Duties and Responsibilities: 

The field engineers will have the following duties and responsibilities:

- Conduct surveys of the selected communities, with focus on earthquake-affected communities through the use of questionnaires and Kobo toolbox.

- Lead the community mobilization process by establishing regular communication with affected communities, ensuring they are appropriately informed on the project, its objectives and the technical aspects of the support to be provided. 

- Create Shelter Committees in targeted locations and sensitize them on their expected role. 

- Ensure the proper selection of eligible beneficiaries for shelter support. Sensitize and capacitate beneficiaries on the shelter construction process, technical aspects and design, and the concept of owner-driven construction.

- Support beneficiaries to mobilize labour and construction materials for the shelter construction.

- Ensure the smooth implementation of the project: regularly monitor the progress of activities, solve issues as they arise, and escalate unsolved challenges.   

- Ensure that the shelter construction is in line with UNDP design and specifications in all targeted locations and provide technical advice for correction and improvement during implementation, as needed. 

- Provide quality assurance to the shelter construction activities and ensure that designs/deliverables are compliant with the scope of work and technical requirements.

- Ensure compliance with UNDP social and environmental standards.

- Prepare and search for available topographical data (maps, GIS, Google Earth).

- Carry out technical assessment of community-based water-related or other infrastructure, as needed. 

- Support the preparation / review of building designs, drawings, specifications, and Bill of Quantities (BOQ) for community-based water-related or other infrastructure projects, as needed, and ensure International Standards/Norms (IBC) for quality and safety.

- Support the supervision of other construction works in line with BOQ and specifications, as required.

- Coordinate with other field engineers for appropriate division of labour and synergies. 

- Report on a daily basis to the supervisor, and prepare regular progress technical reports on the shelter construction project and any other assigned activities. 

- Collect relevant data, such as site measurements. This information will be used to track project milestones, identify bottlenecks, and ensure compliance with established standards.

- Liaise with relevant stakeholders at the community level, for appropriate information sharing and coordination. 

- Promote innovative ideas relevant to the work, and collect challenges and lessons learned emerging from the project implementation.

- Promote smooth work relationships with colleagues, counterparts, and any other relevant actors.

- Perform any other duties as required by the supervisor.

a. Required Qualification/ Experiences

Education: 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Urban / Rural Planning, housing and building or relevant to the development and management of human settlements. A first-level university degree in combination with relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of experience with Master’s degree and 7  years of work experience with bachelor’s degree in the rural housing sector, particularly in post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation.

• At least three years of experience in supervising / monitoring construction activities. 

• Experience in full-time site management directing engineering and technical staff is essential.

• Knowledge and experience with owner-driven reconstruction approaches and vernacular architecture principles. 

• Experience and understanding of social processes relating to housing and planning in low-income countries and in post-disaster contexts. 

• Previous experience working with UNDP or other UN Agencies in post-earthquake settings will be a strong advantage. 

• Understanding of the socio-economic, environmental and ecological context of Afghanistan, particularly at sub-national level, as well as related challenges and opportunities, will be an asset.

• Experience working with multiple stakeholders at sub-national and community levels.

Language:

• Excellent command of spoken and written English, as well as Dari or Pashto language required. 

b. Competencies

Professional competencies:

• Professionalism: Professional attitude in related fields of work and ability to work in multicultural environments. Ability to analyse situations to undertake socio-culturally appropriate interventions, using various methods, as well as apply judgment to manage work and conflicting priorities. Quality assurance and adherence to the organization’s policies and standards.

• Communication, Teamwork and Reporting Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, experience working in a team, ensuring two-way communication. Work in coordination and collaboration with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Report progress and issues to supervisor in a concise and accurate manner. 

• Planning and Organizing: Develop clear goals and strategies, identify priority activities and assignments, adjust priorities, allocate appropriate time and resources for completing and monitoring work, ensure regular quality monitoring, foresee risks, identify risk mitigation measures, and allow for contingencies when planning.

Managerial and Functional Competencies: 

• Leadership: Establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipate and resolve conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Monitor progress against milestones regularly, advise and discuss performances and provide feedback and coaching to staff.

• Problem-solving: Identify issues, find solutions, and address challenges in a timely and efficient manner while building the capacity of local staff and structures to sustainably address any future challenges.

• Teamwork: Collaborate effectively with others, delegate tasks, and create a positive team environment in achieving the overall goals of the intervention.

Payment: Monthly bases

Travel and DSA: The salary is inclusive of travel cost and DSA.

Duration of the assignment: 4 months  

Duty station: Herat with field visits to districts.