General Manager – Engineering & Strategy Job Vacancy – MOWASSCO
Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company Ltd · Mombasa · Onsite
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Job Description
MOWASSCO is seeking a highly qualified Engineering professional to lead the Engineering Division as General Manager - Engineering & Strategy.
The successful candidate will provide strategic technical leadership in water and wastewater infrastructure development, engineering operations, asset management, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement of service delivery.
Job Purpose
To implement technical strategies, oversee engineering operations, safeguard water infrastructure, reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW), and ensure delivery of quality and reliable water and wastewater services.
Duties and Responsibilities
The General Manager - Engineering & Strategy will:
- Implement technical goals and strategies as guided by the company’s corporate plan, mission and vision.
- Safeguard sound corporate governance by identifying risks and implementing proper controls to mitigate those risks.
- Spearhead formulation, implementation, enforcement and review of sound water and wastewater systems, policies and procedures.
- Proactively develop and implement technical proposals and solutions for continuous growth and development of the water and wastewater network and delivery mechanisms.
- Oversee planning and coordination of development of quality infrastructure, maintenance of engineering installments (capacity works) and related issues.
- Safeguard against Non-Revenue Water (NRW) through prompt pipeline repairs/maintenance, complete and accurate metering of all consumers.
- Ensure that water and wastewater services infrastructure is operated and maintained to the required technical and regulatory standards.
- Provide technical expertise and advice in the acquisition of contractors and consultants for major water and wastewater works.
- Provide overall supervision of staff, contractors and consultants for all major works.
- Guarantee quality and safety of water supplied to consumers.
- Offer professional advice to management on the acquisition of capital assets and related issues.
- Facilitate timely initiation and completion of technical audits and implementation of corrective actions as may be necessary.
- Oversee preparation of departmental reports and budgets to facilitate decision making.
- Execute performance management and review of staff within the technical division through performance contracts, appraisals and reviews.
- Perform any other duties that may be assigned by the Managing Director from time to time.
Requirements for Appointment
Applicants must:
- Be a Kenyan citizen.
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Civil/Mechanical /Water Engineering or related disciplines from a recognized institution.
- Related Master’s Degree is an added advantage.
- Be Registered Engineers with EBK/IEK or equivalent professional body; in good standing.
- Hold Certificate in Computer application.
- Have at least eight (8) years of similar experience, five (5) of which should have been in a management position in a busy and dynamic work environment.
Personal Qualities, Skills & Competencies
- Understanding of/experience in technical dimensions related to Water Engineering technologies, fresh water harvesting and waste water treatment, distribution and disposal etc.
- Ability to leverage emerging technology including ICT, Engineering and other emerging innovations to improve operational efficiency, cost management and service delivery.
- Understanding laws, regulations and standards affecting water harvesting, treatment and distribution and able to put in place sound compliance framework.
- Certified training in Operational Health and Safety (OHS) is preferred.
- Sound knowledge of standards for water quality, sanitation etc.
- Demonstrable financial management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal, communications, conflict resolution skills.
- Flexibility to work in a field-based setup.
- Project management skills.
- Understanding and ability to set up water vendors point and enterprises.
- Water CAD, Arch CAD, and Auto CAD Knowledge.
- Proficient in MS office suite and enterprise resource planning (ERP).
- High level of integrity and ethical conduct.
How to Apply
Candidates who meet the above specifications and have the drive to join a highly motivated work team should submit:
- Application letter.
- Updated CV.
- Reliable telephone and email contacts.
- Contacts of at least three (3) referees.
Applications should be addressed to:
The Managing Director
Mombasa Water Supply & Sanitation Co. Ltd
P.O Box 1100-80100
MOMBASA
Email: info@mombasawater.co.ke
MOWASSCO is an equal opportunity employer and women and people with disability are particularly encouraged to apply. Those who will not have heard from MOWASSCO by the deadline should consider themselves unsuccessful.
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LIKELY QUESTIONS - How would you align the Engineering Division's priorities with MOWASSCO's corporate plan, especially around service reliability, infrastructure growth, and regulatory compliance? - What specific strategies have you used to reduce Non-Revenue Water, and how would you apply them in a utility like MOWASSCO? - Tell us about your experience managing water and wastewater infrastructure projects from planning and design through contractor supervision and commissioning. - How do you ensure water quality, sanitation, and wastewater operations consistently meet technical and regulatory standards? - Describe your approach to asset management and preventive maintenance for pipelines, treatment facilities, pumping stations, and metering systems. - What is your experience with technical audits, risk controls, and corporate governance in an engineering function? - How have you managed engineering budgets, capital expenditure decisions, and cost control while still improving service delivery? - How would you lead, motivate, and performance-manage a multidisciplinary engineering team operating in a busy, field-based environment? BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS - Tell us about a time you led a major turnaround in engineering operations or service delivery. Model approach: Situation: Briefly describe an underperforming utility operation, such as high downtime, complaints, or failing infrastructure. Task: State your mandate to stabilize operations and improve KPIs. Action: Explain how you diagnosed root causes, prioritized repairs, tightened maintenance, improved reporting, aligned staff, and tracked progress. Result: Quantify gains such as reduced outages, improved response times, lower NRW, or higher customer satisfaction. - Describe a situation where you had to handle a difficult contractor, consultant, or internal stakeholder on a major project. Model approach: Situation: Outline a project facing delays, quality concerns, or conflict over scope. Task: Explain your responsibility to protect quality, budget, and timelines. Action: Show how you used contract terms, technical reviews, meetings, documentation, and escalation where needed to resolve issues. Result: End with delivery outcomes, avoided losses, improved accountability, and lessons on stakeholder management. - Give an example of a time you identified a compliance or safety risk and took corrective action. Model approach: Situation: Mention a water quality, wastewater, OHS, or regulatory gap. Task: Clarify your duty to ensure compliance and minimize operational risk. Action: Describe inspections, audits, corrective plans, staff sensitization, SOP updates, and monitoring controls. Result: Note improved compliance, reduced incidents, successful audit outcomes, or prevention of service disruption. - Tell us about a time you used technology or data to improve operational efficiency. Model approach: Situation: Describe a challenge such as poor visibility on leaks, meter accuracy, maintenance backlog, or project tracking. Task: State the need to improve decision-making and efficiency. Action: Explain how you introduced GIS, SCADA, ERP reporting, dashboards, metering analytics, or design tools like WaterCAD/AutoCAD. Result: Quantify benefits such as faster repairs, better planning, lower losses, or reduced operating costs. SMART QUESTIONS TO ASK - What are the top three engineering and strategy priorities for this role in the first 12 months, and how will success be measured? - What is MOWASSCO's current Non-Revenue Water level, and what major causes or zones are driving the losses today? - How is the Engineering Division structured, and what level of authority does this role have over projects, budgets, procurement input, and field operations? - What are the biggest infrastructure, regulatory, or service delivery challenges currently facing MOWASSCO in water and wastewater operations? - How does MOWASSCO currently use technology such as ERP, GIS, SCADA, metering analytics, or design tools to support engineering decisions and asset management? RED FLAGS TO WATCH FOR - Vague answers about NRW levels, infrastructure condition, or priority projects, which may suggest weak data, poor controls, or lack of strategic clarity. - Unclear reporting lines or limited authority for the role over budgets, contractors, and technical decisions, which can make accountability difficult. - Signs of chronic procurement delays, political interference, or weak governance that could undermine project delivery and operational improvement.
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Adjacent Career Paths
Roles you'd also qualify for based on this posting's requirements:
- Director of Engineering, Water and Wastewater Utilities — This role closely matches the leadership, infrastructure oversight, compliance, and service delivery responsibilities in the posting.
- Head of Asset Management and Operations, Water Utility — A strong candidate would be well suited to lead asset reliability, maintenance, NRW reduction, and operational performance for utility networks.
- Water Infrastructure Program Manager — The job requires planning and supervising major capital works, contractors, consultants, budgets, and technical audits across water projects.
- Technical Services Manager, Municipal Water Services — The candidate's mix of engineering governance, regulatory compliance, staff leadership, and public utility operations fits this adjacent role well.