Job Details

Job Description

ASSISTANT PROJECT ENGINEER -3 POSITIONS

Background

The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) has received financing from the World Bank (WB) towards the cost of implementing the Improved Rural Connectivity Project (IRCP) in six (6) provinces of Zambia namely Central, Eastern, Luapula, Southern, Muchinga and Luapula provinces. The financing of the remaining four (4) provinces namely Copperbelt, Lusaka, Western and North Western will come from GRZ. The project will be implemented for a period of five (5) years. The Road Development Agency (RDA) whose mandate care, planning, maintenance and construction of public roads in Zambia is implementing component one (1) of the IRCP. RDA has since established a Project Management Unit (PIU) headed by a Project Manager to spearhead the implementation of component 1. The PIU is also responsible for ensuring effective inter- component coordination between all the implementing agencies as well as providing technical and coordination support to the National Coordinator who is based at the Ministry of Housing, Infrastructure and Urban Development (MHIUD).

In order to implement this mandate, RDA would like to recruit Three (3) Assistant Project Engineers.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Project Engineer, the Assistant Project Engineer shall be responsible for assisting the Project Engineer in managing all technical aspect of the IRCP. The Assistant Project Engineer shall enhance the interface between Contractors, Consultants, RDA and the World Bank.

Key responsibilities shall include:

• Assisting in carrying out periodic reviews of the implementation plan for the Project and schedule and make recommendations for any required adjustments in consultation with the Project Engineer. The review shall at least cover the Procurement Plan, Project Manual, Bidding Documents, Consultancy Terms of Reference and Requests for Proposals, ongoing contracts, Environmental Management Plans, Resettlement Action Plans, etc. The Assistant Project Engineer shall assist the Project Engineer in drafting, based on his review and advice, a detailed implementation program showing critical milestones to be approved by the RDA;
• Assisting to put in place and manage an appropriate contract management methodology, including reporting instruments summarizing physical progress and compliance with quality control, environmental and technical contractual requirements;
• Supporting RDA in reviewing and evaluating technical documents ensure quality of documents submitted to the World Bank for no objection from a technical standpoint;
• Assisting in preparation of Status Reports and Update the Project Engineer regularly;
• Assisting in Contract Administration of all contracts carried out under the Project. This includes (1) for consultancy services the review of all design and other reports in cooperation with the relevant Departments and units of the RDA, and (ii) for civil works attending site and other progress meetings as the Employer’s representative as assigned;
• Assisting in carrying out day-to-day management of the project. This includes regular project site visits and verification of the quality of all related studies and activities. A critical part of the assignment is to assure the implementation and management of robust quality control systems and reporting by contractors and supervision engineers as part of their contractual obligations, and maintain an overall table summarizing compliance of all of them with regard to their reporting and quality control operations;
• Assisting in ensuring remedial measures for improving quality are implemented when required and monitor the contractors’ approach to rectifying non-compliance;
• Communicating effectively with the contractor’s and consultant’s site management teams, the staff of the RDA, World Bank team and the wider community, through the Project Engineer, where required;
• Assisting in managing variations, changes in legislation and other changes as per the provisions of the relevant contracts and project agreements;
• Ensuring steady progress in accordance with the implementation schedule and agreed performance indicators;
• Supporting the Project Engineer in resolving site disputes, contractor grievances and claims, review where applicable;
• Ensuring that a high ethical standard and transparency is maintained throughout the project implementation;
• Drafting project correspondence addressed to the contractors, consultants and World Bank as assigned by the Project Engineer;
• Assisting the Project Engineer to review reports submitted by the Engineer and Consultants, provide analysis and prepare comments in agreement with the RDA for submission to the World Bank;
• Assisting the Project Engineer to review together with the relevant RDA Department/Unit need for variations and additional works based on consultations with the Engineer and prepare reasonable proposals for agreement with RDA.
• Assisting the Project Engineer to monitor and control progress of works under construction contracts.

Qualifications and Experience

• Full Grade 12 School Certificate;
• Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering or related field with at least three (03) years of experience in the road sector and should have basic Project Management experience;
• Must be a member of the Engineering Institution of Zambia(EIZ) with a valid practicing license;
• Direct experience in implementing large civil works projects will be an added advantage

Skills and attributes

• High integrity, reliability and resourcefulness;
• Should be fluent in written and spoken English;
• Should have knowledge of World Bank Procurement Procedures for Works and Services;
• Good experience in civil works and related consulting services procurement will be an advantage;
• Strong negotiation skills will be an advantage; Knowledge and practical experience in road maintenance operations is required;
• Knowledge and experience in Performance Based Contracts; and
• Proficiency in standard and specialized desktop computer applications, including Word, Excel, electronic mail.

Schedule:

This is a full-time position on the IRCP. The contract is initially for a period of four (4) months up to December, 2025, However, the Contract for the successful candidate may be extended for a further one year period up to December 31, 2026 subject to satisfactory performance.

ONLY Zambian citizens meeting the above requirements should submit applications with academic and professional qualification certified as true copies of the original and detailed Curriculum Vitae in a sealed envelope or via Email, clearly stating the position being applied for, to:

The Director & Chief Executive Officer

Road Development Agency

P. O. Box 50003

Fairley Road, Ridgeway

LUSAKA

Email Applications to: [email protected]

Closing date for submission of applications is 15th August, 2025 at 17:00 hours. Soliciting and lobbying in any form will lead to automatic disqualification. Only short-listed candidates will be communicated to.