Director of Engineering, Advisory Services, Hybrid, Home based

About Fika

Fika partners with governments and communities to deliver safe, reliable rural access. We exist to connect rural populations to schools, clinics, and markets, and we do that primarily through trail bridges. We work across Sub-Saharan Africa to design, build, and maintain bridges at scale and to build the government and local stakeholders' capacity to sustain that work independently. The quality of our engineering is what makes the impact real and durable. Every design we produce, every drawing we release, represents a structure that a community will depend on for decades. That is why engineering sits at the center of how Fika delivers on its mission.

Job Purpose

The Director of Engineering, Advisory Services is responsible for advancing Fika's technical capabilities through research and development, design innovation, and continuous improvement of engineering processes, policies, and standards. This role leads the development of new bridge design typologies, including long-span and steel truss solutions, and drives improvements to maintenance requirements and long-term bridge performance. The Director of Engineering, Advisory Services also oversees construction quality assurance and quality control across all country programs and leads external capacity building in bridge design and construction. This is a senior technical leadership role that operates with a high degree of independence. The role works closely with the Director of Engineering to ensure that R&D, QA/QC and technical-assistance activities are aligned with Fika's engineering standards, operational experience and structural safety requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

Research and Development

• Lead research and development initiatives to improve bridge design efficiency, structural performance, material selection, and construction methods suited to Fika's operating contexts.
• Develop and manage a prioritised R&D pipeline covering bridge durability, maintenance, materials, construction methods, inspection systems, quality processes, standardisation and scalability.
• Develop, evaluate, and design new bridge design typologies, including steel truss and long-span solutions, expanding Fika's portfolio of available bridge options for country programs.
• Lead non-standard bridge design projects in support of different project delivery teams in the organization.
• Develop and maintain a clear technical-development roadmap aligned with Fika's organisational strategy, scale-up plans and transition towards an enabler-led delivery model.
• Research and develop improvements to maintenance requirements, inspection methodologies, and life-cycle management approaches for Fika's bridge inventory.
• Manage the development and continuous improvement of engineering standards, specifications, design guidelines, and technical policies across the organization.
• Support the development and maintenance of engineering resources including standard bridge drawings, calculation templates, and technical reference materials arising from R&D activities.
• Identify and implement improvements to engineering processes and tools, including design software and digital workflows.
• Support the development and improvement of the engineering portions of the Bridge Builder Manual and related field guidance.
• Promote Fika's technical work externally through publications, conference presentations, and professional engagements.
• Ensure that technical-development priorities are coordinated with the Director of Engineering and relevant programme and advisory leaders.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control Provide strategic leadership and direction for QA/QC across all Fika country programs, ensuring consistent application of approved standards, specifications, and procedures.

• Oversee the strategy of Fika's QA/QC implementation across programs, providing approval of QA/QC frameworks and transition of QA/QC to local actors.
• Lead continuous improvement of QA/QC systems, driving standardization, digitalization, and integration of field lessons into engineering practice.
• Work with the Engineering Team to address systemic quality risks in design and construction practices.
• Ensure that quality and safety risks identified through audits or inspections are documented and escalated appropriately.
• Escalate structural safety concerns, design defects, temporary works issues or significant departures from approved designs to the Director of Engineering.
• Support investigations into technical incidents

External Capacity Building

• Evaluate the performance of local actors in bridge design to support local sustainability assessments.
• Develop and maintain technical training curricula and resource materials for external partners.
• Oversee remote design review and technical support services provided to government and private sector partners.
• Support government partners in growing their capacity to independently design and procure trail-bridge infrastructure.
• Ensure that engineering safety requirements are embedded in design standards, construction guidance, and QA/QC processes.

Representation and Strategic Engagement

• Represent Fika as a technical authority in engagements with government ministries, technical institutions, donors, and private sector stakeholders.
• Lead engineering-related strategic initiatives for program expansion and technical partnerships.
• Represent Fika at conferences and external technical forums.

Qualifications

Qualifications include:

• Undergraduate degree in Civil or Structural Engineering; Master's degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE/SE), Chartered Engineer, or equivalent licensure appropriate to the country of employment.
• Minimum 8 years of related structural engineering experience, with a strong background in bridge design.
• Demonstrated ability to review, approve, and take professional responsibility for bridge design deliverables.
• Experience working in or supporting engineering delivery to program operations, ideally in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience with pedestrian or vehicular bridge design; familiarity with stone arch or suspension bridge typologies is a strong advantage.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD drafting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple concurrent deliverables.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with strong problem-solving skills.
• Capable of working effectively across different cultures and languages.
• Ability to work independently and manage priorities with minimal oversight.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Working Conditions

• This position will be Hybrid - Preference for Rwanda/Uganda/Ethiopia/Zambia/Kenya.
• Hybrid work arrangements include a mix of office, field, and remote work, subject to management agreements.
• Working hours are aligned to East Africa Time to ensure effective collaboration with country program teams.
• Travel to all existing or prospective Fika country programs may be required for technical engagements, training delivery, and quality assurance activities.

Direct Reports

• Regional QA Engineer
• Design Engineer (future hire/promotion)

Application Guidelines

Fika is committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and strive to provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities during the application and employment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in our hiring process or to perform the essential functions of your job, please include this information in your application and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met.

To apply we require

• A max one-page motivation letter
• A CV following these guidelines:
  • Length: Maximum 2 pages.
  • Education: Highlight relevant diplomas, degrees and recognized certifications
  • Exclude: personal information (photos, gender, religion, marital status, number of dependents), non-certified training.