Myanmar: Infrastructure Technical Coordinator– Myanmar

Department: Program
Position: Infrastructure Technical Coordinator– Myanmar
Contract duration: 6 months to 1 year, renewable
Location: Myanmar
Starting Date ASAP

I. Background on ACTED

Since 1993, as an international non-governmental organization, ACTED has been committed to immediate humanitarian relief to support those in urgent need and protect people’s dignity, while co-creating longer term opportunities for sustainable growth and fulfilling people’s potential.

ACTED endeavors to respond to humanitarian crises and build resilience; promote inclusive and sustainable growth; co-construct effective governance and support the building of civil society worldwide by investing in people and their potential.

We go the last kilometer: ACTED’s mission is to save lives and support people in meeting their needs in hard to reach areas. ACTED develops and implements programs that target the most vulnerable amongst populations that have suffered from conflict, natural disaster, or socio-economic hardship. ACTED’s approach looks beyond the immediate emergency towards opportunities for longer term livelihoods reconstruction and sustainable development.

With a budget of 164 million EUR in 2014, ACTED is active in 35 countries and implements more than 450 projects a year reaching over 8 million beneficiaries with 400 international staff and 4,300 national staff.

II. Country Profile

Capital Office: Rangoon
Area: 1
On-going: Projects: 10 (2014)
Budget: 1.3 M euros (2014)
National staff: 30 (2014)

Since 2008, ACTED’s has supported Nargis affected communities in their longer term livelihood recovery by providing technical training to farmers and fishermen, distributing livestock and poultry, providing vocational training, introducing aquaculture systems, assets replacement, rehabilitating community infrastructure and ensuring affected families have an access to a safe habitat.

In 2011, government-led liberalizing reforms in key sectors (labor, finance, media and administration) spurred new opportunities for Myanmar. In this evolving context, ACTED continues its support to cyclone-affected communities in the Delta while also broadening its focus to additional geographic and thematic needs. In Labutta, special focus was placed on supporting the most vulnerable households facing persistent challenges in food security. ACTED expanded the scope of its activities to the Dry Zone, one of the poorest regions of the country, addressing chronic food insecurity and restoring sustainable livelihoods through agricultural production and home gardening.

In 2012, ACTED diversifies and scales up its assistance in Myanmar. The mission focuses on issues of food security, economic development of vulnerable communities and response to any emergency related situation, both natural (community-based disaster preparedness) and man-made (humanitarian crisis in Kachin State). It also supports civil society actors to enhance their capacity to influence key policy areas, particularly those related to women and gender considerations.

To this end, ACTED has already started a country wide program aiming at strengthening the economic rights of women. Additionally, teams have started an intervention to support communities and local authorities in Southern Yangon region to be prepared to natural disasters. ACTED also continues its support towards food security and sustainable livelihoods in the Dry Zone. Furthermore, ACTED undertook an assessment mission to identify the support it can provide to conflict affected communities and IDPs in Kachin State.

III. Position Profile

The Technical Coordinator will contribute to the development of his project, which is a constitutive part of the country strategy, and subsequently manage its implementation.

1. Ensure external representation of ACTED in relevant sectors

2. Representation vis-à-vis provincial authorities:
   Participate in technical and sectoral meetings to ensure visibility amongst local authorities;

3. Representation vis-à-vis Donors:
   Participate in technical and sectoral Donor meetings and pass relevant information to the Country Director;

4. Representation vis-à-vis international organisations:
   Participate in technical and sectoral meetings and working groups involving NGOs and UN Agencies (OCHA, PNUD, UNICEF, FAO, etc.) and all other inter-governmental institutions;
   Contribute to the creation of reports, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information provided as well as the confidentiality of internal information as required;

More generally, the program manager is expected to contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organisation, notably through the application of ACTED’s mandate, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to other actors.

1. Project Cycle Management

2. Project implementation:
   Plan the various stages of project implementation;
   Guide the implementation of the project and the methods of follow-up;
   Manage project finances, logistics and materials;
   Liaise with all internal and external counterparts of the project;
   Assess the activities undertaken and ensure efficient use of resources;

3. Project reporting requirements:
   Set up a clear timeline of reports to be submitted to project Donors;
   Draft narrative reports and contribute to the development of financial reports through regular budgetary follow up;
   Ensure adherence to FLAT procedures.
   More generally, communicate systematically to the relevant Country Director or Area Coordinator on project progress and planning.

4. Provide Relevant Technical Expertise

5. Ensure that technical quality and standards are considered during project implementation:
   Collect technical information and analyse associated opportunities and risks;
   Identify relevant technical authorities and partners, and propose formal partnership and/or contracts.

6. Undertake quality control:
   Analyse technical added-value and project impact;
   Set up technical evaluation exercises during and following implementation.
   Review proposed activities, drawings and budget of infrastructure related activitities

7. Ensure the selection of qualified contractors and suppliers for infrastructure related activities in South Sudan
   Review of suppliers / contractors experience
   Regular follow-up of contract implementation with supplier / contractor head of office.

8. Oversee Program Staff and Security

9. Guide and direct program staff:

10. Organise and lead project coordination meetings;

11. Prepare and follow work plans with each project member;

12. Ensure a positive working environment and good team dynamics (solve out potential conflicts);

13. Promote team working conditions in the limit of private life;

14. Adapt the organigramme and ToRs of project personnel according to the project development;

15. Undertake regular appraisals of directly supervised colleagues and pass appraisal forms to the Country or Area Administrator with recommendations (new position, changes to contract or salary etc.);

16. Ensure a building of capacity amongst technical staff in the relevant sectors.

17. Contribute to the recruitment of expatriate staff:
    When requested by HQ, undertake interviews to assess technical abilities of expatriate candidates living in the country.

18. Oversee staff security:
    In cooperation with the relevant Security Officer, monitor the local security situation and inform the Country Director or Area Coordinator and Country or Area Security Officer of developments through regular written reports;
    Contribute to the updating of the security guidelines in the project area of intervention;
    Ensure that security procedures are respected by each member of the project team.

19. Identify Best Practices and Lessons Learned

Collect information and tools employed for project implementation;
Draft memos detailing lessons learned and best practices identified during the project;
Share such memos with internal and external partners;
Communicate such information to the Country Director or Area Coordinator, to Regional Support Offices and to HQ Reporting Department.

IV. Qualifications:

• University degree in Engineering or Architecture.
• At least 2 to 4 years work experience in a development, emergency or post-conflict setting, in infrastructure and /or shelters interventions.
• Excellent written and oral English skills required
• Excellent use of Autocad and others related software
• Strong project management skills.
• Familiarity with different European and other international donor regulations.
• Organized and detail oriented, with an ability to multi-task.
• Must be able to function effectively in a fluid, loosely structured, but complex work environment and to set appropriate priorities and deal effectively with numerous simultaneous requirements.
• Must be able to work independently, with minimum supervision, within the context of a larger team.
• Willingness to live and work in an insecure environment and to travel regularly to program locations as security allows.

V. Conditions:

• Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
• Additional monthly living allowance
• Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse
• Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
• Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@acted.org

Ref: INFRATC/MYA/SA
For more information, visit us at http://www.acted.org