Position: Project Officer - WASH Engineer

Locations: Sana’a

Technical Supervisor: Program Officer

Vacancy Reference Number: POWE- SNA/24

PURPOSE OF DIVISION:

The WASH department works with country program teams to identify, plan, implement, and evaluate WASH projects/programs in collaboration with local, national, and international partners. The aim of the WASH department is to improve the health and socioeconomic well-being of conflict-affected communities by reducing the incidence of water- and sanitation-related diseases through sustainable safe water, sanitation, and hygiene practices.

JOB PURPOSE:

Under the supervision of the WASH Engineer Program Officer, the WASH Engineer Officer will be responsible for providing all necessary support in the design, implementation/construction, rehabilitation, follow-up, and evaluation of WASH infrastructures in communities targeted by Islamic Relief. The post is specifically oriented towards the WASH response in the emergency context of the crisis in all targeted Governorates, with special attention given to the integration of the WASH sector in other core sectors of Islamic Relief such as nutrition, food security, and livelihood. The staff will be based in Sana’a to assist all WASH Activists. He/She will be responsible for achieving the project activities and maintaining proper filing of WASH project documents and reports.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Needs Assessments

• Contribute to carrying out technical assessments and analyze the data collected for the implementation of water, sanitation, and hygiene activities to respond to the needs of IDPs and the host community affected among all governorates to be rehabilitated and/or constructed. This includes technical feasibility studies, household-level questionnaires, focus group discussions, facilities and site visits, and interviews with key community members.

Program Design and Implementation

• Contribute to designing, analyzing, planning, following up, and timely implementation of WASH program interventions. Prepare cost estimates for Water, Sanitation, and related hygiene activities, as well as other emergencies as they arise, with a greater focus on the provision of emergency lifesaving portable safe water, basic hygiene kits, solid waste management, hygiene promotion, and sanitation interventions.
• Contribute to developing and implementing IRY WASH strategy in line with the country situation using detailed need assessment and secondary data of INGOs in Yemen, under the umbrella of UNOCHA.
• Actively support in the preparation of sector reports for senior management, donors, and partners, indicating progress, constraints, and requirements for project completion. Ensure that project data and information are archived and shared appropriately.
• Participate in WASH program meetings to review progress with field teams, government counterparts, other related sector agencies, and implementation partners if any, involved at various stages of WASH program implementation, to provide expert advice and guidance.
• Provide technical and operational support to field teams, government counterparts, and other country office partners on the application and understanding of Islamic Relief policies, strategies, processes, and best practices in WASH to support program implementation.
• Collaborate with the WASH Engineer Program Officer in strategic WASH program planning discussions. Prepare WASH donor proposals, budgets, and reports, ensuring alignment with Islamic Relief’s Strategic Plan, UN’s global WASH strategy, and the Country program, as well as government plans and priorities, and the role of other external support agencies.
• Participate in undertaking timely rapid needs assessments in new areas, with a greater focus on protection. Produce and disseminate assessment reports in a timely manner.
• Assist and lead the planning of WASH project activities and set quality performance targets, ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices, and donor guidelines.
• Oversee the implementation of the emergency WASH response and ensure that stated goals and objectives are met.
• Ensure that constructions and activities are completed to a satisfactory standard before final payment is authorized.
• Ensure WASH activities are integrated with other sector teams, such as Emergency Food, Shelter, NFIs, Protection, and Accountability as appropriate.
• Contribute to producing a structured work plan for each emergency deployment.
• Ensure protection issues are fully considered throughout all projects’ cycles, with women, elderly, disabled, and most vulnerable being included in decision-making for WASH issues.
• Prepare necessary logistics and financial requirements as a priority for any field needs assessment.
• Contribute to writing rapid needs assessment reports using a defined format, and within established deadlines, providing clear operational recommendations for intervention.
• Ensure compliance with IRY and international policy, procedures, and practices throughout emergency response activities, including adherence to Do No Harm principles.
• Initiate and take the lead in the recruitment of emergency WASH staff and, in coordination with the HR department, ensure that procedures are followed.
• Conduct WASH staff skills needs assessments, prepare an annual capacity building and training plan in consultation with WASH Program Coordinator, WASH Engineer Program Officer, and HR specialist, and oversee the execution of the plan.
• Represent IRY and actively participate in various cluster, coordination, and other meetings relevant to WASH TWGs. Liaise with partners, local authorities, and local communities whenever it serves the objectives of the program in the area of WASH.
• Liaise regularly and work closely with other sector response teams and IRY normal programs, operations, and finance staff at national and among field sites to coordinate program planning.
• Establish and maintain relations with all stakeholders, including local authorities, and ensure all activities are planned in line with local needs, assessment, and legal authority.
• Bring to the attention of the WASH Program Coordinator/WASH Engineer Program Officer any works which are not meeting timelines or where quality standards are not being met.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the WASH Program Coordinator and WASH Engineer Program Officer.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning

• Contribute actively to monitoring Islamic Relief activities through field visits, surveys, and exchange of information with field teams and partners, to assess progress, identify bottlenecks, and potential problems, and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions.
• Verify that WASH infrastructure construction and rehabilitation works among all targeted areas and governorates are carried out according to quality standards established by Islamic Relief through quality checklists.
• Plan and be responsible for the weekly reporting of data to follow up on standard project and strategic indicators (number of beneficiaries, number and type of activities completed).

Reporting

• Report to the WASH Program Coordinator/WASH Engineer Program Officer through verbal reports whenever necessary.

Integration, Coordination of Cross-cutting Aspects

• Ensure that construction works are integrated with hygiene promotion and community participation to ensure sustainability of the infrastructure built.
• Coordinate WASH construction activities with other local actors at the district and governorate level.
• Ensure integration of gender, child protection, disability, HIV, environment, and other cross-cutting issues into the design, implementation, and development of WASH construction activities, and ensure that activities take into account the needs of specific groups and individuals, especially children, the elderly, and disabled.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

A) QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in civil Engineering, construction management, or Architecture.

B) EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS Required:

• At least Three years of work experience in civil or architecture Engineering and WASH.
• Demonstrated experience working in collaboration with local partners.
• Demonstrated experience conducting training and providing capacity building.
• Prior experience in working in a complex emergency setting, involving internal displacement.
• Proven experience in staff supervision and remote management.
• Three years of experience working with an international NGO.

Desirable:

• Direct experience in the geographical area targeted by Islamic Relief.

C) COMPETENCIES

SKILLS:

• Excellent computer skills (proven computer literacy, in particular Excel knowledge is a must, AutoCAD, engineering software).
• Strong representation and negotiation skills, demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills, strong communication and diplomatic skills.
• Analytical skills, observation, and analysis capacity.
• Strong team spirit, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to plan ahead and stress-resilient.
• Additional qualities: ability to multi-task, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.

Other COMPETENCIES

Core Values (Required):

• Commitment.
• Diversity and Inclusion.
• Integrity.

Core Competencies (Required):

• Communication.
• Working with People.
• Drive for Results.

Functional Competencies (Required):

• Formulating strategies and concepts.
• Planning and Organizing.

Safeguarding:

• Understanding of and commitment to safeguarding, child safety, and protection from sexual abuse and exploitation principles.

PROBLEM SOLVING (Thinking Environment)

• Ability to deal with complex situations and solve issues and problems.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND LEVEL OF TRAVEL REQUIRED

• Based in Country Office in Sana’a, Yemen, with frequent travel to the communities of intervention in targeted governorates to ensure the technical work accomplishment and the completion of WASH interventions.

D) CONTACTS/KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• The employee will work closely with the relevant project Coordinator and FSL team in the field and office.