Civil Engineer (Water Resources Infrastructure Development and Management)

Organizational Setting

FAO Sudan assists the Government to formulate policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and utilize environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way. These projects aim to build climate resilience into the agricultural sector, as an effective means of reducing vulnerability and disseminating community-level adaptation and mitigation measures in different Sudanese States.  The Civil Engineer works closely with FAO technical teams, implementing partners, government authorities and other humanitarian and development actors to support the achievement of project results and strengthen coordination at state level.

Reporting Lines

The Civil Engineer (Water Resources Infrastructure Development and Management) works under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Sudan and receives direct supervision from the Team Leader- Climate Change Program at the FAO Country Office in Khartoum. The incumbent works closely with relevant technical, monitoring and evaluation staff, implementing partners, government counterparts and other stakeholders at Federal, state and locality levels.

Technical Focus

The Civil Engineer (Water Resources Infrastructure Development and Management) will provide expert technical oversight, detailed engineering design reviews, and robust field supervision. The ultimate objective is to deliver climate-resilient, safe, and cost-effective water infrastructure assets that align fully with national guidelines and international engineering principles

Tasks and responsibilities

The Civil Engineer (Water Resources Infrastructure Development and Management) will execute tasks categorized across the following critical phases of the project lifecycle:

Feasibility Studies & Technical Appraisals

• Analyze baseline water demand, demographic trends, and agricultural or municipal consumption patterns to determine current and future infrastructural requirements over the design horizon.
• Evaluate multiple engineering alternatives (e.g., gravity-flow vs. pumped systems, centralized vs. decentralized treatment, or alternative pipeline routing) to identify the most cost-effective and reliable solution.
• Estimate capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) to perform life-cycle cost analysis, net present value (NPV), and internal rate of return (IRR) calculations.
• Assess potential environmental footprints, land acquisition/right-of-way challenges, and community impacts to ensure compliance with national regulations and international donor safeguarding standards.
• Identify key project risks (e.g., geotechnical hazards, hydrological variability, supply chain constraints, or regulatory delays) and propose structured risk-mitigation frameworks.

Design & Engineering Services

• Lead the technical design activities, including preliminary assessments, detailed engineering designs, and tender document preparation.
• Conduct site reconnaissance, topographical surveys, and geotechnical investigations.
• Evaluate water demand, flow calculations, and hydraulic parameters (e.g., pipe sizing, pump heads, and network pressures).
• Prepare comprehensive structural, hydraulic, and civil engineering drawings for water transmission lines, distribution networks, reservoirs, pumping stations, or treatment units.
• Design relevant structures (e.g., manholes, thrust blocks, air release valves, and valve chambers).
• Develop detailed technical specifications, Bills of Quantities (BoQ), and robust capital/operational cost estimates.
• Draft bidding documents compliant with national or international standards (e.g., FAO contract frameworks) to assist in contractor selection.

Construction Supervision & Contract Management

• Lead the supervision process to ensure that the constructed works comply strictly with the approved designs, specifications, budget, and timeline.
• Supervise day-to-day contractor activities to ensure adherence to engineering drawings, technical specifications, and quality control standards.
• Review and verify factory acceptance tests, pressure tests for pipelines, and structural leak tests for tanks.
• Inspect incoming materials, equipment (such as pumps, pipes, valves, and electrical panels), and bulk supplies to verify compliance with technical specifications, approved submittals, and quality standards.
• Review the contractor's work program, monitor construction milestones, and report delays or bottlenecks to the employer with recommended mitigation measures.
• Review and verify interim payment certificates, measure completed works on-site, and evaluate contractor claims or variation requests.
• Enforce strict site safety regulations, environmental management plans, and labor standards to minimize occupational hazards during excavation and heavy lifting.
• Oversee pre-commissioning checks, functional testing, and trial runs of pumps, pipes, and treatment facilities.
• Inspect the works for defects during the liability period and supervise the preparation of As-Built drawings and final completion documentation

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Civil Engineering or Water Resources Engineering (master’s degree preferred)
• At least 7 (seven) years of professional experience in planning, designing, and supervising water infrastructure projects
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages (for consultants).
• National of Sudan or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria

• Proficiency in engineering software (e.g., AutoCAD, EPANET) and familiarity with environmental and social safeguard standards.
• Previous experience working with national/sub-national governments, UN agencies, or international NGOs, particularly in climate-vulnerable or fragile contexts

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION