or Dari);
• National of Afghanistan.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Proven skill of technical survey and other data collection (maps, benchmark levels, etc.) for the design and preparation of drawings of irrigation works and river bank protection works;
• Have skill to ensure all technical inputs and cost estimates related to the construction components are accurate, timely provided and included in the project proposals and budgets;
• Have knowledge of finalizing the scope of works with the timeline needed for the implementation;
• Have experience of quality assurance and quality control of construction works;
• Proven skill to coordinate with the implementing partner to get the desired outputs;
• Have skill to develop technical documents based on national and international standards and codes of practice and based on the mandatory safety and health requirements;
• Proven skill to coordinate with the relevant institutions and the communities;
• Having skill to contribute towards the preparation of various reports on the status of implementation/progress with irrigation works;
• Good knowledge of the AutoCAD, MS Office package, Internet etc.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION