Job Title: Resilient Design – Soil & Water Engineer
Organisation: DanChurchAid (DCA)
Duty Station: Yumbe, Uganda
Reports to: Programme Manager – Food Systems
About the Company:
DanChurchAid (DCA) is a faith-based, non-missionary relief and development organization based in Copenhagen, Denmark and founded in 1922. DCA has supported development and humanitarian programs in Uganda for over 35 years, working in partnership with local partners. DCA is a member of the ACT Alliance. Our key competencies in Uganda are livelihoods and food security, humanitarian response, and civil society development.
Job Summary: The Resilient Design-Soil & Water Engineer will be responsible for the rollout of the community & household level resilience design approach in DCA Uganda Operations. Will design and implement soil conservation and water harvesting structures to support resilient and restorative agriculture. The engineer will be responsible for creating innovative, context-based, and socially acceptable solutions to harness, distribute, and store water effectively. This role involves the design of structures, preparation of Bills of Quantities (BOQs), overseeing construction, ensuring quality assurance, and producing payment certificates upon completion of construction work. The incumbent should possess a solid understanding of the interaction between soil, water, and plants for sustainable agriculture.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Spearhead and provide high level technical guidance for the implementation of Resilience Design approach at community & household levels.
- Engage with local communities, relevant government ministries, and other stakeholders to ensure that designs are in line with their land use plans and that they are culturally and socially accepted.
- Landscape assessment through transect walks and Geospatial mapping to establish low and high-water flow points that will inform appropriate structural designs.
- Design soil conservation and water harvesting structures such as soil bunds/terraces, micro-dams, bioswales, wells, and other innovative systems that are suitable to the farming system and meets community’s needs.
- Develop detailed design plans, technical specifications, and BOQs for all structures.
- Oversee the construction process, working closely with contractors or cash-for work youth to ensure the structures are built to the highest quality standards.
- Conduct regular site visits to monitor progress and adherence to design specifications and safety standards.
- Implement quality assurance protocols to ensure the durability and effectiveness of the structures.
- Produce payment certificates upon satisfactory completion of construction work.
- Coordinate with other team members, stakeholders, and community members to ensure the successful implementation of resilience design interventions.
- Work closely with agroecology specialist, agricultural officers, and environment teams to integrate resilience design approach into broader agricultural projects.
- Prepare and submit regular progress reports, detailing the status of ongoing projects, challenges encountered, and solutions implemented.
- Maintain comprehensive records of all designs, BOQs, contracts, and construction activities.
- Participate in beneficiary targeting and vetting exercises; ensure fair representation women, men, boys, and girls at farm/community level decision making by applying the Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) principle.
- Support the integration of gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches in all resilience design, and soil & water conservation initiatives.
- Conduct training sessions for DCA & Partners staffs, community members and other stakeholders on resilience design approach as well as the construction and maintenance of soil and water conservation structures.
- Promote transparency and accountability to beneficiaries through application of DCA complaint and feedback mechanisms.
- Actively participate in project design and proposals development on the elements of agroecology principles and resilience design practices.
- Ensure project reports are timely produced and shared to donors and stakeholders according to agreed reporting guidelines.
- Represent DCA in relevant Resilience design related platforms.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Master’s degree in water & soil engineering, Resilience Design, land scape architecture or a related engineering field and at least 5 years of practical field-based experience; or bachelor’s degree in similar fields and 8 years of practical field level experience
- Strong understanding of soil, water, and plant interactions for more resilient and restorative agriculture.
- Ability to engage with and train community members and stakeholders.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency in using relevant engineering software and tools.
- Strong knowledge of resilience design/land scaping practices.
- Proficiency in participatory approaches and methodologies; and Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively with diverse communities.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
How to Apply:
All candidates who wish to join DanChurchAid (DCA) should apply online at the link below.
Deadline: 12th August 2024
Related Jobs