An opportunity is available for a suitable qualified and experienced Infrastructure Specialist for The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Malawi.
Malawi has made significant progress in maternal health, infectious diseases and nutrition. However, serious challenges remain.
BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION:
USAID/Malawi seeks a dynamic Infrastructure Specialist to assist the Mission with planned and ongoing infrastructure related activities. The incumbent must have sound professional knowledge of construction principles and project management with demonstrated ability to plan, design, oversee, and execute infrastructure construction, renovation and improvement projects. As a technical expert within the Mission, the incumbent works with USAID project teams, the Government of Malawi, Implementing Partners and contractors to plan, draft, and administer USAID infrastructure related grants, awards, and contracts. The incumbent will provide engineering expertise and guidance on infrastructure projects, analyze the technical feasibility of proposed projects, prepare and review procurement documents and specifications, manage construction and commissioning of projects, manage project resources, identify and resolve problems, communicate effectively and contribute to development of strategic plans and objectives. In addition, the employee will independently provide for or ensure the establishment and administration of quality assurance and contractor oversight for compliance with plans, specifications, acceptability of materials, methods and workmanship, and required safety and labor law regulations. Projects include but are not limited to the construction of schools and administration buildings, the procurement and installation of prefabricated schools, health clinics, and medical storage units, water and sanitation facilities and systems, system planning and capacity building of staff including from the Government of Malawi.
As a USAID contract employee, the incumbent has the responsibility of understanding and incorporating the Agency’s core values in all aspects of his/her work. These core values included:
(1) Customer focus: The incumbent is expected to identify and communicate with health and education partners including the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education Science and Technology; surveys their interests, needs and recommendations; follows up on communications and information received. Ensures that partners’ needs and thinking are addressed in activities undertaken and that, where possible, partners’ are involved in key decisions.
(2) Managing for results: Reviews baseline information against which to plan actions and identify targets and milestones. The incumbent is expected to define specific operational and programmatic results needed for their area of responsibility. The incumbent should review progress against targets and milestones regularly; take needed action to modify plans when necessary and to maintain actions to accomplish the desired results within the time frame planned. The incumbent is also expected to serve as a knowledgeable advocate for the results orientation with other USAID employees and partners.
(3) Empowerment and accountability: The incumbent participates in defining objectives, reviewing performance schedules, and upholding accountability for the accomplishment of the objectives and the staff s/he supervises. Further, the incumbent is responsible for involving and motivating partners and staff encouraging them to take new responsibilities and challenges.
(4) Teamwork and participation: The incumbent contributes to strategic planning, performance monitoring, and major program decisions of the project team. S/he demonstrates ownership of the teams’ plans, performance, and decisions. S/he proactively participates in team processes and activities.
(5) Valuing diversity: The incumbent understands and respects the various work groups and team members. S/he understands and respects the role of each member of the team and works together to achieve results while accepting accountability for his own actions.
As a member of the Office of Education, the Infrastructure Specialist will report directly to the Office Director. The position requires knowledge, experience, maturity, and an ability to function independently under a complex, demanding, frequently changing program implementation and policy environment. The Infrastructure Specialist will also support infrastructure activities in the other Mission technical offices including the Health Population and Nutrition (HPN) Office.
I. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Management
- Oversees the planning, design, construction and hand-over of infrastructure projects in accordance with USAID policies and regulations and host government partner laws, regulations and requirements. Projects include new construction, renovation, installation or prefabricated infrastructure or updating and upgrading of equipment in which application of professional construction expertise is required to ensure conformance to international best practices, compliance with contract terms and specifications, and adherence to internationally recognized project management practices.
- Conducts regular coordination meetings with USAID team members, partners, implementing partners, government ministries, and contractors to review schedules, budgets, programmatic objectives and assigned tasks.
- Ensures all construction activities are performed in accordance within the terms of agreement and specifications; obtains required approvals for any changes to designs, specifications, and scopes of work; assures compliance with all environmental, safety and labor laws/standards.
- Participates in routine meetings between the host government, implementing partners, contractors and any sub-contractors to review the status of projects and address any technical matters; reviews and recommends approval or disapproval of solicitation or design documents and proposed awards and make recommendations for concurrence; monitors the activities of any independent Architectural and Engineering firms to assure compliance with host country building codes, permit requirements, contract plans and specifications; reviews quality assurance and field reports from a technical engineering aspect, and recommends corrective action to the implementing party to bring the construction quality into compliance with plans and specifications.
Administrative
- Reviews periodic payment invoices and recommends disbursement of funds by the Financial Management Office (FMO); monitors project schedules, budgets and resource plans to ensure that projects adhere to schedule and budget and advises of any deviations from the approved project work plan; Recommends concurrence with variations, change orders or contract amendments;
- Recommends corrective actions to resolve problems during construction. Works independently and reviews construction reports to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the award/contract.
- Reviews periodic progress reports and advises to the timeliness of all deliverables; reviews quality assurance reports or other deliverables for completeness, accuracy and readability; maintains records and prepares close-out files on completed projects.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Monitors quality assurance (QA) activities directly or through subcontractors to determine the sufficiency and quality of completed work; reviews proposed change orders and supplemental agreement modifications; attends factory acceptance tests (FAT) and type tests (TT) for key components; reviews QA field testing of materials and prepares documentation of testing results; maintains accurate and complete records and files, including as-built drawings and specifications;
Monitors the QA inspections and indirectly monitors compliance with environmental, health and safety, marking, permits, land and right of way (ROW) and other requirements including compliance with Malawi laws and codes.
II. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION CRITERIA
ln order to be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the Minimum Qualifications listed below. Consideration and selection will be based on a panel evaluation of the Evaluation Factors. Please note that not all applicants will be interviewed or contacted. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews unless expenses are preauthorized. Reference checks may be conducted on those candidates selected for an interview. The applicant’s references must be able to provide substantive information about his/her past performance and abilities. Applicants are required to write a brief cover letter to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training addresses the Minimum Qualifications and Evaluation Criteria listed below.
A. EVALUATION CRITERIA:
The following factors will be the basis for the evaluation of all applications. All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. Applicants are required to provide a cover letter addressing how they meet the requirements of each criterion below and submit three professional references with current contact information, preferably both an e-mail address and a telephone number. Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria (listed in descending order of importance):
1. Experience: A minimum of 7 years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in architecture, engineering design, or construction management is desired.
2. Skills and Abilities:
a. Demonstrated technical expertise including ability to read and interpret various contracts and technical construction documents.
b. Strong analytical skills including the ability to analyze and interpret construction drawings and specifications, product submittals, daily reports, environmental mitigation and health and safety plans.
c. Strong capacity to multi-task, including managing, prioritizing and fulfilling competing demands in real time.
d. Ability to track large amounts of data and manage complex interagency planning and reporting processes.
e. Proficiency in Quality Assurance / Quality Control procedures.
3. Knowledge: The incumbent must have demonstrated construction project management skills including previous experience in program, contract and grants management and contract administration. A demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with co-workers, host government representatives, implementing partners and contractors and manage resources is required. A demonstrated ability to work productively in a multicultural environment is required. Must have knowledge of design and construction practices with pertinent codes and specifications including a professional knowledge of relevant design criteria for the preparation of engineering drawings and specifications.
4. Education: The applicant must have at least a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (civil, structural, geotechnical), Architecture, Construction Management or a similar relevant field. In cases of exceptional work experience, other relevant graduate degrees and/or work experience will be taken into consideration.
5. Language: Excellent proven written and oral English communication skills are required.( points)
OTHER ITEMS
A. SUPERVISION
The incumbent will report to the Education Office Director. The incumbent is expected to work independently, taking initiative under general supervision, to sensitively and collaboratively manage the complex processes associated with planning for, implementing, and monitoring infrastructure related activities within the Mission.
Though the incumbent does not supervise project team members, the incumbent is accountable for their ability to work together to prioritize actions, implement programs, and achieve results.
B. SUPERVISION RESPONSIBILITIES
The Infrastructure Specialist may be asked to supervise one or two mid-level to senior FSN employees.
C. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
The Personal Services Contract {PSC) will be for 12 months, starting on/around August 2017 and ending in August 2018.
D. SECURITY CLEARANCE
The selected applicant must be able to obtain and maintain an employment authorization security clearance and appropriate medical clearances.
Closing date: 09 June 2017
The position is open to all interested candidates.
