Infrastructural Advisor at Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Infrastructural Advisor

Location: Yola, Adamawa
Employment Type: Full-time, Regular

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic and market development and conflict mitigation. With the insurgency spilling over from the Northeast of Nigeria and causing the displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs.
• With funding from institutional donors, foundations and private corporations, Mercy Corps continues to provide assistance to meet the basic needs of vulnerable populations in the areas of food security, shelter, water and sanitation, protection, and livelihoods
• With the recognition of the protracted crisis in Northeast Nigeria, Mercy Corps’ strategy and expansion plans aim to address the root causes of the crisis and seek to build long-term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, and youth empowerment with emphasis on adolescent girls and boys.
• With multiple funding streams from large institutional donors and foundations, Mercy Corps’ programs in Northeast Nigeria continue to scale up and serve communities by transitioning them from humanitarian aid to early recovery programs.

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.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None

Reports Directly To:

• COMITAS Program Manager, with close collaboration and consultations with the in-country and global Technical Support Units (TSU), the COMITAS Senior Program Office, Program Assistants, and NRM Advisor

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.

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.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Success Factors:

• S/he will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive communication skills and proven experience with capacity building.
• S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level.
• Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

Living/ Environmental Condition:

• The position is based in Yola, Adamawa State and it requires frequent travel to other project field locations in Adamawa and Taraba States, as well as Abuja.
• Considering the frequent travel from/to different field locations, this position will require flexibility in terms of accommodation and logistics.
• Housing in the field will be in hotels or guesthouses where available.
• Security in the field locations requires additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously.
• Access to good medical services in the field is limited. Phone communication, internet, electricity and water are available but might be erratic.
• The location is not eligible for hardship and R&R benefits. Given the nature of the response, working hours require flexibility and working through weekends/evenings might be necessary.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together.
• Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges.
• We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
• We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis.
• We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all.
• We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity.
• We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
• We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members.
• As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to the Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times.
• Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Application Closing Date
4th August, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Applicants should have their CVs and Cover Letters in one document addressing the position requirements.
• Female candidates who are qualified are strongly encouraged to apply.