The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (The Federation) is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. The Federation has been working with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society for more than 30 years in humanitarian fields mainly disaster response and management, cyclone preparedness, disaster relief and recovery, community-based disaster preparedness, risk reduction and mitigation, etc. The British Red Cross (BRC) works under the auspices of the Federation in Bangladesh in close cooperation with the BDRCS.

Context

The British Red Cross (BRC) helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of the global network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and emergencies. We enable vulnerable people to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives.

We are part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest independent humanitarian network and are committed to, and bound by, its fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The BRC has a long history of working closely with and supporting the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.  In line with the national society’s strategic plan the BRC have agreed to expand the number of projects over the coming years. On this basis we are seeking to employ a suitably qualified Consultancy team of Construction Engineers.

Place of assignment:

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh and remote working

Period of assignment:

September 2020 to March 2021

Main partners:

British Red Cross,
Swedish Red Cross
Bangladesh Red Crescent Societies
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Consultancy team required

Team made up by a Senior Engineer (Based in Cox’s Bazar or elsewhere with regular visits to Cox’s Bazar) and Field based Junior Engineer (based in Cox’s Bazar)

How to apply

Interested consultancy teams should submit the following documents to Chaity@redcross.org.uk

  • Brief introduction to the consultancy team, including examples of relevant experience
  • CV of the Senior Engineer and Filed Based engineer
  • Budget for the assignment

Overall Purpose of the Post

The purpose of this assignment is to oversee and manage the delivery of an appropriate Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) intervention that meets the needs of people living in Camp 18, in Ukhia Cox’s Bazar.
The British Red Cross is seeking the services of a team of Engineers. Ideally the team should consist of a Senior Sanitation Engineer and a junior Site/Construction Engineer who will be seconded to the Swedish Red Cross and will work under the direct supervision of the SweRC Programme Manager and who will work alongside the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and IFRC staff deliver an appropriate Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) intervention that meets the needs of the affected population in line with the Population Movement Emergency Plan of Actions, IFRC WASH Response Strategy in Cox’s Bazar, Joint Response Plan (ISCG) and adapting interventions as the situation evolves.
The consultants are expected to ensure that SweRC/IFRC WASH plan and budget for the response is coordinated with BDRCS, other Red Cross partners and other agencies supporting WASH activities, and responds to local needs and contextual changes. The consultants will support continual assessment and monitoring, design, planning and work closely with other technical areas to ensure a coordinated approach.
The Consultants will support the quality implementation of the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plan (FSTP) and sludge pumping system and work in coordination with the WASH Delegate and San. Eng. FSM in the management of the FSM treatment site. The Consultants be responsible for managing the finalisation of the design, support the survey, procurement of construction materials, setting out and construction of an FSTP, commissioning the plant and all any infrastructure to be installed at the site.  
The Consultants will ensure required physical infrastructure is in place to support the whole sanitation chain and especially latrine desludging and faecal sludge treatment in order to ensure the quality of all interlinked FSM activities in the target areas of the camps in CXB.
The Consultants will coordinate with the IFRC/BDRCS and other actors to continue the BDRCS capacity building training path program on sanitation, faecal sludge management.
With the onset of the monsoon season, the consultants will experience significant adaptations to both working environment and the activities required of them. If rains, landslides, or cyclonic events create a secondary emergency within the camps, the consultants may be required to deprioritise standard activities in order to support the response as required.

Duties and responsibilities

A team of a Senior Engineering and a Field Based Junior Engineering consultant is sought however in case the work can be conducted by one Engineer it will also be considered. Below are detailed responsibilities of the consultants:

Senior Engineer (Quality Control) - 25%

The Senior Engineer will ensure standards of the work and will be responsible for supervising the work of the field-based engineer. The Senior Engineer has the ultimate responsibility of the quality of the work done by the site-based Engineer Main responsibilities are as follows:

  • Lead interpretation of designs and develop work plan for construction and commission of the planned FSM.
  • Under the supervision of the Programme Manager and in coordination with WASH Delegate and remote based design Engineer(s) coordinate with IFRC, BDRCS, the WASH ISCG (Inter-Sector Coordination Group), and government authorities to ensure all faecal sludge management and FSTP and sludge collection network construction activities are in line with government regulations and overall sector strategy.
  • Support the implementation of faecal sludge treatment measures to address priority public health risks as required by WASH Delegate (Sanitation Engineer FSM)
  • Ensure installation is in line with Government of Bangladesh construction and safety regulations, standards and procedures.
  • Documenting all processes and set up a monitoring protocol to assess the operation and treatment of faecal sludge and maintaining construction records that will be handed over to SweRC at the end of the assignment. The records will include but not limited to: maps, survey records, drawings of the FSTP and all specific components, location, status of functionality, level of sludge in each basin in the FSTP chain expected sludge characteristics at inlet and outlet, end by product quality, treated wastewater characteristics at outlet. In collaboration with the Sanitation Engineer, be responsible for the training on functionality of the FSTP, desludging procedures, how to operate the desludging equipment (manual and mechanized)

Site Engineer (75%) – Field based

The Site Engineer will be based in Cox’s Bazar and will oversee the construction as approved by the Senior Engineering Consultant.

  • Conduct onsite survey of the proposed construction site and data collection, share information with WASH Delegate and remote based design Engineer(s).
  • Develop a practical procurement of construction material and construction plan that will be reviewed on a regular basis that must include at least all required resources, timeframe, a construction risk analysis, safety measures among other things.
  • Lead the survey, setting out, construction and supervision of the proposed Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant. The Site Engineer will be expected to adhere to standards of construction and waste water management in Bangladesh. In the absence of standards, he/she will be expected to draft standards to guide construction team. These may include concrete standards, pipe standards, civil works and other standards that may be relevant to the construction of the FSTP.
  • If required, support the continuation of lime stabilisation of sludge.
  • Be responsible for the assessment of the needs and resources required for FSTP and reinforcing, together with the Programme Manager and other team members, and jointly plan appropriate measures.
  • Support the development of procedures for Operation, Maintenance and Monitoring of Faecal Sludge Treatment unit. This includes Emergency Standard Operation Procedures for events such as the outbreak of AWD/Cholera, flooding, landslides, or cyclonic events. Ensure all staff and volunteers understand these Emergency SOPs.
  • In coordination of the San. Engineer FSM to set up system for emptying toilets or collection points through a variety of desludging means, including manual and mechanical units.
  • In coordination with the San. Engineer FSM, develop/update existing SoP for safe procedure of desludging of latrines, collection of sludge, transport of sludge (considering application of mechanical pumping methods and convey of the sludge via transfer tanks till the FSM site). Investigate potential for sustainable scale-up depending on results, need and capacity of current system
  • Support as required documentation of the whole construction and operation process and procedures for handover to BDRCS/SweRC Sanitation Engineer
  • Determine in collaboration with Hygiene Promotion occupational safety & hygiene measures applied at all steps of the desludging process and functionality of the FSTP;
  • Ensure that all activities achieve the qualitative and quantitative aspects of relevant standards (SPHERE standards, Federation Watsan and Health and Care policies, national standards and international guidelines, Inter-Sectorial Coordination Group recommendation etc.).
  • Plan and manage construction budgets for the FSTP construction activities, advise the WASH delegate and Programme Manager on control of expenditure.
  • Manage day-to-day logistics, administration and personnel (construction team) activities (including any local contracted personnel / daily labour) in accordance with guidelines on the use of local staff, Local Recruitment Guidelines and in collaboration with other Team Members.
  • Coordinate plans and activities with other members of the SweRC team as necessary.
  • Ensure that the Sanitation FSM activities and resources are implemented and handed over or ended in a way that promotes local capacities and sustainable operations.
  • Perform any other related duties or responsibilities that may be assigned by the SweRC Programme Manager.
  • Ensure understanding of roles, responsibilities, lateral relationships and accountabilities.
  • Ensure community accountability, coordination with the (Camp in Charge) in order to ensure consultation and approval in design and siting of the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant and sludge pumping network.
  • Ensure effective working relationships with remote based design Engineer (s)
  • Support the team to meet minimum standards for accountability to beneficiaries and considerations of gender and diversity in emergency programming.

The Senior Engineer can be based anywhere in Bangladesh but will be expected to visit the site in Cox Bazar, Bangladesh at least 5 times during implementation. He/She will also be expected to attend ALL virtual meetings with the remote based design team. Every work done by the site Engineer must be approved by the Senior Engineer.

A team of a Senior Engineering and a Field Based Junior Engineering consultant is sought however in case the work can be conducted by one Engineer it will also be considered. Below are detailed responsibilities of the consultants:

The Site Engineer will be based in Cox’s Bazar and works in Camp 18 in Ukhiya Cox’s Bazar. Accommodation and transport to Cox’s Bazar is the responsibility of the consultants but transport to the field will be provided by SweRC. Security and insurance remain the responsibility of the consultants.

Deliverables

Deliverable Deadline
Construction reports Monthly
Detailed BOQ and technical specifications TBD
FSTP Standard Operating Procedure TBD
FSTP troubleshooting guide TBD
Drawings of installed system TBD
Final report TBD

Person Specification

 

Requirement

Evidenced obtained through Shortlisting (S) Interview (I) or Assessment (A)

Education/ Training

Essential
✓✓

  • Post Graduate qualification in Civil, Mechanical, Wastewater, Environmental Engineering, or equivalent
  • (Senior Engineer > 10-year, Site Engineer > 2-year post training experience)

S, I, A

Desirable

  • Technical qualification in Sanitary Engineering, waste water treatment, survey and project management

S, I, A

Knowledge/ Technical skills

 

Essential
✓✓

  • Proven experience of working within the international humanitarian operations in the water, sanitation, hygiene and/or health sectors (Senior Engineer/Site Engineer)
  • Experience in consultancy and construction of wastewater management systems and WASH infrastructure in a low resource context (Senior Engineer)
  • Experience of implementing community-based water, sanitation and/or hygiene programmes in the humanitarian sector (Site Engineer)
  • Good knowledge and ideally experience in construction work specifically, setting out, interpreting designs, drawings and civil works.  (Senior Engineer/Site Engineer)
  • Experience in acute emergency responses (Site Engineer)
  • Previous experience in wastewater systems construction work in Bangladesh for a humanitarian aid organisation or contractor (Senior Engineer)
  • Good knowledge and previous experience of working as a site Engineer with local partner agencies/ stakeholders with a capacity to provide formal and informal training. (Site Engineer)

S,I, A

 

S,I

 

 

 

S,I

 

S,I

S,I

S,I

S,I

 

Desirable

  • Experience in designing wastewater management systems, desludging methods (both manual and mechanical operations) in a low-cost context
  • Experience of managing and supporting staff
  • Experience of preparing, managing and monitoring budgets
  • Financial and narrative report writing experience
  • Experience of stock management

S,I

 

S,I,A

 

I,A

S

Experience

Essential
✓✓

  • Extensive experience delivering programmes in a complex working environment
  • Experience working for a humanitarian aid organization in a developing country
  • Proven experience in inter agency coordination
  • Experience in capacity building partners

S,I

S,I

S,I
S,I

Desirable

  • Experience working or volunteering for Red Cross/Red Crescent

S

Behaviours               

 

  • Working collaboratively
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Leading and engaging
  • Solution focussed
  • Accountable for resources
  • Developing yourself and others

I
I,A
I
I,A
I,A
I

Additional requirements

 

Essential
✓✓

  • Upholds the fundamental principles and acts with integrity, in accordance with the Society’s values (inclusive, compassionate, courageous and dynamic).
  • Ensures inclusive practice and promotes diversity

I,A

 

I,A

Desirable

  • Willingness to work out of office hours when necessary

 

This job description and person specification may be subject to change as a result of operational requirements.

Application Instructions:

  • Last date of application is August 16,2020 on or before 5:00 p.m.
  • Candidates who don’t have Post Graduate degree or equivalent qualification & Experience on relevant field need not to apply.
  • Only suitable & qualified candidates are invited to apply with their detailed CV and cover letter justifying your suitability

to:

HR of British Red Cross
By email at: Chaity@redcross.org.uk

Only short-listed candidates will be notified

The IFRC is an equal opportunity employer