KIAB Engineer

• Country: El Salvador
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: WFP 
• Gender: Both
• Deadline:  2024-02-08

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In July 2022, WFP El Salvador began the implementation of its new Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2022-2027. Based on a comprehensive consultation process and analysis of the main drivers of food security and nutrition in the country, and based on WFP humanitarian assistance, the important themes of building resilience, adaptation to climate change and the modification of food preparation practices and eating habits as priorities for WFP’s program portfolio. Climate change multiplies existing threats to food security and malnutrition, will make natural disasters more frequent and intense, make fertile land and water more difficult to access, and increase agricultural productivity even more difficult. to achieve. It will have a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable people, most of whom live in fragile areas prone to climate hazards, ultimately putting their livelihoods at risk, pushing people to seek opportunities in urban areas, often depending on the precarious informal sector or migrating irregularly out of the country.

SPECIFIC PROJECT CONTEXT:

WFP El Salvador has designed a Kitchen-in-a-Box (KIAB) concept to improve the educational environment through improvements in food storage, preparation and serving in public schools as part of the National School Feeding Program (PASE). The project focuses on the adaptation of ship containers in kitchens, storage rooms and school cafeterias with multipurpose use in the surrounding community.

The KIAB concept has shown interest among internal and external actors, and this initiative can be transferred to more than 5,000 public schools in the country. Currently, funds are being actively sought to support the pilot with a view to scaling it up nationally, on the aforementioned scale.

Therefore, WFP El Salvador is looking for a Project Monitor Engineer with skills to carry out the pilot in coordination with the WFP country office team (El Salvador) for one year with possibilities of extension. The project is aligned with WFP’s country strategic plan in order to strengthen the capacities of the Ministry of Education and improve food security for the school community and its surroundings.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

This role will be under the direct supervision of the Product Manager and will coordinate the execution of the pilot in coordination with the Programs and Supply Chain Unit of the WFP El Salvador office and in coordination with the Engineering Unit, both in local and international teams.

The WFP operates to the highest levels of international construction standards, taking into account local constraints and working methods.

The KIAB Engineer will be responsible for ensuring that the project progresses to an acceptable level and to the highest quality in accordance with the contracts between the WFP and the selected construction / consultancy companies.

Employer’s focal point for the management of customization and supervision of all activities related to the new installations in the locations assigned to the project, must also be constantly present at the assigned adaptation and installation sites, so the work requires a mobilization to the field for the correct execution of this

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Lead the planning and execution of the Kitchen-in-a-Box (KIAB) project. This includes supervision of the adaptation works, assembly of modified containers, installation, support to manage them and coordination with different actors, acting as focal point of the project between WFP El Salvador and the Contractor.
2. Read, implement or adjust customization contract designs, drawings and documentation that reflect site-specific limitations, local conditions or characteristics;
3. Verification, registration and testing of completed works before they are covered by the contractor, which must be entirely consistent with what was planned;
4. Liaise with third party companies (contractors, suppliers, etc.) and supervise related work on the site; manage and supervise teams and coordinate activities jointly and in consultation with other implementers/supervisors on site acting on behalf of the Client;
5. Maintain records including site correspondence, survey data, inspection records, test data, site diaries, meeting records, financial records, progress records, daily photos, etc.
6. Provide guidance to contractors and consultants;
7. Evaluate the contractor’s proposals and methodologies;
8. Review and evaluation of planned and ongoing customization and installation projects;
9. Establishing and maintaining monitoring, evaluation and reporting of project performance through completion;
10. Prepare reports, including technical assessments, additional contract documentation and any other relevant reports that may be required;
11. Prepare and manage cash flow programs, including invoice processing and payment tracking in conjunction with the Project manager;
12. Assist with interpretation of contract documents. Explain or reconcile any ambiguities or discrepancies in the contract documents and apply the various provisions of the contract documents;
13. Completion of everything necessary for the quality of the works for the execution of the works;
14. Prepare and review reports, minutes and correspondence relating to the project as requested;
15. Contribute to monitoring plans in coordination with the Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) Unit to collect evidence of successes, areas for improvement and lessons learned.
16. Attend and host on-site meetings or attend conference calls;
17. Coordinate and report to Representation, Country Program Unit, and WFP Supply Chain Unit weekly on progress, plans and issues, etc.
18. Contribute to the coordination with the Ministry of Education for the successful execution of the pilot.
19. Design a future escalation plan based on lessons learned.
20. Contribute to pilot scaling advocacy and fundraising.
21. Any other task that may be assigned, related to the holistic execution of the project.
22. Support the achievement of KIAB’s objectives, goals and results in its technical, budgetary, financial and legal components under delegation of the Project Manager.
23. Apply the guidelines established by WFP in the implementation and scalability of KIAB.
24. Identify opportunities for KIAB to link with government entities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations and identify instruments and practices that encourage their participation.

FINANCIAL SKILLS

• • Advise, and in consultation with the Engineering Unit at headquarters, on interim and final payments to contractors.
  • Provide recommendations to the designated Program Unit regarding certification of project payments and additional financial obligations necessary to complete customization and installation at the project work site;
  • Prepare, in consultation with the WFP HQ Engineering Unit, variations to address issues encountered on site or arising from WFP or other needs.
  • Assist in the settlement of Audits and Inquiries (if any) related to the Project.
  • Preparation, and in consultation with WFP engineering when necessary, of the final accounts.
  • Maintain a sense of financial efficiency in the understanding of challenging and verifying the rationality of costs.

COMPETENCES IN QUALITY ASPECTS

• • Evaluate contractor presentations.
  • Establish and maintain project quality assurance procedures.
  • Carrying out all necessary measures and quality control of the works for the execution of the works.
  • Assuring the quality of works during construction, continually inspecting materials and construction operations for workmanship and compliance with specifications. Carrying out independent tests in the field and/or in the laboratory in order to approve or disapprove and certify the work that conforms to the contract. Maintenance of permanent records of results of all tests performed.
  • Notification to contractors of any defects and deficiencies, and issuance of instructions for the removal and replacement of inadequate works, when provided for in the contract and in a timely manner.

HEALTH AND SAFETY SKILLS

• • Ensure that contractors comply with internationally recognized health and safety standards for works, adjacent properties, all site personnel and the general public;
  • Order the contractor to take measures to improve Health and Safety on site during construction works;
  • Notification to WFP El Salvador and the Engineering Unit at WFP Headquarters of any serious breach of project health and safety standards.
  • Weekly reporting of all health and safety incidents and accidents.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES:

EXPERIENCE TO PERFORM THIS ROLE:

• A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in engineering and project management in multidisciplinary environments, preferably in the nature of deliverables at the construction level, adaptation or disciplines relevant to this project and its complements (electrical, civil and relevant mechanical). Said experience must also include relevant involvement in issues related to costing, standardization and efficiency methodologies.

MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Training:     Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Industrial Engineering

Languages:             Complete command of Spanish and intermediate knowledge of the English language.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Analysis capacity, specifically in variation analysis and critical paths of projects.
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and focused on quality customer service.

TECHNICAL SKILLS REQUIRED

• Computer skills / MS Outlook
• Microsoft office incluido (MS Word y Excel).
• Microsoft Project.
• AutoCAD.
• Knowledge of project workflow organization tools such as Click-Up
• Knowledge of SCRUM or other project optimization methodology

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