JOB ADVERT

Seeking Hard-Working, Dedicated 

Senior Engineer in Cameroon

Innovation: Africa

Background

Innovation: Africa (iA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose team of dedicated problem solvers work together to bring solar and water technologies to rural communities in Africa. We use solar energy to pump clean water and provide schools, orphanages, and medical clinics with light and refrigeration to store vaccines and medicines. iA has completed over 1,200 solar, water, and agricultural projects, providing light, clean water, food and proper medical care to more than 5,3 million people in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Cameroon, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly trained and qualified individual to join our Cameroon team as a Senior Engineer. The Senior Engineer works under the supervision of the local Project Manager and is responsible for overseeing iA’s solar water pumping systems, technical implementation, liaison with local contractors and in-house engineers, as well as providing technical support in all sites post completion. The Senior Engineer will also be responsible for all iA field activities, including identifying and selecting the beneficiaries of our projects, actively engaging in community mobilization and sensitization, establishing and maintaining regular communication with the communities we serve, implementing project-related activities, providing regular reports and ongoing monitoring of the projects.

Reports To: Project Manager and Country Director

Responsibilities

• Oversee all field operations related to solar powered water projects, including prospective project search, project construction/implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
• Work closely with the local contractor to plan and design all solar water pumping systems, blueprints and implement all civil construction works
• Oversee technical implementation of all water systems and serve as technical point person for all system designs, water tower construction works, water distribution point construction, structural design analysis and checking materials used during construction
• Supervision and support to all engineers in our team, including:
• Support and supervision of the project design process - Epanet, KMZ, TDH 
• Assessment of a community’s water needs and calculation of available water supply to properly size the system’s submersible water pump
• Support and supervision of all construction inspection activities, especially enforcing work plans, timelines and quality control
• Scheduling and managing our third-party inspections 
• Support and supervision to reporting requirements 
• Support to project manager and deputy, including:
• Finding new contractors
• Negotiating BOQs 
• Independently assess needs for maintenance work (post-installation) in projects where a malfunction exists 
• Maintain regular contact with Innovation: Africa’s engineers in Israel to successfully implement and monitor new solar technologies and remote monitoring systems
• Conduct community technical trainings and sensitization to all iA water system beneficiaries on water management 
• Appropriately sensitize the communities we work with, including establishing project steering committees to maintain the project
• Submit daily updates into the iA phone application and send regular progress reports to international management team regarding prospective projects, construction and implementation of current projects, and monitor existing projects
• Manage relationships with municipal officers, local leaders, and international stakeholders
• Manage and fully participate in visits from the international team, donors and guests
• Respond to any communication such as email or Slack within a timely manner (24 hours)

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a dedicated team-player with strong interpersonal skills who has a background in engineering, community development and mobilization, and working with international stakeholders. The candidate must demonstrate a proven passion for working with the community and possess detail orientation and problem-solving skills. 

Compensation: Commensurate with experience. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or professional diploma in Water-, Civil-, Electrical Engineering or closely related field, Master’s degree preferred
• Technologically oriented with excellent computer skills, including proficiency in email and Microsoft Office software
• At least 10 years of working experience in implementations of rural water systems
• Drilling or any relevant experience is an advantage
• Proficiency of Epanet is mandatory
• Driver’s license
• Ability to commit to flexible working hours
• Live and speak the local language(s) 
• High proficiency in English; both writing and speaking

As an international organization, our team works in New York, Israel, and Africa, and is constantly on the move. To maintain close contact despite our travel schedules, we regularly use technology solutions, such as Slack, Zoom and more. The ideal candidate thrives in this type of fast paced environment and is comfortable working with colleagues in different time zones and continents.  

Application Instructions

• Please send your cover letter and CV as a single PDF attachment to cm.seniorengineer@innovation-africa.odoo.com
• The file name should be saved as your full name.
• Please include the position and country for which you are applying to work in the subject line of the email “Senior Engineer in Cameroon”
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Innovation: Africa is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.