Environmental Health/WASH Infrastructure Assistant at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Overview/ Summary

The EH Water and Sanitation Assistant will report to the EH Officer – Water and Sanitation and will be primarily responsible for supervising all water and sanitation infrastructure works as directed by the EH Officer - Water and Sanitation.

The main objective of this position is to support the EH Officer-Water and Sanitation in supervision and direct management of safe water and sanitation provision activities.  This will include field supervision of all construction and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure. 

Major Responsibilities

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy

• Ensure water and sanitation infrastructure activities are implemented in a timely and professional manner while considering beneficiary needs as per the SPHERE standards.
• Conduct rapid and detailed assessments aimed at establishing knowledge, awareness, and practices of the target community with regards to sanitation and water infrastructure facilities.
• Assist the EH Infrastructure Officer in the design and implementation of the Water and sanitation infrastructure M&E Plan.
• Maintain close links and collaboration with other IRC sectors and in particular Health, Nutrition, Protection, Gender, CYPD (Child and Youth Protection and Development), Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE), and Economic Recovery and Development (ERD).
• Directly implements the construction of water supply infrastructures including but not limited to drilling of shallow and deep boreholes, installation of hand pumps, installation of solar submersible pumps, construction of elevated water storage tanks, trenching and piping for water supply reticulation systems, construction of well aprons and communal tap stands with appropriate drainage.
• Directly implements the construction and installation of sanitation facilities including but not limited to Communal latrines, household latrines, Solid waste pits/bins, Hand washing stations, Drainage, Menstrual Hygiene Management facilities and bathing shelters.
• Identify and train Water Point attendants and Pump Technicians and motorized/solar systems Operators within WASH committees.
• Train and supervise skilled and unskilled daily workers during the installation and maintenance of WATSAN facilities.
• Coordinate closely with the EH Officer (Water and Sanitation) and EH Officer (Hygiene Promotion) on water quantity, location of water sources/communal taps while considering beneficiary proposals and needs.
• If required, supervise water trucking deliveries, water chlorination and water quality monitoring.
• Provide weekly reports of progress on the construction of water and sanitation facilities to EH Officer-Water and Sanitation.
• Provide regular water quality monitoring reports to EH Officer (Water and Sanitation).
• Seek guidance and approval from EH Officer – Water and Sanitation on any changes to approved designs for water supply including water trucking concerns.
• Maintain comprehensive control systems on materials and tools used including notes on quality of materials.
• Any other duty as assigned by the supervisor.

Grant Monitoring & Reporting

• Daily volume of water supplied/delivered to location(s) including volumes and times of availability.
• Maintain records of number and location of all water collection points
• Maintain records of water quality monitoring.
• Routine O&M of water distribution system (s) and sanitation facilities including drainage around all water points and sanitation facilities.

Program Development

• Assist the EH Officer – Water and Sanitation to identify, train and provide daily support to skilled and unskilled workers working in Water and Sanitation initial installations, operation, and maintenance activities.
• Supervise skilled and unskilled daily workers.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable work teams to successfully complete their tasks on time and within budget.
• Responsible for skilled and unskilled daily workers’ reports, timesheets, and work plans.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Required for all positions with supervisory responsibility, if special considerations are needed (e.g. remote management), make this additive to the base language here.
• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the team in Syria.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews..
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Coordination & Representation

• Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and complaint program activities and expenditures, including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings
• Undertake/participate in liaison, coordination, and information sharing activities with national NGOs, international organizations, donors and government at field level.

Qualifications

Education:

•  B. Sc. /High National Diploma in Civil, Water Resources, Building or Mechanical Engineering, Geology, Engineering, Hydrogeology with hand on experience in developing and adopting emergency WASH technologies and designs experience in implementation of water and sanitation projects - relevant experience will supersede the formal qualification

Work Experience:

• At least 1-3 years professional experience with NGOs (INGO experience preferred)
• Competent communication skills, effective in representation and liaison
• Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Working knowledge of SPHERE standards
• Sound knowledge of English language
• Competent user of MS Applications: Word, Excel; Auto CAD or similar
• Knowledge of the Local language-Hausa
• Fluency in English and Hausa language preferred.