Hydraulic Structure Design Specialist (Expat STTA) in Sheladia Associates, Inc.

SHELADIA Associates is a multi-disciplinary international professional consulting firm with demonstrated experience in the successful management and implementation of development projects worldwide. SHELADIA believes practicality and sustainability in development projects require flexible resource management, active participation of all stakeholders, and a shared goal of strengthening institutions and operational systems to optimize available resources.

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.

Job Description

We are looking for a Hydraulic Structure Design Specialist who will support us on the USAID funded Harvest Activity Program in Ukraine. 

This Activity aims to enable supported male and female grain and oilseed farmers, including those from marginalized and underserved groups, to return production and income for target commodities to at least pre-war levels while improving production efficiency and profitability and will position farmers to market their crops more successfully and profitably in the war-affected context. The Activity will focus specifically on the following target commodities, barley, corn, soybean, sunflower, and wheat.

The Hydraulic Structure Design Specialist will support the International Irrigation Design and Construction Supervision Engineer (IIDCSE) in various aspects of designing irrigation infrastructures and micro-irrigation facilities. This includes collaborating on the creation of Terms of Reference (TOR) for additional services, assisting in drafting bidding documents, BOQs, and developing technical specifications.

Responsibilities:

1. Assessing reservoir volume requirements to meet water demand projections and creating 3D hydraulic models using specialized software.
2. Generating project schematics illustrating the placement of hydraulic structures along canals, potentially employing GPS for ground truthing.
3. Optimizing the location and dimensions of irrigation pipelines and canals, considering technical, social, and environmental factors.
4. Supporting the IIDCSE in detailed structure design, including drawing preparation, Bill of Quantities (BoQs), and overseeing engineering surveys and field visits.
5. Collaborating with Hydrologists to develop rating curves for control structures.
6. Compiling operation and maintenance manuals for irrigation systems covering technical, operational, and managerial aspects.
7. Aiding in the procurement of A/E services for irrigation/drainage system design.
8. Offering technical guidance to design subcontractors.
9. Creating procedures for managing irrigation/drainage design activities, including Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Gantt charts.
10. Establishing document control procedures for all design activities.
11. Supporting GIS activities related to irrigation/drainage design.
12. Contributing to program targets and deliverables as outlined in work plans and contracts.
13. Assisting in developing training materials and conducting training sessions for irrigation/drainage design.
14. Developing templates and guidelines to support design activities.
15. Participating in meetings and workshops related to irrigation/drainage design.
16. Keeping infrastructure managers and IIDCSE informed about significant A/E design service issues.

Supervision and Reporting:

The Hydraulic Structure Design Specialist reports directly to the IIDCSE.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in civil, hydraulic, or irrigation engineering or equivalent.
• 15+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Preferably 10+ years of experience in water resources management projects.
• 5 years' experience in irrigation system design on projects funded by major international donors.
• Expertise in pressurized/closed irrigation/drainage systems.
• Familiarity with USAID and/or other donor-funded projects preferred.
• Proficiency in hydraulic design software like Epanet/EpaCAD.
• Knowledge of GIS, Civil 3D, and AutoCAD.
• Preference for candidates with experience in Ukrainian government or municipal projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; Ukrainian language skills desirable.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.