Wastewater Technical Advisor/Private Sector Engagement Advisor

Project Background 

The Lebanon Community Support Program (CSP) is a multi-year project funded by USAID to support municipalities and underserved and vulnerable communities in providing better services and enhanced economic opportunities to improve lives and reduce tensions that contribute to conflict and violence, primarily in Lebanon’s North, South, and Bekaa regions. The purpose of Task Order No. 5 (TO 5), the Wastewater Management Activity, is to identify and implement interventions that mitigate the pollution resulting from the discharge of untreated domestic and industrial wastewater into the environment. This activity will result in at least 6,000 m3 of wastewater per day being managed environmentally prior to discharge into the environment

Summary of Position 

The Wastewater Technical Advisor/Private Sector Engagement Advisor is a senior member of the CSP TO 5 team, responsible for harnessing the power of the Lebanese private sector to implement appropriate incentives that curb wastewater pollution and contribute to the sustainability of TO 5 activities. Primary responsibilities include liaising regularly with the private sector including, but not limited to, industries, design-build contractors, and financial institutions; cultivating key partnerships; designing interventions to mitigate industrial and domestic pollution including public-private partnerships (PPPs); and monitoring progress through the life of the task order. The Advisor will also be expected to coordinate with other CSP task order teams and leadership to identify opportunities to partner with the private sector to amplify the impact of the overall CSP IDIQ programming.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities 

• Assess region-specific needs and implement innovative private sector-led solutions to mitigate wastewater pollution throughout Lebanon including, but not limited to, performance-based service contracts, turnkey infrastructure contracts, and financial incentive mechanisms to promote private sector cost-sharing for wastewater treatment.
• Assist in formulating assessment and selection criteria to identify and select wastewater interventions and alternatives for private sector participation such as private-public partnerships (PPP).
• Promote private sector alliances that would seek and enable leveraging of resources, funding, and networks of relevant companies and organizations for sustainability of CSP wastewater interventions.
• Supervise, coach, and manage staff, as well as short-term expatriate assistance, as required, to further CSP’s private sector participation in the wastewater sector. 
• Establish and nurture relationships with target municipalities, Water Establishments, NGOs, and other entities relevant to the successful implementation of the Wastewater Management Activity.
• Coordinate closely with performance, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (PMEL) staff to ensure activities have been implemented according to their design; have achieved results according to the program’s PMEL plan; and lessons learned are incorporated into the design and implementation of future activities.  
• Other duties as assigned by the TO 5 Director and/or Chief of Party.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Degree in business, economics, finance, management, environmental studies, engineering, or other relevant field (Master’s preferred)
• Minimum 7 years of experience in the water/wastewater sector
• Demonstrated project management experience
• Experience designing incentive and/or rebate structures for the private sector
• Experience assessing wastewater facilities and implementing innovative solutions to fill gaps in wastewater infrastructure and operations including public-private partnerships (PPP)
• Demonstrated knowledge of key Lebanese private sector actors and business practices
• Demonstrated knowledge of Lebanese construction laws and business practices, environmental regulations, and knowledge of management of local construction contracts.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with public and private organizations and stakeholders
• Previous experience with managing multiple staff
• Fluent written and oral Arabic and English proficiency required

Preferred:

• Experience working on USAID or donor-funded programming
• Familiarity with wastewater treatment processes and/or civil engineering
• Experience working in the Litani River Basin