Overseer

Overseer, MaWRiN Project

Company Description

WWF Nepal, the global conservation organization leading international efforts for a living planet, seeks applications from qualified Nepali candidates for the following full-time position. If you think you are an achiever and willing to work within a diverse team in a multicultural environment with commitment and passion for what you believe in, you are highly encouraged to apply.

Our Mission:

At WWF Nepal, we firmly believe people and nature are inextricably linked. Our mission is to stop the degradation of our planet’s natural environment, and build a future Nepal in which people live in harmony with nature.

Our Vision:

From its origins as a small group of committed wildlife enthusiasts, WWF has grown into one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, active in over 100 countries.

Over this time, WWF’s focus has evolved from localized efforts in favor of a single species and individual habitats to an ambitious strategy to preserve biodiversity and achieve sustainable development across the globe.

WWF-Nepal envisions a prosperous Nepal, with an active and socially responsible citizenry that a greater sense of stewardship towards the environment.

Our Core Values:

We celebrate and respect diversity in nature and among the people, partners, and communities with whom we work. Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF, we are unified by one mission, one brand, and one common set of values:

Courage: We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
Integrity: We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability, and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure we learn and evolve.
Respect: We honor the voices and knowledge of the people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
Collaboration: We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Job Description

The Managing Watersheds for Enhanced Resilience of Communities to Climate Change in Nepal (MaWRiN) Project is located in Marin watershed of Sindhuli district. The project is funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) managed Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) to be implemented over a period of six years by WWF in close association with the federal Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) as the National Executing Agency and Ministry of Forests and Environment of Bagmati Province as the Project Executing Partner. The project will enable the government and local stakeholders to invest in protecting the Marin watershed while bolstering the longer-term resilience of local and indigenous communities against climate emergencies.

The objective of the project is “to enhance climate resilience of Indigenous people and local communities in the Marin watershed (partly/fully covering area of Marin rural municipality, Kamalamai municipality, Ghyanglekh rural municipality, and Hariharpurgadhi rural municipality) through nature-based solutions and livelihood improvement.” The project’s objective will be achieved through the following three inter-connected components:

Component 1: Enabling environment for mainstreaming climate change through development of capacity of the municipalities and other key local agencies to assess and understand climate risks and vulnerabilities, and accordingly mainstream climate change adaptation strategies and actions in local policies and plans. Also, through the establishment of a multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue and coordinated actions on climate change adaptation at the watershed level.
Component 2: Enhanced Resilience of Local Communities to Climate Change through a) Community-based natural resource management such as community identification of adaptation interventions, support and demonstration of sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture and livestock practices, improved water management, strengthened management of community and leasehold forests, and b) Nature-based Solutions that reduce climate impacts and risks.
Component 3: Monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management, through tracking of project progress on a regular basis; garnering and analysis of lessons and good practices; and development and dissemination of knowledge that reinforces project results from components 1 and 2, providing sound basis for their replication, adaptation and sustainability.

A Project Management Unit (PMU) will be set up at field level. The Chief of the Soil and Watershed Management Office (SWMO), Ramechhap will serve as the Project Manager (PM). The main functions of the PMU are to (i) oversee fiduciary arrangements, (ii) ensure overall efficient management, coordination, timely implementation of the agreed project work plan/result framework including the Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and Gender Action Plan, (iii) operational oversight of implementation activities, (iv) timely reporting, and for effective use of GEF/LDCF resources for the approved work plan and (v) monitoring of the project. The PMU will also serve as the secretariat to the project coordination committee and multi-stakeholder dialogue and action platform.

Under the direct supervision of the Technical Team Leader (TTL) and guidance from the Project Manager (PM), the Overseer will be responsible for design, estimation and technical oversight and monitoring of construction activities to ensure quality control of community led engineering structures and other nature-based solutions aimed at climate change adaptation and disaster risk management. S/he will be based in PMU office.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Lead technical aspects of design and estimate

• Responsible for design and estimation of community-led engineering structures such as small-scale irrigation canals, trails, water source protection, water harvesting, conservation pond, landslide control, gully erosion control, and other nature-based solutions aimed at climate change adaptation and disaster risk management.
• Prepare detailed design including construction drawings and prepare detailed estimate based on the approved drawing and design.

2. Monitoring of construction activities to ensure quality control

• Monitor the construction activities, ensure quality control, and prepare running bills for payment.
• Regular field visits to ensure proper operation of the completed construction works and quality assurance and technical backstopping in the ongoing construction activities.

3. Capacity Need Assessment

• Carry out local level capacity need assessment to integrate structural measures for climate change adaptation at Marin watershed.
• Understand the local context and indigenous traditional knowledge to integrate innovative nature-based solutions measures as a part of structural measures of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

4. Capacity Building

• Responsible for conducting training and capacity building of local stakeholders in the construction, operation and maintenance of community-led engineering structures.
• Engage with the community in the process of construction and provide technical insights to ensure quality control and knowledge transfer to the community.
• Ensure development and customization of integrated watershed management tools from climate change adaptation perspective

5. Documentation

• Responsible for documentation of the indigenous traditional knowledge on nature-based solutions to watershed management, degraded land rehabilitation and customizing them for Marin watershed management.
• Preparation of learning documents to ensure evidence-based knowledge transfer and advocacy.

6. Report writing

• Support the TTL in the preparation of project progress reports.
• Prepare all the project documents including but not limited to specifications, agreements, completion reports, final bills, and closure documents for the construction activities.

7. Coordination

• Coordinate with local level government agencies, community, community user committees for proper planning and implementation of the structural mitigation measures for climate change adaptation.
• Coordination with the technical lead of the local level for design and implementation to ensure integrated and informed construction works.

8. Other Duties

• This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the tasks that are anticipated proactively. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to the project needs.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Working Relationships:

Internal: Works closely with PMU staff

External: Coordinate and engage with implementing partners, governmental and non-governmental representatives, as well as consultants.

Qualifications

Knowledge: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering is required.

Experience: At least 3 years of relevant working experience with proven experience of designing engineered structures for watershed management projects in close collaboration with government is mandatory. Former experience of working in structural mitigation measures against water induced hazards like flood and landslide with emphasis in green infrastructure techniques like bio engineering and nature-based solutions will be an asset.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong analytical and excellent communication skills that include report writing, facilitation and presentation.
• Excellent cross-cultural and people skills and ability to interact with government, and NGO staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.

Additional Information

Interested applicants are requested to apply for the position by 17:00 hours on October 25, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be informed.

Please do not click on “Apply with Indeed” button once you start the application process.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

WWF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please join us in our mission to save life on Earth.