Irrigation Design Engineer (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 an Irrigation Design Engineer 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 Irrigation Design Engineer will support the International Irrigation Design and Construction Supervision Engineer (IIDCSE) in evaluating Ukraine’s irrigation systems, identifying suitable systems for Harvest assistance, and overseeing the design of irrigation systems. They will also aid in drafting necessary technical documents, such as bidding documents and technical specifications including bidding drawings and BOQs.

Responsibilities:

1. Assist Ukraine farmers make a transition from the old Soviet-era canal sourced flood irrigation systems to more efficient sprinkler irrigation systems.
2. Collaborate with IIDCSE to establish screening criteria and select irrigation and drainage systems eligible for Harvest support.
3. Assist in preparing approval checklists for all irrigation/drainage design activities under Harvest.
4. Identify potential systems for Harvest assistance and supervise irrigation/drainage design activities.
5. Create alignment drawings depicting pipeline/canal networks and the placement of main and auxiliary structures.
6. Work with agriculture economists/agriculturalists to assess current and projected cropping patterns/intensity and develop crop water balance and diversion requirements for hydraulic structures.
7. Aid in preparing the 'Water Requirements and Availability' annex at the irrigation scheme level, including proposing water distribution from the main canal to lower-order canals.
8. Assist in generating independent cost estimates for irrigation/drainage systems meeting design specifications.
9. Participate in procuring Architectural/Engineering (A/E) services for irrigation/drainage system design.
10. Provide technical guidance to design subcontractors.
11. Review payment approvals for design subcontractors.
12. Assist in developing inspection and acceptance procedures for all irrigation/drainage designs.
13. Develop procedures for managing irrigation/drainage design activities, including Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Gantt charts.
14. Assist in preparing documents such as Construction Risk Assessment, Quality Management Plan, and Health & Safety Plan.
15. Establish and manage document control procedures for all design activities.
16.  Aid in supervising Geographic Information System (GIS) activities supporting irrigation/drainage design.
17. Oversee the creation of a bilingual reference library for building standards and codes relevant to irrigation/drainage design.
18. Assist in developing and implementing annual work plans and budgets aligned with USAID and local stakeholder priorities.
19. Support IIDCSE in achieving program targets and deliverables outlined in work plans and contracts.
20. Ensure quality control and responsiveness of technical assistance provided under the contract.
21. Utilize management tools effectively to plan, organize, and monitor project objectives.
22. Assist in developing training materials and providing training for irrigation/drainage design.
23. Assist in creating templates and guidelines for irrigation/drainage design activities.
24. Attend all meetings and workshops related to Harvest irrigation/drainage design activities.
25. Manage infrastructure-related activities in the absence of IIDCSE.
26. Keep the infrastructure manager and IIDCSE informed about significant issues related to A/E design services.

Supervision and Reporting:

The Irrigation Design Engineer directly reports to and is supervised by the IIDCSE.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in civil or relevant engineering.
• Experience in evaluating crop water balance and diversion requirements.
• 5 years of experience in designing irrigation systems/infrastructures, including those funded by international donors.
• Experience in designing, constructing, and maintaining sprinkler irrigation systems.
• Extensive knowledge of pressurized/closed irrigation/drainage systems.
• Familiarity with flood control, river training, and related infrastructure planning and design.
• Proficiency in GIS, Civil 3D, and AutoCAD.
• Preference given to candidates with experience in Ukrainian government settings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; Ukrainian language skills preferred.

Additional Information

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