The Civil Engineer provides oversight of civil infrastructure across the 128-site South Africa portfolio. The position is responsible for the structural integrity, inspection, maintenance planning, and standards compliance of all civil works — elevated reinforced-concrete reservoirs, tank towers, distribution networks, standpipes, pump houses, borehole chambers, cattle troughs, and solar frame structures — and for coordinating specialist chartered engineering inspections of high-capacity 30-kilolitre tank-class infrastructure in accordance with applicable SANS standards.

The role is central to the Year 1 technical condition assessment of all 128 sites, the site-tier triage (A/B/C), the remediation of named Tier C sites, and the drawdown planning of the Replacement Capex Reserve for civil components.

3. Key Responsibilities

3.1 Technical condition assessment and site-tier triage (Year 1)

• Lead the civil and structural component of the site-by-site technical condition assessment across all 128 South African sites within the first three months of the programme (Stream B of the Day 1 transition), covering tanks, towers, distribution networks, valves and fittings, pump houses, and civil structures.
• Contribute civil condition data to the site-tier triage (Tier A/B/C) to be confirmed by Month 3 and identify civil components requiring Day 1 or Year 1 replacement funded from the Replacement Capex Reserve.
• Support full condition assessment and Tier C remediation at the named priority sites, including Jabulani and the five untested Mpumalanga sites (Igliton Hotel Section, Igliton Mdluli Section, Mihlanguleni, Rhandzekile A, Rhandzekile B), under the 48-hour remediation initiation protocol.
• Verify and reconcile the civil elements of the Innovation: Africa handover package, including as-built and structural drawings (3m, 7m, and 10m tank towers; the 30-kilolitre high-capacity tank class), borehole completion reports, and site asset registers.

3.2 Routine civil inspection and maintenance oversight (Years 1-3)

• Design and implement the routine structural inspection cycle for civil infrastructure across the portfolio, integrated into the Tier 2 quarterly inspection programme (structural inspection of concrete towers, reservoirs, and distribution infrastructure).
• Procure, scope, and supervise specialist-chartered engineering inspections of 30-kilolitre reinforced-concrete tanks in compliance with applicable SANS standards, managing the specialist sub-contract and certifying deliverables.
• Develop civil maintenance specifications, bills of quantities, and scopes of work for repairs, rehabilitation, and upgrades; supervise contractors and certify completed works.
• Assess and prioritise Parent-site civil infrastructure within the cluster maintenance model, recognising that a Parent borehole failure cascades to hydraulically dependent Child sites (56 Child sites in South Africa).
• Support reactive repair response for civil failures in line with the tiered service-impact protocol (critical failures within 48 hours; reduced-service issues within five working days).

3.3 Standards compliance, quality assurance and reporting

• Ensure all civil works, inspections, and rehabilitation comply with applicable SANS standards and relevant national and municipal regulations, and that water infrastructure supports compliance with SANS 241:2015 water quality requirements.
• Maintain the civil asset register, structural inspection records, drawings library, and defect logs within the programme's field management system.
• Contribute civil infrastructure data and analysis to monthly cluster reports, quarterly donor reports to Donor, and the MEAL dashboard (KPI Categories 1 and 2: sustained service delivery and technical compliance).
• Support the DMEAL team with means-of-verification documentation for infrastructure-related KPIs.

3.4 Capacity building and transition

• Train ForAfrika field engineers, community pump attendants, and Water Management Committee members in basic civil infrastructure surveillance (visual inspection of tanks, towers, standpipes, and soakaways) as part of the Tier 1 community operator curriculum.
• Contribute civil O&M content to site-level O&M manuals, sustainability plans, and handover documentation supporting the Year 3 transition to community and Water Services Authority management.
• Advise on civil aspects of Capital Sinking Fund calibration, aligning contribution rates to civil component lifecycles (10/20-year classes).

3.5 Stakeholder engagement

• Liaise with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), provincial Water Services Authorities (Ehlanzeni DM, Greater Tzaneen, Makhado, uMkhanyakude DM), and municipal engineers on infrastructure standards, co-maintenance arrangements, and cost-sharing Service Level Agreement negotiations.
• Coordinate with DWS-listed certified solar technical partners and Mvula Borehole Drilling (Pty) Ltd to ensure integrated electromechanical and civil maintenance delivery.
• Represent ForAfrika in technical forums and site meetings with government, communities, and Innovation: Africa counterparts during the transition period.

4. Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering (BEng/BSc Eng) from a recognised institution.
• Registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) as a Candidate Engineer, with Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) or Professional Engineering Technologist (Pr Tech Eng) registration strongly preferred.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressive experience in civil/structural engineering for water supply infrastructure — reservoirs, elevated tanks, pipelines, and rural water schemes.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of SANS standards applicable to water infrastructure (including SANS 241:2015 and structural/civil codes for reinforced-concrete water-retaining structures).
• Proven experience in condition assessment, structural inspection, and rehabilitation of water-retaining structures.
• Experience preparing scopes of work, bills of quantities, and supervising contractors.
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel extensively (up to 60%) to remote rural sites across three provinces.

Desirable

• MSc/MEng in Civil, Structural, or Water Engineering.
• Experience in the NGO/development sector or donor-funded WASH programmes.
• Familiarity with solar-powered water systems, borehole infrastructure, and rural water utility operations.
• Experience engaging municipal Water Services Authorities and DWS regulatory frameworks (Water Services Act, including Section 19 Water Service Intermediary arrangements).
• Proficiency in AutoCAD/Civil 3D, EPANET or equivalent hydraulic modelling tools, and GIS applications.
• Proficiency in one or more of IsiZulu, Sepedi, or Siswati is an advantage.