US AGENCY for International
Development (USAID/Tanzania)
RE-ADVERTISED: IRRIGATION, RURAL ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIALIST.
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 hutawala@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.
