Water & Sanitation Officer at International Rescue Committee

Water Engineering jobs, Civil and structural Engineering jobs, NGO jobs,

Water & Sanitation Officer

Position Summary

• The role of WATSAN Officer is to ensure successful implementation and supervision of community based water supply and sanitation interventions in the target areas. Additionally, this position will support development of staff and community capacity building in water supply and sanitation operation, maintenance and management, participate in mobilization of WASH resources and ensure implementation is done in close collaboration with program staff, the local community, the Local authority and other relevant agencies. The role will also involve to a large-scale technical designs of various WASH infrastructures, estimation of costs, support development of tender documents, bid review and evaluations, and general construction contract management and discharge in accordance with IRC and GoK acceptable standards and specifications. During implementation of project’s activities, the Officer will be required to provide feedback to relevant project partners and the Local authorities with an aim of improving overall WASH program quality.

Main Responsibilities

• The WATSAN Officer will identify and assess the key needs of WASH facilities and services to be addressed and whom to engage and develop an appropriate implementation strategy to either construct, rehabilitate or repair such facilities. They will ensure that an engagement approach to working with communities and the local authorities, other partners is employed and all activities are carried out in a way that is critical to community needs and promotes the full and equal participation of women, men, children and youth. Primary responsibilities include:

Project Planning and Design

• Spearhead rapid/field needs assessment including Baseline surveys in WASH activities and determine most technically appropriate water supply and sanitation options.
• Design and develop relevant specifications for WASH infrastructure including design reports, drawings, bills of quantities, technical specifications.
• Lead in the proposal development for potential water supply, sanitation and hygiene interventions.
• Support in undertaking Topographical Surveys and GIS activities, feasibility studies, water resource mapping, EIA support.

Project Implementation

• Preparation of tender documents including technical specifications, bill of quantities, drawings, and terms of reference.
• Supervise construction, repair and rehabilitation of water supplies systems and sanitation facilities in strict adherence to the Kenya government regulations, WHO and the SPHERE standard.
• In collaboration with the WASH officer – hygiene, support implementation of hygiene promotion activities ensuring that technical and social aspects of water supply and sanitation are integrated.
• Working with the WASH Officer – Hygiene Promotion facilitate training WMCs, other Community structures (SMCs, CHWs, CHEWs, Youth Groups) and local authorities on operation/maintenance, management, and sustainability of WASH infrastructure.
• Build the capacity of staff, CBOs, and Water Users Committees to effectively run WASH facilities.

Project Monitoring and Evaluation

• Supervise WASH activities in strict adherence to IRC Kenya, Kenya government regulations, the donor’s guideline, and the SPHERE standards.
• Ensure timely delivery of projects activities and successful completion of construction works with submission of completion certificates to the Contractors.
• Ensure that up to date project documents are in place including approved work plans, log frame, detailed project implementation plan and financial forecasts Documentation of lessons learnt and good practices.
• Supervision of the construction processes of different water infrastructures to their completion including test pumping, interpretation of the test pumping data and water testing.
• Support in the development and implementation of water safety and disaster risk management plans for the water supply projects.

Fundraising and Networking

• Support in the development of technically sound proposals.

Reporting

• Develop and deliver in a timely manner progress reports, monthly, quarterly, semi- annual and end of projects reports.in accordance with donors’ and IRC Kenya requirements.
• Support development, monitoring and evaluation WASH project indicators and standards.
• Provide regular update reports on water supply and sanitation activities and program progress against work plan as maybe required.
• Maintain an up to-date activity tracking tool (soft copies and hard copies) of all water supply and sanitation infrastructure related activities.
• Actively participate in inter-sectoral activities.
• Support WASH department in other tasks, roles and, responsibilities as may be assigned to by the supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in Water Engineering, Civil and structural Engineering, or related field. A minimum of Three years’ experience working/programming in WASH, emergencies, relief, or development including implementing a large-scale community-based water and sanitation project with evidence of successful implementation of similar projects.

Required Experience & Competencies

• Minimum of 3 years relevant work experience in ASAL.
• Strong skills in construction and supervision of water supply and sanitation facilities crucial.
• Demonstrated skills in technical design and costing of civil engineering works related to community-based water supply and sanitation facilities.
• Experience in community engagement approaches, participatory approaches, and community negotiation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with a team.
• Ability to conduct community WASH needs assessment, program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of WASH activities.
• Good understanding of SPHERE and other humanitarian standards.
• Good computer application skills (MS-Office, CAD, application software to engineering designs)
• Experience working in multi-cultural (particularly pastoralists in Northern Kenya), multi-disciplinary staff will be an advantage.
• ar update reports on water supply and sanitation activities and program progress against work plan as maybe required.
• Maintain an up to-date activity tracking tool (soft copies and hard copies) of all water supply and sanitation infrastructure related activities.
• Actively participate in inter-sectoral activities.
• Support WASH department in other tasks, roles and, responsibilities as may be assigned to by the supervisor.

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