WASH Engineer / Project Officer

The German Red Cross (GRC) is part of the world wide Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. As a humanitarian organisation, GRC assists victims of conflict and disaster as well as people affected by social or health related crisis. The Red Cross Movement provides assistance to vulnerable people without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions and adheres to the seven principles of the Red Cross Movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality.

In Vietnam GRC is supporting its local partner, the Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC), to implement projects in the field of Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation, Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation, Water & Sanitation and Capacity Building.

The GRC is currently looking for an experienced national WASH Engineer / Project Officer for an ongoing Water and Sanitation project in Northern Vietnam (Cao Bang, Lang Son). In this project GRC and the Australian Red Cross (ARCS) as consortium partners are providing financial and technical support, the VNRC is responsible for the implementation.

The project combines “hardware” components such as engineering inputs related to appropriate equipment and construction (e.g. tanks, water filters, latrines and small-scale water systems) and “software” components such as activities in the areas of hygiene promotion, local capacity-building, and stakeholder involvement encouraging behavioural change.

Duration
Starting asap till December 2015 on a full time basis.

Location
Based in Hanoi with frequent visits to the project sites (up to 50% of the working time).

Duties and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Project Officer is responsible for ensuring the proper implementation of the project in terms of WATSAN construction activities as per plan/budget.

His/Her specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Conducting needs assessment/technical surveys of infrastructural projects (construction of water supply systems, water facilities, school/household latrines, other activities) and preparing conclusive documents and calculation for decision-making.
• Checking all technical construction documents such as designs, cost estimations, bidding procedures, bid analysis, contracts, handing over, etc.
• Initiating and following up procurement procedures, and dealing with suppliers/contractors when necessary, checking bidding document before submitting to line manager.
• Working closely with the finance officer in reviewing and verifying any proposed changes to the project budget.
• Supporting the M&E officer in data collection and reporting (including data on beneficiaries: schools population and HH beneficiaries).
• Creating opportunities for / designing on-the-job trainings for beneficiaries (school water committee, village focal point groups and HH beneficiaries) and VNRC staff/volunteers, including trainings on operation and maintenance.
• Providing consultancy and technical supervision on construction sites in two project provinces (Cao Bang and Lang Son).
• Submitting field trip reports and monthly reports to the Project Coordinator (in English);
• Supporting other project activities in the communities (e.g. development of IEC material,  O&M guidelines, mid term evaluation, end of project evaluation)

Minimum qualifications

Educational background:

• Bachelor or Degree in Construction or other related field, having Certificate in Construction supervision is an asset

Working experience:

• At least 3 years working experience in the infrastructure sector
• Experience in supervising/following-up of community based water and sanitation activities
• Experience in working with rural communities in development projects

Knowledge:

• Technical knowledge of hygiene, sanitation and water system design
• Good knowledge of community development concepts and participatory techniques
• Knowledge of M&E tools and techniques
• Knowledge of the Red Cross movement is an asset

Language/Computer

• Excellent command of written and spoken Vietnamese
• Good command of written and spoken English (compulsory)
• Knowledge of northern ethnic minority language is preferable (Tay, Dao, Hmong)
• Good computer skills: MS Office, e-mail

Personal skills and abilities

• Good interpersonal, communication and negotiating skills
• Good analytical and reporting skills
• Ability to supervise people / leadership skills
• Sense of initiative and responsibility
• Ability to work in team as well as independently
• Ability to work in stressful situations, for long hours and in remote areas

Application Procedure

Interested Vietnamese candidates are invited to send their applications by email in English consisting of a CV and a letter of motivation to: [email protected].

Deadline: 21 August, 2014 at 17:00, Hanoi time.

Please note that only applications which are submitted in English shall be considered. While German Red Cross appreciates all responses, only candidate under consideration shall be contacted and invited for an interview.