مطلوب أخصائي/ة بنية تحتية للعمل لدى منظمة دولية

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) intends to recruit a Senior Infrastructure Specialist for the implementation of the Italian component of the “Resilience & Social Cohesion Programme (RSCP) – Strengthening the resilience of host communities and Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq (Kurdistan)” (hereafter referred to as “the Programme”), financed by the European Union “Madad” Trust Fund.

The contract duration will be of one year – including a two month probation period – renewable up to the end of the Programme (30/06/2021), subject to programme’s needs, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

The Programme is implemented in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq (Kurdistan) targeting municipalities with highest concentration of Syrian Refugees. Most of the Syrian refugees are living in communities that suffered historically from high rates of extreme poverty, reflected in household income close to the lower poverty line, high rates of unemployment and illiteracy and very limited access to basic services such as water, sanitation, health and education. While the three neighbouring Countries are increasingly strained as a whole by the influx of Syrian refugees, it is these communities which have suffered most from the effects of the crisis. The action seeks to develop the coverage and quality of basic social services and infrastructures delivery provided to the most vulnerable host communities affected by the influx of Syrian refugees, as well as to the Syrian refugees, while empowering local communities socially and economically and decreasing inter and intra-community tensions. Moreover, in line with national priorities (crisis response plans), it aims at building the capacities of national institutions, both at central and local levels, and at strengthening the role of the civil society (NGOs and CSOs), providing effective instruments to enable the development of medium-long term sustainable delivery solutions.

Expected start of employment: at the end of the recruitment process.

Senior Infrastructure Specialist

Under the direct supervision of the Head of AICS in Amman, the Senior Infrastructure Specialist will be responsible for the technical implementation of the Italian Cooperation component of the Programme in Jordan and KRI; in particular, he/she will perform the following tasks:

• Support, guide and supervise the activities of the Project Engineers in Amman and Erbil.

• Ensure timely implementation with a focus on procurement/infrastructure related activities.

• Organize and maintain a database of contractors and bid information, including their contacts, areas of expertise, relevance to project components.

• Coordination and verification of preliminary design (preliminary design document definitive and executive) in collaboration with expert project manager and works designer);

• Administrative functions (work assignment methods, tender procedure, support to works directions for verification of works progress report and payment);

• Ensure the regular supervision of the infrastructural work progress in the field that shall be in compliance with the procurement provisions, reporting on any observed discrepancies during the site visits and the meetings. He/she could be required to sign the certificates of Practical Completion for works, service and supplies contracts.

• Monitoring and ensuring Tender Fulfilment to Italian Authorities for the control on Public Contracts (AVCP) and any obligation as provided for by Legislative Decree 163/06

• Ensuring that all procurement and tender process comply with Italian Decree 192/2017 for works within Cooperation and Development frameworks and abbey to PRAG;

• Support for static and technical-administrative procedures for testing works quality and appropriateness;

• Issuance of payment certificates to the contracting companies and the related preparatory documents (following clearance by the person in charge of the works and the project managers);

• Support the Programme Management Unit (PMU) in the communication with the local authorities and communities.

• Represent the office, when needed, in key meetings with government officials and partner organisations, international donors and funding agencies, regional bodies and commissions, international professional bodies and societies in relation with procurement/infrastructure related initiatives.

• Coordinate with the Finance and Administrative Manager and the Team Leader for the preparation of Project Management Reports, as a part of the EU financial reporting requirements.

• Prepare monthly progress reports of activities, under the supervision of the Team Leader.

• Ensure proper synergies and coordination between the infrastructural component of the RSCP Programme and the other Projects implemented by AICS Amman in the infrastructure sector.

• Undertake other duties and assist with other project management responsibilities as required by the Head of AICS in Amman and the Team Leader.

2. REQUIREMENTS

Candidates will be considered eligible for selection on the basis of the following essential requirements and of the requirements listed in the legally binding statement (points 2.1 and 2.2), to be fulfilled by the deadline for applications:

2.1 Qualifications and skills:

· Bachelor’s level university degree in Engineering, Architecture or similar field of study (level 6 European Qualification Framework EQF). Other degrees (level 6 or 5 European Qualification Framework EQF) may be accepted when matched with highly qualified professional experiences in the humanitarian and/or development sector;

· Fluency in written and spoken English (C1 Level – Common European Framework of Reference);

· Fluency in written and spoken Italian (C1 Level – Common European Framework of Reference).

2.2 Professional experience and competencies:

· The candidate must be enrolled in the Italian Nation Register of Engineers (Albo Unico degli ingegneri) and/or in the Italian Nation Register of Architects (Albo Unico degli architetti)

· At least 8 years of relevant professional experience working with international organizations, governmental and/or non-governmental aid bodies in technical positions in the infrastructure sector (Programme/Project manager, Specialist, technical Adviser, etc…) of which at least 5 years in developing countries;

· Proven experience in the administrative and financial management of projects funded by the Italian Cooperation, international organisations and/or the European Union (e.g. EuropeAid, ECHO, Trust Funds);

· Proven experience in dealing with contractors for infrastructure works;

· Excellent writing and communication skills;

· Computer literacy in Microsoft Office packages (MS Word, Excel, Outlook);

· Previous experience managing grant and tender processes, and thorough knowledge of rules, regulations and procedures in use by the EU (e.g. reporting obligations; PRAG);

The following preferred requirements will also be taken into consideration:

· Postgraduate courses and/or additional training in Engineering, Architecture or related fields;

· Specialised training in International Cooperation and/or Development Studies;

· Previous experience working with EU funds, particularly through EU Delegation Agreements, and related reporting;

· Previous experience working with the Italian Cooperation (MAECI DGCS / AICS) procedures;

· Previous experience working with international organizations, the EU, and governmental and non-governmental aid bodies (i) in fragile states and emergency contexts, (ii) in the Middle East;

· Experience with building and maintaining relationships with suppliers, grant beneficiaries, stakeholders, donors, international/national counterparts;

· Knowledge of Arabic.