Building Project Coordinator - ECW FER Northwest

The northeastern region grapples with insurgency and armed conflicts, exacerbating the out-of-school crisis for children. The northwest faces significant challenges from armed violence, kidnappings, insecurity, and climate change. These factors, combined with existing issues like poverty and displacement, have led to widespread disruption in education, health, and basic services, particularly affecting adolescents. The region's extreme weather, characterized by extended dry seasons, increasing temperatures, and flash floods, has damaged infrastructure and displaced communities, further hindering educational access. Schools in states such as Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna have experienced attacks and kidnappings, instilling fear among students, teachers, and parents, resulting in absenteeism, dropouts, and school closures. Moreover, conflict over grazing land and natural resources has jeopardized safe access to education.

With funding from ECW, Save the Children is implementing a one-year project aimed at ensuring equitable access to safe learning environments for all. The project will evaluate existing learning facilities to ensure they are inclusive and sensitive to the needs of children with disabilities. WASH facilities will be assessed for availability, functionality, safety, gender-responsiveness, and disability friendliness in learning centers. The Construction Officer will be responsible for overseeing all functional aspects of construction-related projects, including conducting feasibility assessments, preparing technical and tender documents, supporting the supply chain team in the procurement process, mobilizing contractors, conducting regular field visits, and performing intensive technical monitoring of construction-related activities in close coordination with the Education team in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina States.

Key Areas of Accountability


Perform needs assessments in selected schools to identify WASH facility requirements in collaboration with the Education team.
Conduct feasibility studies for constructing TLS, latrines, and handwashing facilities in chosen schools.
Develop designs and BOQs for water supply, classroom, and TLS constructions and installations for schools and host communities.
Carry out hazard assessments and verify land availability to prepare designs and drawings.
Create designs, drawings, Bills of Quantity (BOQ), cost estimates, and specifications for construction materials as per standards in close coordination with School Management Committees and the Education team.
Ensure construction work quality carried out by contractors adheres to SCI construction policy.
Oversee the construction of latrines, handwashing facilities, and any other construction activities undertaken by SCI.
Develop construction quality checklists and prepare periodic reports.
Conduct frequent field visits for technical monitoring.
Provide necessary suggestions and technical support to contractors, construction workers, and School Management.
Maintain close contact with selected communities and inform them of project-related issues.
Deliver periodic progress reports and verify payment invoices.
Monitor construction budgets and overall performance with Program and Project Managers.
Verify all construction work at the completion stage in cooperation with relevant authorities and ensure all requirements are met before issuing a Certificate of Completion and final payments.
Liaise and collaborate with relevant local authorities and other key stakeholders.
Strategically lead and support the implementation of WASH and construction components of the project, including construction/rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities, in collaboration with Education and CP stakeholders at state/LGA levels.
Supervise borehole drilling and rehabilitation by contractors in the field to ensure adequate quality control and adherence to project specifications and timelines.
Ensure Child Safeguarding Risk Assessments are conducted for all construction and program activities.
Coordinate with logistics to facilitate the procurement of necessary WASH items and other materials and support their distribution across supported schools and communities.


Capacity Building:


Enhance the capacity of partners and SCI staff on hygiene promotion.
Ensure community mobilization approaches in the project fully integrate hygiene promotion concepts.
Provide capacity building to implementing partners with less construction experience.
Engage community leaders and other key stakeholders at the LGA level on hygiene promotion.


Representation, Advocacy & Organizational Learning:


Ensure Save the Children's work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and Government, and support Interagency Coordination Sub Working Group, advocating for the specific needs of children. This may involve supporting the coordination of working groups and sub-working groups.
Under the guidance of the Project Manager, WASH and Construction TA, the Officer will ensure that the ECW funded project is implemented in selected communities in line with WASH and construction minimum standards.
Contribute to communications and media work as required.


General:


Adhere to Save the Children policies and practices concerning child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.
Perform other ad hoc tasks as requested by the Line Manager.


QUALIFICATIONS


Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
Minimum 3 years of relevant working experience, preferably in a humanitarian/recovery context.
Experience in Construction and WASH-related projects, especially in the design and construction of infrastructures.
Awareness of one's own leadership skills and profile.


EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential:


Prior experience with other local and international NGOs.
Training and experience in borehole and VIP latrine construction/rehabilitation.
Community mobilization and advocacy experience.
Proficiency in computer applications (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, AutoCAD, and Epanet).
Ability to work in partnership with government and other NGO staff.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Independence, adaptability, and flexibility with good workload management, multitasking, and ability to meet tight deadlines.
Excellent communication skills.
Active listening skills.
Problem analysis and problem-solving abilities.
Proficiency in relevant computer applications.
Ability to work as part of a team, be flexible, adaptable, and patient.
Capability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines.


Desirable:


Familiarity with mapping field equipment and software.
Experience with emergency water supply systems.
Knowledge of population fluxes and water supply management in emergency contexts.