WATSAN Officer at International Rescue Committee-online application!

Main Responsibilities

• The WATSAN Officer will determine which stakeholders to involve, evaluate the most important requirements for WASH services and facilities, and create a suitable implementation plan to build, renovate, or repair such facilities. The implementation of an engagement approach in collaboration with local authorities, communities, and other partners will be ensured. Additionally, all activities will be conducted in a manner that prioritizes community needs and encourages the full and equitable participation of women, men, children, and youth. Principal duties consist of:

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.
• Support the execution of hygiene promotion initiatives in coordination with the WASH officer for hygiene, making sure that the social and technical facets of sanitation and water supply are linked.
• 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.

WATSAN Officer at International Rescue Committee-online application!

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.
• 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.