Technical Assistance Engineer

About Fika

Fika exists to innovate cost-effective rural infrastructural solutions through advocacy, evidence and technical assistance to promote safe access for geographically isolated communities through partnership with governments and donors.

We provide flexible work arrangements, comprehensive mental and physical wellness support, and annual salary reviews aligned with our compensation policy. Additionally, we offer opportunities for professional growth, allowing individuals to shape their own career paths through targeted development programs.

Job purpose

The Rwanda Technical Assistance (TA) Engineer is responsible for leading the delivery and strategic progress of Fika's technical assistance mandate in Rwanda. The role owns Rwanda's TA log frame tracking progress against government and private sector capacity building targets and providing strategic input to programme leadership on how to accelerate knowledge transfer and long-term sustainability.

Unlike a delivery-only TA role, this position is expected to think beyond implementation: identifying gaps in Rwanda's TA approach, proposing solutions, and working with Fika's TA & Engineering department to refine strategy. The Rwanda TA Engineer is Fika's primary technical relationship holder with government and private sector partners in Rwanda and is accountable for ensuring that capacity building efforts result in measurable, durable capability not just training completion.

Duties and Responsibilities;

Strategy & Log frame Ownership

Own and actively manage Rwanda's Technical Assistance log frame, tracking progress against targets for government and private sector capacity building, manual adoption, inspections, and maintenance

Provide regular updates to Programme leadership and the Advisory Services departments on progress, risks, and recommended course corrections

Contribute to the development and refinement of Rwanda's TA strategy identifying gaps, proposing new approaches, and flagging where current activities are insufficient to meet long-term sustainability goals

Support the development of annual TA work plans for Rwanda, ensuring activities are sequenced and resourced to achieve log frame targets

Ensure accurate data tracking of Rwanda’s TA related KPIs

Capacity Building of Government & Private Sector

Coordinate the delivery of training programmes for government engineers, private sector contractors, and district-level technical staff in bridge construction, inspection, and maintenance

Support and co-facilitate Training of Trainers (TOT) programmes, with a focus on enabling local partners to lead future training cycles independently

Monitor the performance and competency of trained partners following training, using structured evaluation methodologies to assess sustainability and identify follow-up needs

Support the adoption and training of Fika digital tools (Fika Collect, Bridge Comparison Tool, cost estimation tools) with government and private sector partners in Rwanda, collecting feedback from users

Manual Adoption & Institutionalization

Drive the adoption of Fika's trail bridge manuals within Rwanda's government systems, including the Ministry of Infrastructure and relevant district authorities

Support curriculum integration with TVETs, polytechnics, and higher learning institutions in Rwanda

Establish and support a Rwanda-based knowledge hub or center of excellence to serve as a repository for training materials, best practices, and technical resources

Facilitate partnerships with training institutions to ensure long-term, locally owned delivery of bridge-related technical content

Inspection, Maintenance & Asset Management

Support government partners in establishing and operationalizing bridge inspection and maintenance systems using Fika Collect and adopted maintenance frameworks

Monitor the quality and consistency of bridge inspections conducted by trained government and private sector actors

Identify maintenance and retrofitting needs across Rwanda's bridge inventory and coordinate with relevant stakeholders to ensure timely follow-up

Feed inspection and maintenance findings back to Fika's Engineering team to inform design and construction improvements

Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as Fika's primary technical relationship holder with government ministries, district engineers, training institutions, and private sector partners in Rwanda

Represent Fika in technical working groups, stakeholder meetings, and government engagements related to TA and capacity building

Build and maintain strong working relationships with counterparts to support long-term programme sustainability and eventual Fika scale down

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field; Master's degree an advantage

Minimum 5 years of experience in engineering, infrastructure delivery, or technical assistance

Proven experience designing and delivering capacity building programmes for government or private sector audiences

Experience tracking programme deliverables against a log frame or results framework

Strong understanding of bridge construction, inspection, and maintenance in a rural infrastructure context

Experience working with government institutions in Rwanda strongly preferred

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and AutoCAD

Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda required

Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills

Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and contribute strategically to Programme leadership

Working Conditions

The position is based in Kigali, Rwanda, with regular travel to bridge sites across the country including remote rural areas. The role requires close coordination with Fika's TA & Engineering departments and Rwanda Programme leadership. Field visits will involve walking over hilly or uneven terrain to reach bridge and training sites.

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.

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