Description
AUSTRALIA ASSISTS IS SEEKING EXPRESSION OF INTERESTS FROM SUITABLE CANDIDATES FOR THE FOLLOWING OPPORTUNITY:
- Position: SENIOR CIVIL / STRUCTURAL ENGINEER – TEAM LEAD
- Based Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Open to national and international candidates
- Duration: 6 months
The Program:
Australia Assists is an Australian Government program that deploys skilled humanitarian specialists to support multilateral agencies, governments, civil society and communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and conflict. Australia Assists' Goal is to: Save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity during and in the aftermath of conflict, disasters and other humanitarian crises, and strengthen preparedness for the occurrence of such situations. The program's Objective is: Targeted deployment of humanitarian expertise that meets the priorities and needs of Australia's multilateral, bilateral and civil society partners and advances Australia's international humanitarian priorities.
Opportunity Context:
Sri Lanka is facing widespread infrastructure damage following Cyclone Ditwah, with impacts across the island affecting roads, bridges, railways, reservoirs, public buildings, health facilities, schools and other essential services. Deploying external technical specialists will allow UNOPS and government partners to immediately expand assessment capacity and strengthen the depth of engineering support available.
Scope of work includes:
- Guiding and validating assessment methodologies used by government engineers, UNOPS teams, and national consultants
- Reviewing and validating technical assessments, designs, and indicative Bills of Quantities
- Supporting prioritisation of recovery interventions based on safety, cost, and impact
- Advising ministries on build-back-better and resilience standards
- Strengthening coordination and consistency across sectors and institutions
- Supporting knowledge transfer and capacity strengthening through joint reviews and mentoring
Expected Impact:
- Improved quality, consistency, and reliability of infrastructure assessments across affected districts
- Clearer prioritisation and faster decision-making for recovery investments
- Reduced risk of rework, delays, and inconsistent technical standards
- Stronger government ownership of recovery planning, supported by senior technical advice
- Faster transition from assessment to implementation through validated designs and cost estimates
- Strengthened national capacity through application of international engineering standards and mentoring
Selection criteria
- Qualifications: Civil or structural engineer, with approximately 15 years of relevant experience in similar contexts with a relevant engineering qualification.
- Applicants must be able to deploy by mid-late January 2026 for a period of 6 months (in-country).
How to apply
Please submit your application by clicking "Apply for job" at the top of this page. Applications will only be accepted via the Tetra Tech International Development Website. Emailed applications will be disregarded.
A completed application includes:
- Resume
- Statement of suitability (not to exceed two pages), demonstrating how your qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills and personal attributes align with the selection criteria
Australia Assists is committed to equitable access. Applicants with disabilities or are facing other barriers that prevents them from using Taleo, please request reasonable accommodation by emailing HR@australiaasssists.org or calling (679) 7825148.
Apply before 11:59pm (AEDT), Sunday 4 January, 2026.
Why Tetra Tech International Development?
As a leading development consulting firm, Tetra Tech International Development works with people and communities to solve some of the world's most complex challenges to achieve a positive impact.
Working at Tetra Tech International Development means working within a values-led organisation that invests in flexible work environments built on trust, safety and well-being. Through unified systems, flexible and supportive workplaces, we provide the foundations required for our team to enjoy the work they do and deliver value every day.
Read more about our culture, purpose and values here.
Tetra Tech International Development is an equal-opportunity employer and has a genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion. We encourage people with disability; First Nations Peoples; and people of all cultures, genders, abilities, and experiences to apply.
Should you require additional support with during as part of your application, please email hr@australiaassists.org
Tetra Tech has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (‘SEAH'), child abuse and exploitation, modern slavery and safeguarding related retaliation, and this zero-tolerance extends to inaction. Tetra Tech is committed to being a child safe organisation, and to promoting a culture that supports gender equality, and addresses the gendered drivers of violence against women and children. It is committed to fostering a culture where we prevent and respond decisively and appropriately to harm against people, and that all people are treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of country, project, or office where we work. This will require compliance with Tetra Tech's Safeguarding and other Codes of Conduct and our associated safeguarding policies (Child Protection and Child Safety, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) policy and procedure, and Modern Slavery. Any successful applicants will be required to undertake satisfactory referee and criminal record checks prior to being appointed to any position.
Position Type
Project opportunity
Region
Australia and Indo-Pacific Teams and Clients
Sector
Humanitarian Aid (International Development)
Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery (International Development)
Additional Information- Organization: 755 IDV
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