Job Description

Terms of Reference (TOR) of Consultant: School Construction Engineer

Street Child is an international charity based in the United Kingdom that aims to create avenues for out of-school children to access education through an integrated approach that strengthens the capacity of teachers, schools, and communities to sustain their investment in the education for their children.

Street Child sees a world where all children are safe, in school and learning. We specialize in supporting children and communities in low-resource environments and emergencies: recognizing that the complex, compounded challenges that affect them require innovative, integrated interventions. Our interventions are informed by robust, rigorous evidence and results-oriented, optimized to create maximum impact for children at minimum cost. Since 2008, we have assisted over 250 000 children across 14 fragile, conflict and crisis affected counties across South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa.

Street Child started its operation in Nepal after the 2015 earthquakes that left more than 1 million children out of school and destroyed over 50,000 classrooms. Having delivered a series of response and recovery programs, Street Child is assisting local partners to re-establish education for some of the country’s most marginalized communities.

Recently, 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Nepal, centered at Ramidada, Jajarkot, resulting in 154 deaths and injuring at least 364 people in the Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim districts. The quake and its 159 aftershocks caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including homes, schools, and administrative buildings. In Jajarkot, 289 out of 348 school buildings were completely damaged, with an additional 746 buildings partially damaged. In Rukum Paschim, 52 out of 102 school buildings were completely damaged, and 69 buildings partially damaged.

In response, Street Child provided immediate support by distributing 114 education kits and 71 water filters to 71 schools in Nalagad Municipality, benefiting 10,844 students (5,720 girls and 5,124 boys).

To further support the restoration of the learning environment, Street Child plans to leverage its reconstruction expertise from post-2015 earthquake projects to support the ongoing efforts to resume education and to provide safe and secure learning spaces for the children and communities most affected by the earthquake.

2. Scope of Work:

The School Construction Engineer will be responsible for the following tasks:

a. Construction Management:

• Oversee the entire construction process, from site verification to final inspection in accordance with the approved designs.
• Coordinate with contractors, suppliers, and all levels of authorities and key stakeholders.
• Ensure adherence to local building codes, regulations, and standards throughout construction.
• Monitor progress and adjust activities to keep projects on schedule and meet milestones.
• Maintain high-quality construction by overseeing materials and workmanship through regular inspections and quality checks.
• Collaborate with all stakeholders, including government, partners, communities, contractors, and manufacturers, to achieve project alignment from start to finish.
• Develop comprehensive construction specifications, including implementation plans, and secure necessary approvals.
• Contribute to risk mitigation by providing technical recommendations and monitoring risk management plans.
• Manage construction sites, supervising contractors and staff.
• Foster a safe work environment and encourage community participation in projects.
• Effectively resolve challenges and conflicts arising at construction sites to minimize project impact.

b. Technical Oversight:

• Review and approve architectural and engineering plans and specifications.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the construction team.
• Resolve any technical issues that arise during the construction process.
• Ensure the implementation of safety protocols and procedures on the construction site.

c. Communication and Reporting:

• Develop and maintain effective communication channels with stakeholders, including school administrators, community members, and project sponsors.
• Document the construction process, including capturing key milestones and any challenges faced.
• Prepare and present detailed progress reports to project stakeholders regularly.
• Create case studies highlighting key aspects of the project, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Produce video materials showcasing the construction progress, interviews with key personnel, and community impact stories.

3. Deliverables:

• Detailed project plan and timeline.
• Weekly and monthly progress reports.
• Case studies and documentation of key project phases.
• Video materials (regular video progress updates, and a final project overview video ideally a timelapse of the entire construction process).
• Final project report summarizing the construction process, outcomes, and recommendations for future projects of similar scope.

4. Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in construction management, preferably with experience in school or educational facility construction.
• Strong technical knowledge of construction methods, materials, and regulations.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills, with experience in preparing reports and creating video materials.
• Proficiency in relevant software, such as AutoCAD, MS Project, and video editing tools.

5. Duration:

The assignment is expected to last for 2-3 months, with an estimated start date of Last week of June 2024 and completion date of 31 August 2024 . Any changes to the timeline are dependent on project progress, challenges faced and other unforeseen external factors.

6. Reporting:

The School Construction Engineer will report directly to the Operations Officer providing regular updates and seeking guidance as necessary.

Application Procedure

Interested Individuals are requested to submit updated CV, cover letter and total cost (all inclusive in NPR for this consultancy to streetchildofnepal@outlook.com by 20 June 2024 with subject line “Application for the Post of External Consultant: School Construction Engineer”

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we will not be able to notify all applicants of the outcome of their applications. Only shortlisted applicants will receive notifications on the next steps.

Safeguarding

Street Child of Nepal is committed to the highest ethical standards and opposes all forms of discrimination, exploitation, and abuse. We require that all staff, volunteers and consultants take seriously their ethical responsibilities to Safeguarding (Child Protection, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Harassment, and Abuse) our intended beneficiaries, their communities (especially children), and all those with whom we work. In line with the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, all employees must pass a thorough background screening, and police check and will be held accountable for upholding our policies around ethical behavior, including safeguarding and whistleblowing.

Street Child of Nepal is an equal opportunity employer. SCoN welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, caste, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. Qualified local candidates from marginalized and disadvantaged communities are encouraged to apply.

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