USAID/Tanzania has a vacancy for Irrigation, Rural Roads & Infrastructure Specialist and invites applications from well-qualified individuals. This is a full-time Personal Services Contract position.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The incumbent is the Mission’s in-house engineering expert who serves as Irrigation and Rural Roads Specialist (Engineer) within USAID/Tanzania Agriculture and Food Security (AG&FS) Team. In this capacity, he/she manages projects in support of the Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative (GHFSI) in Tanzania and is responsible for designing and implementing USAID/Tanzania’s Irrigation and Rural Roads Project and other related activities aimed at expanding Tanzania’s rural infrastructure network for agriculture and building local capacity to operate and maintain it. Key position elements include, but are not limited to:
(a) Providing Irrigation, Rural Roads and Infrastructural Engineering services, including providing engineering and other technical assistance and guidance in the design and evaluation of a variety of irrigation, transportation and construction-related projects under the Irrigation and Rural Roads Project, including conceptualization, analysis, and approval documentation; providing detailed engineering advice and overall guidance regarding implementation of the Irrigation and Rural Roads Project and other Global Hunger & Food Security Initiative Program activities, including developing scopes of work and other implementing documentation; interfacing with relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations; analyzing technical and public policy issues; and managing a timely preparation of detailed engineering designs, plans and cost estimates for assigned programs and activities, and ensures that they comply with appropriate national and international standards, and reflect Agency best practices.
(b) Serving as Agreements/Contracting Officer’s Representative (A/COR) for assigned contracts, cooperative agreements, and/or grants, including: provision of expert technical advice and direction to contractors’ staff; keeping the AG&FS Team, Mission management, and the Agreements/Contracting Officer informed on progress of work; ensuring that activities achieve their intended results; providing technical assistance to the Agreements/Contracting Officer in responding to the proposed changes in the Scopes of Work for assigned infrastructure activities, the validity of claims and the reasonableness of contract/agreement time extensions; and reviewing implementing partners’ work plans and financial and technical reports, evaluates the implementing partners’ performance, and prepares written and oral reports for Mission management, USAID/Washington, and the U.S. Congress.
(c) Coordination of program activities and synergies, including liaising with senior Government of Tanzania (GOT) officials and donor organizations to ensure synergy of program activities; engaging with philanthropic/private sector organizations to build public/private alliances; and making regular updates to the Mission management; and submitting status, analytical, and other reports, concept papers, and memoranda to the Mission management regarding progress and performance, problems and corrective actions, and general oversight.
(d) Any other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Education: Possession of a University undergraduate degree in civil or agricultural engineering or another appropriate field of engineering is required.
Prior Work Experience: At least ten (10) years of experience relevant to irrigation, rural roads and general construction activities is required; of which five (5) was spent in a developing country context. Also, must have at least three years of project management experience.
Knowledge: Must have a thorough professional knowledge of the field of engineering in which engaged and a general knowledge of allied fields, plus a thorough knowledge of sound local and international engineering principles and practices. Knowledge of project development, design, management, performance monitoring, and reporting is also required.
Skills and Abilities: A good knowledge of host-country contacts (official and non-governmental) in the areas of rural development required. Must have a professional engineer’s license or other appropriate credentials required for engineers in Tanzania. Strong analytical skills, ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely – both orally and in writing - in English, and excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, and other relevant software) are required.
Language Proficiency: Level IV English and fluent Kiswahili ability.
SELECTION PROCESS:
Applicants will initially be evaluated based on documentations submitted with application; then competitively ranked applicants will be tested and interviewed. Therefore, it is essential that applicants address the required qualifications above in the application.
APPLICATIONS:
Letter of application plus copies of relevant certificates and testimonials should be addressed to The Executive Officer, USAID/Tanzania, P.O. Box 9130, Dar es Salaam ( or by hand to 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani , Dar es Salaam). Or send to usaiddarhelpdesk@usaid.gov
CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: MARCH 15, 2013
The U.S Mission is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates for the above position will be considered without regard to sex, color, religion, race, age, nationality, or handicap.
NOTE: Those applicants who do not receive a response within three weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has not been successful.
