Team Leader/Water Engineer, Southern Africa

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Job Description

Project Overview 

The Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) is seeking consulting services to conduct a technical feasibility study and produce the preliminary design for the water conveyance system of the Lesotho to Botswana Water Transfer Scheme. The bulk water transfer scheme is intended to mobilize water in Lesotho and convey it through South Africa to Botswana, while supplying users along the route. The study will assess and integrate technical, financial, environmental, regulatory, institutional, social, and climate considerations to support financing and implementation decisions. 

The assignment covers route confirmation, demand and socioeconomic assessment, topographical and cadastral surveys, geotechnical and materials investigations, climate risk assessment, hydraulic modelling and optimization, preliminary design of pipelines, pump stations, reservoirs and supporting infrastructure, cost estimation, economic analysis, and preparation of detailed-design terms of reference and a Record of Implementation Decision. 

 

Position Description 

CDM Smith is seeking a Team Leader/Water Engineer to provide overall technical and managerial leadership for the anticipated 12-month feasibility study. The position will lead planning and implementation, coordinate the multidisciplinary team, guide stakeholder consultation, oversee quality and timely delivery of reports, and manage the assignment’s administrative, contractual, and financial matters. 

*Professional engagement is contingent on project award and client approval.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the overall planning and implementation of the consultancy services. 
• Manage and coordinate the multidisciplinary study team and maintain alignment across technical workstreams. 
• Ensure achievement of the study objectives, scope, schedule, quality requirements, and deliverables. 
• Facilitate consultations and coordination with ORASECOM, State Party institutions, stakeholders, development partners, the Panel of Experts, and consultants undertaking complementary studies. 
• Oversee the preparation, integration, quality control, and finalization of inception, technical, preliminary design, feasibility, and implementation reports. 
• Direct the review of prior studies and guide route confirmation, design criteria, optimization, preliminary engineering design, cost estimation, climate resilience, and implementation planning. 
• Ensure environmental, social, financial, legal, institutional, and economic study findings are appropriately incorporated into the technical feasibility study and preliminary design. 
• Oversee risk management, quality assurance, progress reporting, and presentations of findings and recommendations. 
• Oversee and manage administrative, contractual, and financial matters of the consultancy assignment. 

Skills & Abilities

• Leadership of complex, multidisciplinary engineering and advisory teams. 
• Strong technical understanding of bulk water transfer systems, large-bore pipelines, pump stations, hydraulic infrastructure, and feasibility-stage engineering. 
• Ability to integrate engineering, environmental, social, economic, financial, legal, institutional, and climate-resilience considerations. 
• Effective stakeholder engagement and coordination across government, regional, client, consultant, and development-partner organizations. 
• Strong project planning, quality assurance, risk management, contract administration, and financial oversight capabilities. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication, technical reporting, presentation, and facilitation skills in English. 

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Water Engineering or any related field 
• Minimum 25 years post qualification work experience 
• At least 15 years in the field of relevant water infrastructure (large bore pipelines and pump stations) development 
• Proven experience in the leadership of feasibility studies, similar to this project, partly in Africa, related to transboundary multipurpose water transfer project preparation 
• Proven track record of leadership in managing multi-disciplinary teams. 
• The Team Leader should be registered as a professional engineer and project manager with a recognized statutory engineering professional body (not a voluntary institution). 
• He/she should have acted as a Team Leader for at least 5 similar projects. 
• Previous experience and knowledge of the relevant laws and regulations related to large linear water projects in Lesotho, Botswana and RSA will be an added advantage. 
• The Team Leader must be fluent in English and must possess excellent communication and report writing skills. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior leadership experience on bankable feasibility studies and preliminary designs for long-distance, large-diameter bulk water conveyance or inter-basin transfer schemes. 
• Demonstrated experience coordinating projects that span multiple countries and involve regional river-basin institutions, national governments, utilities, regulators, landowners, and development partners. 
• Experience with African Development Bank or other multilateral development bank-financed infrastructure preparation assignments. 
• Working knowledge of the institutional, permitting, servitude, wayleave, land-access, and engineering-regulatory environments in Lesotho, Botswana, and South Africa. 
• Experience integrating climate-risk assessment and adaptation measures into the planning and design of major water infrastructure. 
• Experience coordinating complementary ESIA, economic and financial, legal, institutional, and technical workstreams. 
• Demonstrated responsibility for contract management, cost control, quality management systems, risk registers, and delivery of multidisciplinary reports to demanding review panels. 
• Professional registration and project management credentials that are current and readily verifiable. 

Amount of Travel Required

20% - 40%
Background Check and Drug Testing Information

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as “CDM Smith”) reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.
Additional Pay Range Information

CDM Smith is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for the geographic location assigned to the position. In addition to geographic location, a candidate’s salary is determined by several other factors including, but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, relevant work experience, skills, required certifications, and education/training.
Additional Compensation

All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.
Visa Sponsorship Available

No - We are not open to sponsoring for this position
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