Public Works Officer USAID Project Jobs – Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Title: Public Works Officer

Organization: Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Duty Station: Uganda

Grade: 7

Reports to: Project Manager – Public Works

About US:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS’ Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations; serving people on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs. CRS has worked in Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to also address development needs in western, central and eastern Uganda. CRS’ projects in Uganda currently include agriculture, health, microfinance, peace building and youth. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability.

About the Project:

CRS is leading a consortium of 8 implementing and technical partners to run a five-year USAID/FFP funded $35 million program called Nuyok to build resilience to shocks, enhance livelihoods and improve food security and nutrition for vulnerable rural families in four districts of Karamoja – Abim, Nakapiripirit, Napak and Nabilatuk – which are home to 406,880 people living in an estimated 58,126 households. Nuyok seeks to strengthen governance and gender equity, community capacity to manage shocks and stresses, traditional and diversified livelihood opportunities and nutrition and health (including improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)) of pregnant and lactating women (PLW), adolescent girls and children under two years of age (CU2). At the end of the program, sustainable results will include empowered, resilient, healthy families; responsive, inclusive governance; and a vibrant private sector that engages smallholders at every level.

Job Summary: The Public Works officers will oversee the public works activities implemented by Nuyok partner organizations (Caritas Moroto or Caritas Kotido) in their designated districts. He/she will responsible for preliminary design, contribute to detailed design, Cost estimation and construction Supervision and monitoring public works interventions such as soil and water conservation structures, infrastructure rehabilitation, water and sanitation works identified in village development plans. The public works component of the program helps address underlying causes of food insecurity and focuses on natural resource management, social infrastructure and community assets, including roads. As a member of the Nuyok project team, you will monitor and report on all project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervise and Monitor the implementation of all public works activities under payment-for-work as part of the Resilience Purpose; Ensure technical adherence to the National Public Works Guidelines as established by the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development for all Public Works activities;
• Support beneficiary registration, monitoring of work completion, beneficiary payment and post distribution monitoring;
• Ensure that Community facilitators Keep an UpToDate daily registry and records of Payment for work;
• Ensure that a community-based approach to public work activity identification that is directly linked to the Village Development Plans and Village Disaster Management Mlans and or Micro Catchments
• Ensure timely (Weekly, Biweekly and Monthly) reporting of field activities
• Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles at field level
• Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support accountability by Identifying and documenting Human interest stories at least once per quarter
• Collect information on capacity needs of Community Facilitators and participate/ facilitate Field based Technical training to ensure effective impact.
• Ensure that Environmental safeguards as identified during approval stage and inception of public works are implemented and adhered to for the duration of the projects

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any of the following Engineering Fields: – Environmental, Civil or Agricultural Engineering with 2 years’ experience is required.
• Experience in implementing Soil and Water conservation activities, Infrastructure rehabilitation, water and sanitation and any other relevant field using labor intensive approaches with an INGO will be an added advantage.
• Additional education may substitute for some experience.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Experience in using Engineering software like HEC-RAS and AutoCAD Civil 3D
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Fluent verbal and written English is required, Karamojong is a plus

These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

How to Apply:

All interested and qualified candidate please Email a cover letter and CV only to ug_recruitment@crs.org

Large files and/or scans of documents will lead to rejection of your application, in the subject line of the email, copy and paste – PUBLICWORKSOFFICER only

NB: All applications that do not contain this exact subject line will be rejected and not read

Only selected candidates that meet the requirements will be notified.

Deadline: 13^th August 2020 at 5:00 pm