Irrigation Engineer

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Position Title: Irrigation Engineer
Location: Assiut, Sohag, Qena
Country: Egypt
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is a specialized agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition; make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable; reduce rural poverty; and enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. In Egypt, FAO focuses on improving food security and nutrition, promoting sustainable agricultural development, and reducing rural poverty through various projects and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Irrigation Engineer will play a crucial role in supporting the development and implementation of methods for assessing irrigation efficiency and modernizing irrigation systems in rural areas of Egypt. The selected candidate will be responsible for coordinating the installation and commissioning of irrigation systems, preparing pre-designs for pressurized on-farm irrigation systems, and ensuring that irrigation modernization specifications align with mobile lifting points. The role also involves contributing to increasing agricultural output through expertise in climate-smart crop management, soil health improvement, pest and disease control, and other related areas. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including farmers, government agencies, and non-government organizations, to achieve the project's objectives and enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Irrigation Engineer include conducting benchmarking and field assessments to evaluate crop performance, developing crop management plans considering soil and climate factors, acting as a technical backstop for the Farmer Field Schools (FFSs) coordinator, and implementing pest and disease management plans. The engineer will collaborate with farmers to identify barriers and create climate-smart solutions, promote the use of appropriate agricultural technologies, and provide technical guidance on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies. Additionally, the engineer will support the development of Letters of Agreement for project activities, collaborate with the communications team for documentation, work with the Energy Expert on CSA Investment Plans, strengthen partnerships with institutions, prepare reports, provide training to farmers, and ensure compliance with environmental and social standards.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in Agricultural Engineering, Water Resource Management, Irrigation Engineering, or a related field. A minimum of 7 years of experience in irrigation system design, installation, operation, maintenance, and crop management is required. Candidates should have a working knowledge of English and must be nationals of Egypt. FAO core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing are essential for this role. Additionally, candidates should have relevant experience working with inter-governmental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams, excellent organizational and analytical skills, experience in report writing and data analysis, and computer literacy in standard office software and project management tools.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in Agricultural Engineering, Water Resource Management, Irrigation Engineering, or a closely related field. Candidates must have obtained their higher educational qualifications from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The position requires at least 7 years of relevant experience in the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of irrigation systems, as well as experience in crop management. This level of experience is crucial for the candidate to effectively contribute to the project's objectives and ensure successful implementation of irrigation and agricultural practices.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in Arabic is also essential, given that the role is based in Egypt and involves collaboration with local stakeholders. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates must be medically fit for appointment and meet any residency or visa requirements. The position may involve full-time engagement, and the specific contract duration and seniority level will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience.