Water Resource Specialist

FUNCTIONS

To contribute to the overall success of the project, and seeing that deliverables arrive on time, on scope, on budget, within acceptable quality levels, and in line with donor requirements and based on beneficiary needs. The functions of the Water Resource Specialist include, but are not limited to, the following activities:

1. Project Management

• In line with the Project Implementation Strategy, plan in accordance with the line manager the various stages of project implementation for water governance activities and ensure work plan stays on track;
• Guide the implementation, with a focus on technical aspects and quality assurance through close monitoring;
• Manage project team, and coordinate with the project manager for finances, logistics and materials in relation to water governance activities;
• Assess the activities undertaken and ensure efficient use of resources.
• Ensure quality of training of beneficiaries through oversight of activities
• Support the Line manager in the Development of Project Communications Plan, in coordination with Consortium Communication Officer to ensure regular creation of communications content (videos, social media, articles, beneficiary stories, etc.)
• Ensure visibility of project in line with donor regulations
• Coordinate with ACTED AME teams to ensure timely implementation of monitoring activities
• Ensure information flow of beneficiary reporting to database and AME teams
• Attend Consortium Technical Working Groups and sector coordination groups as required

1. Technical Expertise (Water Resource Management)

The Water Resource Specialist will be responsible for implementing the River Basin Management Plan for ACTED, and supporting in the implementation of two other RBM Plans in Lebanon with ACTED’s NGO partners (LebRelief, GVC, CNRS, and others). This will entail facilitating local and national river basin stakeholders to identify:

1. priority needs (water resource management, infrastructure, operation and maintenance, pollution control, etc.) in line with the existing Lebanese policy and planning,
2. Set targets to improve services, reduce pollution, reduce costs for the community and improve operation and maintenance
3. Produce a multi-stakeholder Action Plan, and a realistic assessment of the breakdown of actions over a five-year period, their costs and the role of each stakeholder. The project pursues and promotes an inclusive participatory approach, not only by disseminating the results and outputs to the various target groups, but by also involving them in a consultation process

1. Assessment & Design

• Support MADAD partner project teams to identify, mobilize and coordinate with local and national government and non-government stakeholders as relevant and needed for the program.
• Effectively manage stakeholder databases and reporting internally and externally
• Support data collection and analysis (hydro-meteorological data, geological and land use data, information on the water supply systems, GIS cartographic data, etc.) to assess the current conditions (environmental conditions, infrastructure condition, service availability, costs for consumers, etc.) Participates in internal lessons learned workshops and project feedback
• Coordinate with the Consortium Communications Officer to design and produce of various online and offline communication and visibility materials (photos, videos, presentations, etc.), as deemed necessary by the program’s needs
• Design the program’s tools and communications strategy(ies) and manage its implementation through various events and campaigning such as workshops/focus group discussions/trainings and events etc.

1. Project Implementation

• With the support of ACTED’s WASH Project Manager, lead the Consortium ‘Participatory Management’ Technical Working Group and organizing regular project coordination meetings with project team
• Participate in AMEU planning processes and actively support the delivery of AMEU activities in line with the project AME framework
• Participate in the review of the budget follow-up (BFU), and forecast initial and regular costs and cross-check expenditures for projects activities;
• Help forecasting monthly cash requirements of the project and submit to line manager and capital office;
• Participate in the procurement planning processes, launch procurements required for the project in a timely manner, and follow procurements closely in collaboration with logistics
• Ensure that the project targets are met and documented
• Support the Line manager in leading the planning and management of program’s various stakeholder and beneficiary consultation events (workshops, conferences, community events etc.)
• Prepare timely reports and feedback on activities for coordination
• Ensure effective flow of information to target audiences and provide regular updates to ensure continued public interest
• Draft meeting minutes, articles, human interest stories and other information materials, of field activities to be shared with communities and internally
• Support the Line Manager in Managing the planning, implementation and facilitation of the stakeholder workshops in coordination with relevant stakeholders
• Coordinate with the Consultant developing of a semi distributed (node-based) Water Resources Management Model and with University stakeholders conducting field water quality sampling program
• With the support of ACTED’s GIS Officer, develop an online and open-source GIS database for each River Basin
• Support in the development of representation on each river basin (committee or similar) to advocate for implementation of the Plan. Facilitate training for the committee (or similar) as required, in fundraising, communication, advocacy, stakeholder mobilisation, etc.

1. Human Resources

• Participate in the recruitment of technical project staff;
• Ensure that project staff understand and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities;
• Follow-up the work plans and day-to-day activities of the project staff;
•  Ensure a positive working environment and good team dynamics;
• Undertake regular appraisals of staff and follow career management;
• Manage interpersonal conflicts; o Ensure capacity building among staff in relevant sectors.

1. Security

• Ensure project stakeholders have a good image of ACTED thus increasing the acceptance of ACTED’s presence and activities in the project implementation area;
• Help managing the movement of the project implementation team and ensure that the movement SOPs are strictly respected by the team members;
• When necessary, negotiate access with local stakeholders

1. Accountability to Communities and Beneficiaries

• Ensure project staff adhere to ACTED’s Code of Conduct and treat all beneficiaries with respect and without any distinction or discrimination based on nationality, race, ethnicity, tribe, gender, religious beliefs, political opinion or disability;
• Assist in the development a communication strategy with communities so that factual, objective and actionable information is provided to project stakeholders;
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• Ensure that ACTED’s Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is communicated to target communities and solve complaints related to the project in coordination with the M&E unit The Water Resource Specialist is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities we work are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about ACTED programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every ACTED staff member.

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• Grant Management
• Report regularly on project activities, challenges and indicators through submissions of the relevant reports; in particular provide regular and timely updates on progress and challenges to supervisors and other team members;
• Contribute to drafting of (external) project progress reports, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information provided;
• Contribute to the organization of the project close-out meeting and follow-up on the project-related action points originating from this meeting;
• Participate in communication activities through the regular collection of pictures and stories related to project activities;
• Participate in new proposal development processes through the provision of expert programmatic advice related to contextual knowledge;
• Where relevant, liaise with donors and work closely with partners on project updates, site visits and other communication, in coordination with the Project Development Unit

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• Others
• Provide regular and timely updates on progress and challenges to line manager, and as relevant to Consortium Management Unit and Steering Committee to Participate in water governance and awareness-related conferences and workshops where possible and stay up to date on best practices and new knowledge;
• Perform any other related activities as assigned by immediate line manager

• Sustainability the Water Resource Specialist will prepare tools and guidelines in River Basin Management, and ensure the effective handover and ongoing monitoring of the Plans with the local stakeholders

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• % of milestones completed on time as per the original plan
• Number of problems identified and solved
• % of consolidated up to date project management frameworks (PMF) shared with country coordination on a monthly basis
• % of contractual performance indicators achieved
• % of M&E assessment Terms of Reference and findings provided feedback on in a timely manner
• Project records and documents (beneficiary lists, donation certificates, attendance sheets, payment sheets) available for all project activities
• % of staff members trained on accountability and the CRM SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Requirements, Personal and TECHNICAL SKILLS

• At least 2 years’ experience in team management
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in private/NGO/public sector
• Possesses advanced understanding of principles, practices, codes, and standards in the field of Water Resources Engineering; and Lebanese water policy
• Demonstrated Hydrology & Hydraulic Modelling Experience, and good working knowledge of GIS programs
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and management, in particular in agriculture and environmental projects
• Demonstrates effective leadership skills in facilitating stakeholder workshops and driving outcomes with multiple stakeholders
• Excellent organization and creative problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and oral Arabic communication skills and proficiency in English language
• Advanced working knowledge of MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Publisher)
• The candidate should have high level of integrity
• He/she should also demonstrate and be exemplary in portraying humanitarian values and ethics.
• He/she should be a good team player
• Alignment with organizational values and code of conduct
• Dedication and commitment
• Strong Organizational skills
• Autonomy
• Achieving results
• Ensuring compliance, transparency and accountability
• Thinking outside the box