Project Officer (PO) at Helvetas November 2025

Job Opportunity: Project Officer (Civil Engineering)

Organization: Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation (Helvetas Tanzania) Project: Innovative Engineering for Safer Connectivity (IESC) Position: Project Officer (PO) Location: Morogoro, Tanzania Contract Duration: 2 Years (Renewable based on performance) Application Deadline: 02nd December 2025

About Helvetas Tanzania

Helvetas Tanzania is a prestigious Swiss NGO registered in Tanzania, with global head offices in Switzerland, Germany, and the USA. As a leading development partner, Helvetas operates in over 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

In Tanzania, we implement impactful development projects focused on three core strategic areas:

• Skills, Jobs & Income (SJI)

• Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion (VIC)

• Water, Food & Climate (WFC)

We are currently recruiting a highly skilled and registered Civil Engineer to serve as the Project Officer for our newest infrastructure initiative.

The Project: Innovative Engineering for Safer Connectivity (IESC)

Helvetas is launching a groundbreaking three-year initiative titled “Innovative Engineering for Safer Connectivity”, running from January 2026 to December 2028.

The project aims to revolutionize rural connectivity in the Morogoro, Ulanga, Malinyi, and Mvomero Districts. Smallholder communities in these areas often face life-threatening isolation due to flooding and difficult terrain. By constructing cost-effective and durable trail bridges, the project seeks to:

• Reduce risks associated with crossing flooded rivers.

• Lower transportation costs for farmers accessing markets.

• Enhance access to essential services such as healthcare and education.

A key component of this project is the collaboration with our Nepal-based technical partner, “Track for Change,” renowned globally for their expertise in trail bridge technology. The project emphasizes capacity building and the active engagement of Local Government Authorities (LGAs), communities, and the private sector.

Role Overview & Technical Scope

The Project Officer (PO) will serve as the technical engineering lead for the program. While the Project Manager oversees the broader strategy, the Project Officer is solely responsible for the entire engineering management of the program.

You will work to acquire and deepen technical know-how on trail bridge technology and become a primary resource person for its dissemination in Tanzania.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables

Your duties are divided into technical engineering execution and capacity building:

1. Engineering Management & Design

• Design & Survey: Lead the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR). This includes conducting comprehensive technical surveys, structural designs, cost estimates, and Bills of Quantities (BoQ) for at least six trail bridges.

• Construction Supervision: Provide rigorous technical support and on-site supervision during the entire construction cycle. You are responsible for ensuring that the six demonstrative trail bridges are completed on time and meet high-quality engineering standards.

• Technology Transfer: Actively learn and adapt the trail bridge technologies provided by our Nepalese partners, contextualizing them for the Tanzanian environment.

2. Program Planning & Support

• Strategic Support: Support the Project Manager (PM) in the overall planning and implementation of the program to deliver outputs and outcomes as stipulated in the project log frame.

• Monitoring: Apply participatory methodologies to monitor the progress of rural access programs, ensuring that technical milestones are achieved.

3. Capacity Development & Sustainability

• Training: Lead the capacity development of relevant government institutions, the private sector, NGOs, educational institutions, and local communities.

• Sustainability: Your goal is to ensure the program’s sustainability and scalability by creating a pool of local experts who understand trail bridge construction.

• Team Building: Build the capacities of multidisciplinary local teams drawn from the government, civil society, and the public sector to manage and maintain infrastructure.

Qualifications and Experience

This is a specialized technical role. Candidates must meet the following strict professional criteria:

Academic Background:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering is mandatory.

• Professional Registration: The candidate must be a registered Civil Engineer with the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) or relevant authority.

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in developing and implementing infrastructure projects, specifically in rural settings.

• Sector Experience: Proven experience working with both public and private sector actors. Specific experience working with TARURA (Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency) is highly desirable.

• Methodology: Proven experience in applying participatory methodologies towards the planning, design, delivery, and monitoring of rural access programs.

• Local Governance: Experience working with Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to deliver infrastructure projects.

Application Requirements

Helvetas Tanzania values attention to detail. Please ensure your application adheres to the following specific formatting requirements:

1. Cover Letter: Outline your motivation and relevant experience for this specific assignment.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV):

   • Maximum 4 pages.

   • Typed in Arial font, size 10.5.

   • Must include names and contact details of three referees.

3. Availability: Indication of availability and expected remuneration.

Background Checks: Selected candidates will undergo rigorous checks related to criminal records, including child protection screening.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: 02nd December 2025

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their applications electronically in PDF format.

Email: Recruitment-TZ@helvetas.org Subject Line: “Application – Project Officer”

Address: Country Director HELVETAS SWISS INTERCOOPERATION Tanzania Country Office 2nd Floor, NBC Building, Nyerere Rd P.O. Box 2978, Dodoma, Tanzania

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further steps in the recruitment process.