MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY
CIRCULAR NOTICE NO. 1 OF 2025
Ref: MEF/CIRC/1
APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM SUITABLY QUALIFIED LOCAL CANDIDATES
for the following position in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry:
Position: Principal Engineer (Design and Construction)
Department: Soil and Water Conservation
Section: Engineering
Grade: I
Responsible to: Director Conservation
No. of Posts: One (1)
Duty Station: Headquarters
JOB SUMMARY
Under the general supervision of the Director of Soil and Water Conservation, the incumbent will be responsible for supervision of surveys of conservation structural measures; design and construction of soil and water conservation structural works, development of conservation standards and specifications, coordination of conservation-related programmes, projects and activities, preparation of sectional, and supervision and training of sectional staff budget.
MAIN DUTIES
1. SUPERVISION OF SURVEY OF CONSERVATION STRUCTURAL WORKS
1.1 Develops and provides specific guidelines on the conduction of surveys of conservation structural works to ensure the quality of the procured field data.
1.2 Facilitates both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the collected data in order to simplify both the design and implementation process.
1.3 Avails all the necessary operational facilities and equipment to the Site Engineer and the surveyors to ensure timely completion of survey programmes and quality of the collected data to enhance the quality of designs and implementation of conservation structural works.
1.4 Monitors the performance of surveys in the execution of survey programmes to ensure adherence to the guidelines provided and to control unwarranted deviation.
1.5 Approves the results of the survey before the implementation of conservation works on the site to ensure that they meet the set standards.
2. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION STRUCTURAL WORKS
2.1 Checks survey instruments and equipment to ensure accuracy when carrying out surveys of conservation works.
2.2 Oversees designs of major soil and water conservation structural works by the Site Engineer.
2.3 Monitors and assesses the overall performance of the designed and employed guidelines on the conduction of surveys in order to determine areas which require improvements and review them accordingly.
3. DEVELOPMENT OF CONSERVATION STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATION
3.1 Develops standards and specification for soil and water conservation structural works in line with international codes and environmental conditions to ensure and facilitate the accuracy and quality of conservation structural works.
3.2 Interprets and clarifies the development of soil and water conservation standards and specification to the departmental staff and other users to ensure and facilitate their proper and common understanding and accurate application.
3.3 Monitors the utilization of the developed soil and water conservation standards and specifications to the departmental staff and other users to ensure adherence to them as well as to control and avoid unnecessary deviation.
3.4 Monitors and assesses the overall performance of the developed standards and specifications to establish and determine areas which warrant improvements and review them accordingly to enhance their effectiveness, efficiency, relevance and quality.
3.5 Approves the field work operations to ensure that the set standards and specifications are met on complicated structural works.
4. COORDINATION OF CONSERVATION RELATED PROGRAMMES, PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
4.1 Liaises with local and international engineers in conservation discipline to ensure that the developed soil and water conservation standards and specifications are abreast with both local and international codes.
4.2 Liaises with local and international companies and/or organisations designing, executing and dealing with soil and water conservation-related programmes, projects and activities in Lesotho to ensure that their design, development and execution are within soil and water conservation standards and specifications and do not have any negative impact thereof.
4.3 Liaises with the heads of division in the planning of their divisional activities in order to facilitate and ensure mutual support in the implementation of the divisional programmes/projects and activities.
4.4 Convenes meetings with the divisional staff members in order to harmonise their divisional activities to bring about the necessary cooperation and to encourage coordinated implementation of programmes as well as effective and efficient use of limited resources.
4.5 Liaises with the relevant departments/organisations within and outside the civil service to render engineering services that could be jointly implemented and to ensure the absence of conflicts of interest which could hamper the implementation and success of conservation structural programmes and projects.
5. PREPARATION OF DIVISIONAL BUDGET
5.1 Meets with the heads of sections under his/her supervision to facilitate the prioritization of the sectional programmes, projects and activities in line with the departmental annual priorities in order to lay the solid and smooth foundation for the budgeting process.
5.2 Facilitates the preparation of the annual budget to ensure that the sectional programmes and projects will be accordingly funded and implemented.
5.3 Negotiates and justifies the divisional budget at the departmental level during budget discussion in order to secure the necessary funding to finance the planned activities.
5.4 Recommends the revision of the budget to the Director of Soil and Water Conservation whenever the need arises to realign it with new change in the business/strategic plan so as to facilitate implementation of the critical programmes and activities.
6. SUPERVISION AND TRAINING OF DIVISIONAL STAFF
6.1 Holds monthly meetings with heads of sections under his/her supervision to facilitate the divisional planning and reporting.
6.2 Convenes quarterly meetings with the divisional supervisees to review progress and authorize/approve the required decisions.
6.3 Conducts annual performance appraisal on the individual supervisees to assess their performance so as to identify success, failure and training/development needs.
6.4 Designs and develops training manuals on engineering of soil and water conservation for the divisional staff in order to facilitate, revitalize and develop their technical know-how on soil and water conservation engineering issues and trends.
6.5 Conducts and facilitates the training and development of the staff on water conservation engineering issues in order to enhance technical expertise, competence and effectiveness.
6.6 Monitors the post-training and development performance of the divisional staff in order to establish the extent and impact of the undertaken training and development programmes to maintain good skills and upgrade inadequate ones.
QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Engineering/Civil Engineering plus two (2) years working experience in Agricultural Engineering/Civil Engineering.
OR - Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering/Civil Engineering plus three (3) years working experience for bachelor’s degree holders in Agricultural Engineering/Civil Engineering.
Other Necessary Knowledge and Skills
- Good knowledge of surveying, design and drawing of soil and water conservation structures
- Good map reading skills
- Good knowledge of analytical software packages
- Good managerial and leadership skills
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applications on relevant Forms, GP 103 for non-serving officers and GP 104 for serving officers, accompanied by curriculum vitae, certified copies of educational certificates and transcripts should be addressed to:
The Principal Secretary
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
P.O. Box 10993
Maseru 100
Or hand delivered to:
Human Resources Office
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
Thaba Bosiu Building, Industrial Area
Only shortlisted candidates shall undergo a competency assessment facilitated by the Assessment Centre (Ministry of Public Service) or a Driver’s Assessment, where applicable.
NB: All applicants are required to submit a verification report from the Council of Higher Education (CHE) or proof of application from CHE.
Deadline for applications: 08 August 2025
If you do not hear from the Human Resource Office, consider your application unsuccessful.