Pact Overview

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow.  The promise of a healthy life.  Of a decent livelihood. Of sustainable natural resources that benefit communities.  Now more than ever in its 42 -year history, Pact is helping millions of people who are poor and marginalized discover and build their own solutions and take ownership over their future.

Pact enables systemic solutions that allow those who are poor and marginalized to earn a dignified living, be healthy, and take part in the benefits that nature provides. Pact accomplishes this by strengthening local capacity, forging effective governance systems, and transforming markets into a force for development.

Project Overview

The Construction Engineer will work with the five-year USAID/Zambia Integrated Health Activity (ZIH) contract. ZIH is a five-year project led by Pact in partnership with Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Circles of Hope, Mothers2Mothers, Copper Rose Zambia, Zambia Network of Young People Living with HIV, and Viamo. ZIH will improve health outcomes of Zambians through equitable access to high-quality health services in the areas of client-centered HIV, tuberculosis; maternal, newborn and child health; family planning; and reproductive health.  The project will reduce mortality, morbidity, and HIV transmission for sub-populations in Northwestern, Copperbelt, and Central Provinces. Pact works closely with the Zambian Ministry of Health to attain the country’s goal of reaching HIV epidemic control (95-95-95) by 2030.

The ZIH activity will be delivered through three main components namely:

1. Increase coverage of comprehensive and person-centered HIV, TB/HIV, FP/RH, MNCH prevention, diagnosis, care, treatment and support services in both communities and health facilities.
2. Increase utilization of community and facility-based quality and person-centered integrated HIV, TB/HIV, FP/RH, MNCH services.
3. Increase capacities of Provincial and District Health Offices to improve quality and sustain Direct Service Delivery of integrated HIV, TB/HIV, FP/RH, MNCH during and beyond the life of ZIH.

Key Responsibilities

The Construction Engineer (CE) helps plan, organizes, and supervises, on a day-to-day basis, all construction activities carried out by the USAID Zambia Integrated Health Activity. The Construction Engineer will work under the guidance of the Director Financial Management and Operations (DFMO), Operations Director (OD) and Technical Director, Clinical Services (TDCS) to formulate, oversee, and evaluate construction works and aid in the development of budgets pertaining to the works in Activity supported facilities as well as provincial and district hub offices in Central, Copperbelt and Northwestern provinces.

The CE will directly supervise Activity construction contractors and subcontractors and work hand-in-glove with Activity hired architectural and engineering firm to ensure timely and quality completion of all construction works. The Engineer is responsible for maintaining project paperwork, plans, and expense tracker, as well as providing regular progress reports to the Director Finance and Operations.

This position will entail regular local travel to construction sites throughout Central, Copperbelt and Northwestern provinces.

Primary duties and obligations

Coordination of construction-related activities

• Oversee the management of all health facility-level construction works from inception to their finalization/commissioning in coordination with the Activity contracted architectural and engineering firm and ZIH Senior Management.
• Conduct initial site surveys, pre-design investigations, and environmental (water quality, hydrogeological, geotechnical) impact studies for each proposed site and develop plans to minimize negative environmental impact of activities.
• Oversee and supervise construction contractors and subcontractors engaged to carry out construction works.
• Ensure that all construction works adhere to:

– GRZ and MoH protocols, regulations, and construction guidelines

– Established protocols, regulations, and construction guidelines as                            outlined in the USAID approved Construction Implementation Plan                        (CIP)

– USAID donor regulations

• Collaborate with the ZIH procurement team to mobilize materials, ensure quality control, and manage last mile delivery.

Supervision and administration of construction activities

• Collaborate with Senior Management in conducting regular evaluations of the CIP and ensuring continuous adherence to the CIP, GRZ, MoH and USAID guidelines.
• Verify that any memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Ministry of Health, contracts with contractors, and any other required documentation are prepared, executed, and stored in compliance with established protocols.
• Maintain compliance with best practices and defined minimum standards by incorporating quality control testing and inspection procedures, which may include conducting regular site visits.
• Oversee and manage the construction activities at the site and oversee the certification procedure for each stage of completion.
• Supervise both on-site and offsite construction projects, as well as ensure adherence to general construction and safety rules.
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments and develop contingency plans to proactively address potential issues and effectively manage risks across all construction sites.
• Demonstrate exemplary management of resources by thoroughly examining material requisitions and providing recommendations for their approval, procurement, and subsequent delivery to construction sites.
• Examination of invoices, completion certificates and the provision of recommendations for approvals and timely payment to all contractors.
• Provide project oversight for environmental management and compliance related to construction activities.

Reporting

• The Construction Engineer muse be able to consolidate and monitor all program construction activities using regular periodic progress reports.
• Must have experience with the development, revision, and upkeep of a construction project workflow tracker, as well as the generation of project-specific quality control reports.

Qualities, skills, and education requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in construction management, architecture, engineering, or other field relevant to the assignment.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in the construction sector, specifically with a contractor involved in general construction and experience managing non-governmental projects.
• Accreditation from a construction engineering body in Zambia, such as Zambia Institute of Architects (ZIA) and Engineers’ Institute of Zambia (EIZ).
• Demonstrated expertise in overseeing and coordinating construction projects.
• Proficiency in construction management processes, techniques, and resources.
• Thorough understanding of every aspect of the construction process.
• Good analytical skills, capable of making autonomous judgments and decisions.
• Proficiency in project management.
• A thorough understanding of software systems used in construction management.
• Good strategic planning skills, adept at coordinating multiple tasks, and equipped with a holistic perspective.
• Proficient in the management of conflicts and crises.
• Experience in human resources management.
• Exceptional attention to detail and adeptness in managing time.
• Must possess strong people skills and the capacity to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical individuals.