Position:   Lead Engineer- Transmission Lines  (Senior)

Division:   Project Delivery

Report to:   Project Manager -Transmission Lines 

Band:    C (high)

Background & Project Description

In September 2017, the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a $500 million compact agreement with the Government of Nepal. The Compact aims to increase the availability and reliability of electricity, maintain road quality, and facilitate power trade between Nepal and India—helping to spur investments, and accelerate economic growth. The compact agreement is valid for a period of five years, and is currently in implementation stage, prior to Entry-Into-Force (EIF) at which time the five-year time period begins. 

Pursuant to the aforementioned agreement, the entity charged with implementing the project has been established as the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal entity. This position will assume a critical role in the success of MCA-Nepal. 

Position Objective

The Lead Engineer -Transmission Lines, under the supervision of the Project Manager (PM)-Transmission Lines, is responsible is responsible for the daily execution, monitoring, and supervision of a range of activities supporting the Electricity Transmission Project’s (ETP) Transmission Lines Activity, including project preparation, design, works, commissioning and closeout of transmission lines or substations.The Lead Engineer-Transmission Lines will apply consistent project management with established work plans and implementation guidelines to ensure completion of the compact program in the five-year timeline according to specifications and within budget.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management 

• Under the direction of the PM, Transmission Lines, execute and/or oversee a range of project implementation and support activities as defined by the project plan ensuring that these are delivered on a timely basis to support broader project initiatives and objectives, and ensure consistency of quality; 
• Establish and implement effective contract and project management processes to support procurement and oversight of design, supervision and works contractors; consistent monitoring of activity budgets;  monitoring and updating of project timelines and milestones; quality assurance and quality control; and regular reporting processes; 
• Under direction of the PM-Transmission Lines, leads Transmission Lines activity staff working on specific contract or works package to ensure coordination of technical requirements for successful implementation of the contract and leads engagement with Project Preparatory & Supervision Consultant for that package;
• As necessary, support junior engineering staff to execute work through technical guidance, quality control, and/or mentoring; 
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with program partner staff (especially at NEA and Government institutions) to ensure coordination around design and construction of compact substations;
• Under direction of the PM, Transmission Lines, ensure adequate integration of environmental, health and safety and gender and social integration requirements during Activity implementation; and
• Maintain project documentation and Operations Manuals ensuring that these are current and reflecting lessons learned to support the improvement of projects/processes.

Technical Oversight

• Review technical deliverables (e.g., design reports), work plans and physical work progress through desk reviews, site visits, progress meetings, etc., and provide guidance and direction to contractors; 
• Consolidate project statistics from multiple sources and review these for accuracy and compliance with established formats to support implementation, monitoring, and analytics; and 
• As required, interpret technical issues and progress for communication to internal and external audiences.

Requirements (Education, Experience, Technical Competencies)

• Minimum Bachelor’s University degree in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field;
• Advanced degree in electrical or civil engineering preferred;
• Other qualifications (e.g., Project Management Professional) preferred;
• Seven (7) years professional experience in managing engineering works projects at a variety of stages, including pre-feasibility, feasibility, design construction, supervision and close out. 
• Five (5) years of project management experience in the construction of energy sector projects, particularly electricity sector construction projects, especially transmission/distribution;
• Experience managing infrastructure contracts (>$10 million);
• Fluency in Nepali and English;
• Strong computer skills in email, word processing, spreadsheets, and the Internet. Experience and familiarity with MS Project, Primavera or other project management software and with Management Information Systems is preferred;
• Demonstrated understanding/experience with safeguards issues linked to infrastructure development including resettlement and environmental, health & safety issue;
• Willing to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders;
• Responsible and flexible attitude and capable of working with minimal supervision;
• Have high integrity and exercise good judgement.