Since 1979, we have helped people grappling with the toughest hardships survive – and then thrive. That’s the heart of our approach: We help communities turn crisis into opportunity. Throughout our history, Mercy Corps has demonstrated innovation, timeliness and the ability to adapt quickly to changing realities.
- Job Type: Full Time
- Qualification: BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
- Experience: 5 years
- Location: Adamawa
- Job Field: Building and Construction , Engineering / Technical
General Position Summary
This role will support and monitor the expansion of the EU-funded project titled Contributing to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources between farmer and herder communities in Taraba and Adamawa states, Nigeria. (COMITAS-Phase 2). The project will be implemented through a Consortium led by IOM in partnership with Mercy Corps and Search for Common Ground.
While clashes are often understood in ethno-religious terms due to the spread of unreliable information, competing claims to land, water and other natural resources are at the root of growing tensions between farmer and herder communities in Nigeria. The project aims to contribute to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources with Mercy Corps capitalizing on its trusted relationships with local stakeholders across Nigeria’s Middle Belt to continue to empower communities to prevent and respond to violence by strengthening collaboration on natural resources management.
Under the pilot phase, from December 2020 to December 2022, the consortium partners recorded several key achievements and valuable lessons during implementation. The pilot was implemented in Bille, Borrong, Kpasham, Demsa wards of Demsa LGA; Gereng and Tambo wards of Girei LGA; Gyawana ward of Lamurde LGA; Kodompti ward of Numan LGA; Gengle and Ndikong ward of Mayo Belwa LGA.
To consolidate its goal COMITAS phase II will continue to focus on its four pillars which capitalizes on each of the consortium partners’ expertise and strengths:
- Strengthen traditional conflict resolution in the targeted locations in Adamawa state.
- Improve trust in authorities’ commitment to provide security and adequate resource management.
- Enhanced collaboration in managing the use of natural resources.
- Improve intra and inter-communal perceptions.
The Infrastructure Advisor will be responsible to provide expert advice to the COMITAS program team related to the definition of refurbishment project tasks, architectural design and infrastructure upgrades implemented by the external contractors. The individual undertaking this post will have responsibilities to support the program team in the development of the initial scope of works for infrastructure upgrades, to supervise the work of designing the architectural outlines and to provide day-to-day guidance and supervision on the construction sites performing quality control mechanism over the works of contractors.
The Infrastructure Advisor will be scrutinized by Mercy Corps Global and in-country Infrastructure Technical Support Units (TSU) and will be responsible to provide on-request-reports to both support units. The person undertaking this position will work in close collaboration with various local governance structures-formal and informal to exchange information and ensure consistent and quality delivery.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Summary Key Functions:
- Provide technical advice in the development of the scope of works for infrastructure designs and upgrades;
- Provide effective supervision of the architectural design works;
- Provide effective monitoring and supervision of construction/rehabilitation works performed in the field;
- Provide expertise input to the overall execution of all infrastructure projects;
- Facilitate information development and information sharing.
Provide technical advice in the development of the scope of works for infrastructure designs and upgrades:
- Closely cooperate with the TSU/ consultants in development of the initial scope of works for infrastructure designs and upgrades;
- Provide advice to the TSU/consultants related to technical expertise matters in relation to the definition of the scope of works;
- Develop the tendering documentation necessary for recruitment of the construction works company/ consultants for designing the project proposal and necessary technical documentation for construction works;
- Conduct an evaluation of the technical offers resulting from the tendering process.
Provide effective supervision of the architectural design works:
- Supervise the work of consultants to ensure the architectural design is fully in line with the initial scope of works and infrastructure upgrades required;
- Supervise the work of consultants to ensure the architectural design and project proposal meet safety and security requirements, rules and regulations;
- Develop the tendering documentation necessary for the recruitment of the construction works company/consultant to implement the project proposal;
- Conduct an evaluation of the construction works companies’ offers from the tendering process.
Provide effective monitoring and supervision of rehabilitation/construction works performed in the field:
- Supervise the works in the field to determine/verify delivery of contracted works according to the project proposal as developed;
- Effectively liaise with contractors and communities on the construction works sites;
- Report to the TSU on the progress in the field
- Report on issues that may arise during construction works;
- Through monitoring of the construction works sites ensure the required quality, timely completion and value for money of construction works;
- Provide certification for payments in order to confirm that milestones under construction contracts are achieved; including submission of the final Certificate of Completion of work.
Provide expertise input to the overall execution of all infrastructure projects:
- Provide technical expertise during the evaluation of bids for conformity with requirements;
- Provide technical expertise in contract management through stipulation of terms, application of special conditions if any, liability, commitments and milestones;
- Ensure compliance with Entities’ Physical Planning and Construction Acts, by-laws regulating the construction of similar social facilities, technical regulations, general and special technical conditions and professional codes;
- Perform other duties as delegated by the Program Manager.
Ensure facilitation of information development and information sharing in the project focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in engineering;
- Sound contributions to information sharing among project staff and project partners;
- Participate, as a resource person, in substantive and/or specific training sessions organized for the project staff and the overall Mercy Corps teams.
Core Competencies:
- Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
- Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
- Self-development, initiative-taking;
- Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork;
- Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
- Creating synergies through self-control;
- Managing conflict;
- Learning and sharing knowledge and encouraging the learning of others.
Functional Competencies:
Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda
- Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating the mandate of the COMITAS joint impact and social cohesion projects.
Results-Based Program Development and Management
- Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work; researches linkages across program activities to identify critical points of integration; and monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation.
Building Strategic Partnerships
- Maintaining a network of contacts: maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership-related issues; analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders; innovation and marketing new approaches; enhancing processes or products; generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things.
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
- Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things.
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
- Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical speciality relating to the position; possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks; strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning; and demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.
Client Orientation
- Researches potential solutions to internal and external client/community needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion; organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client/community needs and deadlines.
Knowledge and Experience
- University degree in Civil Engineering / Architecture. Master’s degree will be an asset.
- Minimum of five years of relevant experience in supervising architectural design and construction works.
- Prior fieldwork experience in infrastructure construction and rehabilitation of projects.
- Experience in working with INGO regulations would be considered an asset.
- Advanced computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project, AutoCAD)
- Prince2 training and other related project management certification would be an asset.
- Fluency in English language; fluency in Hausa is also desirable.
