Senior Project Assistant - Road Maintenance G6 (5 Positions)

Introduction

This ILO technical assistance form’s part an integral part of a larger Rural Access and Agriculture Marketing Project (RAAMP), Nigeria delivered by Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with 5 States Projects Implementation Unit. Within this framework, the Senior Project Assistant in in Road Maintenance will provide Roads Maintenance activities within the scope of the ILO technical assistance especially for Routine Maintenance and Spot Improvements and Decent work component in the states. She/he will be assisting in the development plan and monitoring of capacity building of SPIUS and Government field.  

This position is for 18 months with initial one-year contract, subject to renewal based on performance. The positions are in 5 RAAMP project states stationed at SPIUs and will contribute to the overall establishment and monitoring of sustainable road maintenance system and Spot Improvement within the states. To perform his/her duties, the Sr Project Assistant will be required to spend almost two third of his/her time in the field providing technical backstopping to the Project team and Contractors. 

Reporting Line
Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor CTA based in ILO FPMU in Abuja, the Sr Project Assistant will take charge of the works operations within the Maintenance and Spot Improvement component of RAAMP in assigned state. He/she will be given the responsibility of a specific state and working closely with SPIU category of infrastructure works for which they will be the key resource person, including initial feasibility studies, preliminary and detailed designs, quantity surveying, contract documents, supervision and inspection of works, use of appropriate technology, conditions of employment of labour, OSH, gender, environment and other crosscutting issues related to the works. 

Description of Duties

The incumbent shall be based in the States Project Implementation Unit (SPIUs) and will be responsible for providing technical support to SPIUs in overall achievements of the rural road’s routine maintenance and Spot Improvements activities under the project. He /She shall report day to day to the Chief of SPIUs on activities and ILO’s Chief Technical Advisor in the FPMU and shall be technically supported by the Training Roads Maintenance Technical Officer and Senior Roads Maintenance Engineer and Senior Specialist, Employment Intensive Investments in the ILO’s Decent Work Technical Team in Dakar.  
His /her key responsibilities shall be to support the PMU and the project team in the following areas :  

• Collaborate with the SPIUs in data collection, road condition surveys and updating of rural roads inventory in the states for formulation of their annual and multiyear road maintenance plans. 
• Assist SPIUs in pilot testing of various innovative routine road maintenance models including group –based / community contracting and physical and financial tracking of the road maintenance activities as per their annual routine maintenance plans. 
• Participate as a resource person in technical trainings, assist in building a system wide capacity for training and development of Road Maintenance Groups and Spot Improvement maintenance contractors, on-site and off-site training modules for States level maintenance events and provide technical support to local contractors and communities involved in the infrastructure works. 
• Contribute to the integration of Decent Work Elements into Maintenance and Operation Manuals suggesting policies in scaling up sustainable routine road maintenance.  
•  Contribute to the appropriate technical design standards, work methods and organisation, standard   bill of quantities, work norms and appropriate unit rates for the planning and design of transport infrastructure works. 
• Carry out quantity surveys, prepare designs and cost estimates, project DPR for Routine and Spot maintenance infrastructure works, prepare bidding documents and civil works contracts    and review   tenders. 
• Provide advice and guidance to counterpart agencies, contractors and local communities on local resource-based work approaches including the use of employment-intensive work methods in the rehabilitation and maintenance of transport infrastructure. 
• Assist in the organisation of community consultations as part of securing adequate local involvement in the planning and implementation of works. 
• Review contractors’ work programmes, methods statements, material sources, testing of  gravel, aggregate and other building materials.  Review results of material testing and provide necessary design recommendations. 
• Contribute to the approbation of work drawings and setting out works. Carry out regular inspection and measurement of works, specification, quality of materials and as-built drawings to Certify payment of completed works. 
• Process payments of work, maintain expenditure plans and update works budgets. 

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• Inspect working conditions at construction sites, ensuring that occupational health and safety practices are following prevailing standards and recommend remedial action during events or circumstances that significantly impact works in terms of quality and time. 
• Carry out field inspections during extreme weather to secure that rehabilitated infrastructure shows the necessary climate resilience, assessing the performance of drainage and safe discharge of water, clearance above potential flood levels, assess erosion protection measures, risk of washouts, landslides or other debris compromising the function or safe use of the infrastructure. Recommend remedial action when there is a risk that elements of inspected infrastructure may fail or cause damage to the public during extreme weather conditions. 
• Assist in the development and maintenance of computerized information systems for use in monitoring and reporting on activities and performance by reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness. 
• Provide capacity building inputs, implementation support and technical advice regarding the maintenance of rural road works including identification, prioritization, selection and implementation of road works, with quality control and quality assurance.  
• Assist in the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions and meetings. Progress reports, inception report, monthly progress reports, project quarterly reports and final reports. 
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor. 

Education

Completion of secondary education supplemented by a formal technical training in the related field and/or project administration. 

Experience

At least 6 years of experience in the field of rural road rehabilitation/construction/ maintenance.  
Experience in the development and implementation of employment-intensive (labour-based) public works and a solid understanding of the ILO decent work agenda will be an asset. 
Experience in Rural Roads Maintenance, training of and working with local contractors will be an advantage.
Good knowledge of community and project stakeholder consultations and mobilisation will be an advantage.
Skills development and institutional strengthening will be an advantage. 

Languages

Excellent command of English and good knowledge of an official national language of the duty station. 

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to manage and evaluate rural roads maintenance.  
• Demonstrated technical expertise in formulating new concepts and methodologies, training materials, alternative courses of action and project proposals.  
• Ability to prepare technical publications, reports and recommendations.  
• Managerial capacities to implement projects and organize meetings.  
• Ability to work in teams, cultural awareness and networking skills.  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to succinctly explain technical issues to various stakeholders including local level non-technical functionaries and Computer literacy. 
• Ability to interpret and work within the applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures. 
• Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.  
• Drafting skills. 
• Analytical skills and attention to detail.  
• Ability to coordinate the work of support staff. 
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes