Project Engineer, Standards and Communication

Who is Water Mission?

Water Mission is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization that designs, builds, and implements safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. Guided by love, excellence, and integrity, we are driven to share clean, safe water and God’s love with all. We have served more than 8 million people in 60 countries. Working at Water Mission is as much a calling as it is a career, and we are searching for people with the courage, passion, and drive to help us change the world. Read more about our Statement of Faith and Christian Mission.

What is the opportunity?

The Project Engineer for Standards and Communication is responsible primarily for applying sound engineering principles and excellent written and verbal communication skills to the production of technical standards and guidance documentation for safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects worldwide. Typical Water Mission projects lend well to general civil, environmental, and chemical engineering backgrounds. The Project Engineer is a full-time position based in Charleston, SC, and reports to the Director of Engineering for Standards and Quality.

Travel to remote locations in developing countries is required. As needs arise, candidates need to be prepared for the possibility of traveling three to six months out of the year (i.e., multiple trips during a single calendar year totaling three to six months), with trip lengths ranging from two weeks to three months. Candidates need to be aware that travel to a disaster response situation may be required with only 72 hours of notice.

A successful Project Engineer for Standards and Communication will:

• Work in a posture of humble service to God and others.

• Maintain a strong Christian witness and model servant leadership to colleagues, partners, the communities we serve, and the public.

• Engage and participate in prayer before and after team meetings.

• Lead and participate in biblically based staff devotions.

• Work in a team environment to provide technical direction and assistance to other engineers, technicians, and volunteers.

• Assist in the development of documentation, training materials, and design tools covering Water Mission’s technical standards and guidance on engineering and construction topics.

• Develop high-quality content, including accuracy of minor details, that is on-brand and consistent with Water Mission style and messaging.

• Produce detailed explanations of complex technical concepts, as well as distill those concepts into easy-to-understand descriptions.

• Discern the level of understanding of the intended audience in the development of these materials.

• Prepare and give presentations on technical standards and guidance to other departments, country program office staff, strategic partners, donors, and volunteers.

• Assist in maintaining the global consistency of all developed technical standards and guidance content.

• Participate in the content review process by incorporating feedback, checking for quality control, and securing approvals.

• Learn and contribute to other engineering disciplines, gaining a base level of understanding as required by this role.

• Manage multiple simultaneous projects and initiatives.

• Maintain good communication with multiple team members across multiple countries and time zones.

• Maintain good communication with outside entities.

• Ensure work is done within an agreed-upon scope, schedule, and budget.

• Assist in the development of project engineering scopes and designs for safe water and sanitation projects in developing countries and disaster response settings.

• Conduct field inspections and site assessments in developing countries.

• Create standard and project-specific engineering designs, calculations, construction drawings, and specifications.

• Participate in disaster response activities as needed at headquarters, field offices, and unknown remote locations.

• Other duties as assigned.

What is required?

• Personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith and core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering – Civil, Chemical, Environmental (Electrical, Mechanical, and other Engineering degrees considered).
• Engineer In Training (EIT) preferred (PE also considered).
• 0-5 years of engineering experience (>5 years also considered).
• Ability to work within cross-cultural environments and overcome stereotypes and language barriers.
• Knowledgeable skills with office computer programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook) and engineering programs such as AutoCAD, EPANET, Microsoft Project, etc.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including exemplary editing, grammar, and proofreading skills.
• Excellent relationship skills.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• High attention to detail.
• Foreign language skills (preferred, not required).
• Experience in developing country (preferred, not required).
• Ability and willingness to travel up to six months out of the year, mostly in developing countries, with trip lengths from two weeks to three months.  Travel may include long car rides on rough terrain, standing for extended periods in hot weather, and lifting things.
• Home internet bandwidth strong enough to support video conferencing and other job-related responsibilities required.
• Commitment to the organization’s values and mission and ending the global water crisis.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.