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Job Description
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is making significant investments to secure its water future. In support of this effort, CDM Smith is providing comprehensive leadership, contract support, and technical oversight for the country’s largest water security initiative. The project is being delivered through a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model and integrates renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions limits, aligned with the Government of Jordan (GoJ) and donor climate commitments.
Under this program, CDM Smith provides technical assistance to the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI), the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), and associated committees. This support includes procurement, transaction advisory services, and guidance through financial close for this complex national project.
The project is now transitioning into the implementation phase, which includes construction and commissioning. CDM Smith will continue to serve as MWI’s advisor, delivering ongoing legal, financial, technical, and coordination support.
Assignment Location: Amman, Jordan
Assignment Duration: Minimum 2 years
Position Description
The Team Leader is responsible for the overall management, technical direction, and delivery of a complex water infrastructure project Jordan. The Team Leader serves as the primary interface with USG/GoJ, MWI, WAJ, and other key national and international stakeholders.
The Team Leader is accountable for ensuring that all technical, procurement, advisory, and management services are delivered in accordance with contract requirements, approved work plans, and applicable regulations, while effectively managing the risks, sensitivities, and coordination demands associated with a large‑scale BOT desalination and conveyance program of national strategic importance.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership
- Provide overall leadership and strategic management of the project, ensuring timely, high‑quality delivery of services while fostering a high‑performing, collaborative project team.
- Act as the principal point of contact with USG/GoJ, MWI, special tendering committees, and other relevant government entities.
- Provide direct management, coaching, and mentorship to team members, promoting accountability, professional development, knowledge‑sharing, and a positive team culture throughout project implementation.
Project Coordination
- Lead overall project coordination in close collaboration with the Client’s designated project manager and senior counterparts.
- Coordinate and integrate inputs from international and national experts across engineering, procurement, legal, financial, and transaction advisory disciplines to meet project timelines and quality standards.
Planning, Budgeting & Reporting
- Oversee preparation and approval of annual work plans, budgets, procurement plans, cash‑flow forecasts, and implementation schedules.
- Ensure timely preparation and submission of quarterly, annual, and ad‑hoc reports covering technical progress, financial performance, safeguards, and institutional outcomes in formats agreed with the client.
- Consolidate and submit disbursement documentation and supporting financial reports in compliance with contractual and donor requirements.
- Procure office space, vehicles, and equipment in coordination with the local office and corporate resources.
Financial Oversight & Performance Control
- Review and verify invoices, payment requests, and financial claims submitted by consultants and subcontractors.
- Provide recommendations for payments based on contractual compliance, technical progress, and performance benchmarks.
- Monitor financial performance and risk, and direct corrective actions to ensure cost control, cash‑flow stability, and value for money.
Stakeholder Engagement & Program Integration
- Promote effective coordination with related national and donor‑funded water, energy, climate, and infrastructure initiatives.
- Lead and participate in consultative meetings, technical workshops, and high‑level coordination forums with government counterparts and other stakeholders.
- Support the establishment and effective functioning of project steering committees, technical working groups, and implementation committees, as required.
- Present in high level management and political events in representation of the USG, GoJ, MWI and CDM Smith.
Institutional Strengthening & Systems Development
- Assess and strengthen the client’s ability to implement, monitor, and coordinate complex BOT/PPP infrastructure delivery.
- Establish and institutionalize project‑specific systems, tools, and management processes tailored to the project requirements.
- Develop standardized templates, procedures, and reporting formats to improve consistency, transparency, and compliance.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Safeguards
- Track project implementation against defined objectives, milestones, and performance indicators.
- Ensure integration and monitoring of environmental, social, climate, and governance safeguards, in accordance with USG requirements and national regulations.
- Identify delivery challenges and propose direct practical solutions to maintain schedule integrity and technical quality.
Technical Oversight, Quality & Capacity Building
- Provide senior oversight and coordination of technical services related to desalination, conveyance, renewable energy integration, construction, and BOT transaction support.
- Support and guide capacity‑building and training initiatives to strengthen institutional, technical, and management capabilities of the client.
- Promote best practices in risk management, quality assurance, and governance throughout project implementation.
Compliance, Ethics & Governance
- Adhere to applicable USG policies, contractual provisions, ethical standards, transparency requirements, and environmental responsibility commitments.
- Execute all tasks and deliverables in accordance with contract requirements.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering or other relevant engineering discipline, with Master’s degree preferred.
- At least 15 years of engineering experience with water supply, treatment and distribution facilities and infrastructure implementation, preferably with seawater desalination.
- Demonstrated experience leading teams involved in BOT infrastructure projects of similar size.
- At least 10 years of project management experience in the water sector, preferably managing international teams with multidisciplinary expertise.
- Demonstrated experience overseeing or supporting construction management for large scale infrastructure works, including interface management between design, procurement, construction, and commissioning phases.
- Demonstrated leadership, communications, presentation skills, and stakeholder engagement skills in multicultural and politically sensitive environments.
- Demonstrated experience in a senior leadership role on private sector, donor‑funded, or government‑backed infrastructure programs.
- Proven experience managing complex, multi‑stakeholder projects involving procurement, contract negotiations, and high‑level government coordination.
- Strong familiarity with USG compliance, reporting, and management requirements.
- Professional‑level proficiency in English (written and spoken).
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience with large‑scale desalination, bulk water conveyance, or BOT/PPP infrastructure projects, preferably in water‑scarce regions.
- Previous experience working in Jordan or the Middle East, particularly with MWI, WAJ, or comparable public sector institutions.
- Familiarity with procurement and transaction advisory services for BOT or PPP infrastructure projects.
- Experience integrating renewable energy, climate resilience, and greenhouse‑gas mitigation into major infrastructure programs.
- Working knowledge of Arabic and/or prior long‑term regional experience.
