Duty Station: Kakuma Reporting to: Area Manager
Other Benefits: Medical, R&R and Housing
Contract Type: Full-time, Fixed Term
Start Date: As soon as possible
About Peace Winds Japan
Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) is a Japanese Non-Governmental Organization established in 1996. PWJ has been providing humanitarian and development assistance for people affected by forced displacement and natural disasters in more than 20 countries in the world. PWJ launched its mission in Kenya in 2012 and has been implementing projects funded by various donors, including UN agencies and the government of Japan, in the shelter, WASH, infrastructure development, livelihood, and food security to ensure that refugees and host communities access essential services and grow toward self-reliance.
In Turkana West Sub-county, PWJ is actively engaged in promoting sustainable solutions for protracted refugee situations through its WASH and Construction projects in line with the National Government of Kenya as well as the County Government of Turkana plans and strategies such as Kalobeyei Integrated Socio Economic Development Program (KISEDP) and the Shirika Plan.
Job Summary:
Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) is seeking an experienced, self-driven, and highly skilled Program Engineer (WASH and Construction) to lead the technical design, implementation, and supervision of WASH and infrastructure programs in Turkana County. The position is central to PWJ’s strategy that prioritizes sustainable WASH service delivery, quality engineering in humanitarian settings, and donor-funded infrastructure projects. The Engineer will manage a team of approximately eight technical WASH staff and ensure excellence in project delivery, people management, and strategic partnerships.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Technical Leadership
∙ Provide strategic and technical leadership in the planning, design, implementation, supervision, and quality assurance of WASH and infrastructure (construction) interventions.
∙ Lead engineering assessments, development of technical concepts, BoQs, cost estimates, structural designs, schedules, and tender packages.
∙ Oversee construction of infrastructure including WASH facilities, MRF, staff housing, pipelines, boreholes, water treatment systems, tanks, and sanitation structures.
∙ Ensure compliance with Sphere standards, national guidelines, and best engineering practices.
∙ Provide expert input on feasibility studies, structural evaluations, site investigations, and engineering risks.
∙ Lead field supervision of contractors and quality control of engineering works.
2. Program Development & Strategic Alignment
∙ Develop technically sound proposals and concept notes aligned with donor priorities and PWJ’s WASH and infrastructure strategy.
∙ Contribute to the realization of the PWJ Strategic Plan by embedding technical excellence and sustainability in all WASH and construction interventions.
∙ Support PWJ’s transition planning and area-based WASH approaches, especially in collaboration with KALWASCO and County Government of Turkana.
∙ Provide leadership in digital monitoring systems, documentation, and performance tracking.
3. Team Management and Capacity Strengthening
∙ Supervise, mentor, and build the capacity of a multidisciplinary WASH technical team (civil engineers, quantity surveyors, technicians).
∙ Lead staff appraisal processes, team development planning, and in-house training. ∙ Promote teamwork, motivation, inclusivity, and staff wellbeing.
∙ Ensure internal technical reviews, coaching sessions, and field learning across the team.
4. Partnerships, Representation and Coordination
∙ Represent PWJ in WASH, infrastructure, and inter-agency coordination forums. ∙ Build strong partnerships with local government agencies, UNHCR, INGOs, contractors, and community stakeholders.
∙ Ensure ethical and effective engagement of contractors and third-party service providers.
5. Monitoring, Reporting, and Accountability
∙ Support robust monitoring and evaluation systems for technical projects.
∙ Lead timely and quality project reporting, documentation, and knowledge sharing. ∙ Maintain accurate engineering records, site diaries, and ensure quality assurance procedures are followed.
∙ Ensure compliance with PWJ’s accountability, safeguarding, and ethical standards.
Required Qualifications and Skills:
∙ Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from an accredited Kenyan university. ∙ Registered with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) and Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK). ∙ At least 8 years of progressive experience in WASH and infrastructure engineering, with a minimum of 5 years in humanitarian or fragile contexts.
∙ Proven experience of leading engineering teams in refugee operations and/or arid and semi-arid regions (experience in Turkana is a strong advantage).
∙ Solid experience in engineering design, construction supervision, contractor management, and quality control.
∙ Strong experience in proposal writing, donor reporting, and strategic planning. ∙ Excellent in use of AutoCAD, Civil 3D, EPANET, GIS tools, and construction management software. ∙ Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
∙ Strong ethical grounding and experience managing complex engineering contracts.
Personal Attribute:
∙ Demonstrates high levels of resilience and adaptability to work effectively in remote and resource constrained environments.
∙ Strong self-motivation and ability to work independently with minimal supervision. ∙ Willingness and capacity to work long and irregular hours when required to meet programmatic or operational needs.
∙ Culturally sensitive and respectful, with a strong commitment to community engagement and collaboration.
∙ Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to remain calm and effective under pressure. ∙ Strong team player with proven people management skills.
∙ Flexible, adaptable, and agile in high-pressure humanitarian settings.
∙ Committed to delivering high quality results and ethical engineering practices.
Values
∙ Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, Innovation, Excellence, and Accountability.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter detailing their relevant experience to recruit@peace-winds.or.ke. Please include Program Engineer (WASH and Construction) Application – Kakuma” in the subject line. The deadline for applications is 30th June 2025. Please fill this Google Form as part of your application – AVAILABLE HERE. The data form must be filled in full. Incomplete forms will be disqualified. You are also required to indicate your expected salary in your application letter.
Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
