WASH Manager

Duty Station [Aden -Yemen]

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. Using a protection of human rights framework, DRC has mainly focused on Somalis who are displaced by conflict. Programmers include protection, livelihood, food and NFI distribution, water and sanitation, and advocacy amongst others. DRC Yemen has been providing relief and development services in Yemen since 2008. DRC has mainly focused on refugees and migrants displaced by conflict and natural disasters.

DRC, through its specialized business unit, Danish Demining Group (DDG) aims to recreate a safe environment where people can live without the threat of landmines, unexploded ordinances and small arms and light weapons”. These goals can be effectively advanced through cooperation and joint action with other organization as well as with integration of operations and programs with its sister organization, DRC.

About the job:

Overall purpose of the role: 

The WASH Manager oversees WASH management and technical implementation of the WASH portfolio programme across Lahj governorate, with support to south Hodaydah. The role contributes to the development of area strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks while ensuring compliance with the WASH technical standards. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to teams and operations across Aden Area office and Mocha/Khokha sub-office.  In addition, the WASH Manager oversees the following:     

• Planning, assessments, implementation, monitoring and reporting of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities and projects in the south including but not restricted to Lahj and West Coast.  The WSM will be responsible for project porfolios with funding from multiple donors.  
• Programmatic oversight of budgets, teams from development to implementation, monitoring and closure and technical oversight through capacity building of teams, development of technical standards across DRC programmes, consortiums 
• Representation of DRC in relevant humanitarian coordination fora, especially WASH Sub-National cluster, engaging with UN & NGO counterparts and proactively seeking to shape agendas in line with DRC and humanitarian priorities, engagement with local WASH authorities
• In close coordination with the DRC WASH Specialist, plan, strategize and undertake WASH activities in emergency and longer-term activities. WSM contributes to the harmonization of WASH tools and guidelines and to the development of DRC’s WASH strategy  
• The WSM contributes to the fulfilment of the aims and objectives of DRC’s presence, while overseeing technical quality, advocacy for those most in need and fundraising and cluster engagement across south

Responsibilities: 

Program management

• Ensure timely and technically sound planning, implementation and monitoring of WASH projects, budgets and targets including budget development, reporting and technical and programmatic oversight in line with project’s objectives, targets, indicator and timelines and donor compliance requirements
• Technical oversight and development of guidance, tools and SOPs to lead capacity building of national teams. Oversee programme technical quality of current and proposed project
• Contribute to the development of proposals through needs assessments, technical inputs and budgeting as per identified needs and priorities. 
• Lead on the identification of integrated WASH area-based strategy in the south
• Identify opportunities for sustainability of the WASH intervention and community self-reliance and ownership through identification of exit strategies, operation and maintenance plans and capacity building of local WASH authorities including government water resources departments to ensure longevity in design and planning of 2nd/3rd phase WASH interventions;  
• Provide technical leadership and inputs for the technical proposals, high impact projects, emergency WASH response and sustainable WASH solutions where appropriate
• Streamline cross sectoral integration and mainstreaming of AGD and accountability mechanisms into DRC WASH programming
• Conduct comparative eco technical analysis where required and ensure compliance with ECHO WASH policy
• Ensure provision of complementary WASH services (hygiene promotion, solid waste, desludging, water trucking) to different contexts and settlements receiving support from DRC CCCM, Shelter and Economic Recovery (ER) programs; including technical support on CCCM/Shelter sector as required 
• Advocate and support relevant government bodies to encourage monitoring and planning in sustainable use of water resources in areas of intervention; 
• Identify opportunities for local partnerships and development of local capacities in line with DRC Localisation and Partnership strategy 
• Ensure regular participation in the Weekly Coordination Meetings. Ensure that Project Management Tool is updated, Budget Follow Up tools are updated and forecasted, Procurement plans are initiated from the onset of the kick off meetings 
• Ensure that community engagement and participation is at the core of WASH programming with area based integrated response, in coordination with other sectors
• Identify opportunities for integration to deliver holistic response to both IDPs and Host Communities, with integrated CCCM, Shelter, Protection, Economic Recovery and HDP programming 

People management

• Ensure capacity building plans for technical and programmatic capacity for staff
• Positions are staffed and projects are on track, timely reporting challenges and escalating issues 
• Lead and manage the sector team (including people planning, performance, well-being and development

Monitoring, reporting and development

• Ensure accurate and timely internal, donor and cluster reporting
• Develop program tools, SOPs and standards for intervention 
• Conduct quality control and site monitoring to ensure that services provided are according to standards
• Ensure Program monitoring as per expected outputs and outcomes
• Monitor financial spending and budgets including salary allocation, monthly Budget Follow Up and review
• Support development of quality proposals, concept notes and budgets with technical, financial and narrative inputs
• Develop and undertake needs assessments to inform program design and strategic direction. Support with the prioritization of the intervention and escalate issues to cluster as relevant
• Ensure integrated and area-based approach to the humanitarian response, geographically and by sector, as appropriate while identifying sustainable and innovative solutions
• Contribute to refining of data collection, monitoring and reporting tools, and to the harmonization of WASH, methodologies and tools in line with DRC and WASH cluster guidelines  
• Ensure Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) approach to WASH is consistently applied through community and rights based participatory methods;  

External coordination and representation

• Represent DRC to relevant national authorities, clusters, consortia while upholding DRC mandate and always promoting the organization’s objectives 
• Represent the WASH program with other humanitarian actors and relevant humanitarian coordination mechanisms and advocate for best practices 
• Share relevant project information with stakeholders, in line with DRC data protection policy 
• Participate in relevant coordination meetings and lead on engagement with WASH Sub-national cluster. Participate in coordination with other sectors including CCCM, Shelter, Protection and coordination platforms such as Area Based Coordination mechanism in Lahj and West Coast
• Lead on advocacy for WASH prioritization with the WASH cluster, participate in designated technical working groups as relevant 

About you

To be successful in this role you must have:

Essential qualifications:  

• Professional experience in WASH strategies, policies and implementation modalities and construction contracting / supervision in complex emergency and early recovery settings
• Cultural and gender sensitivity. 
• Ability to live and work in a security constrained environment.  

Essential experience:  

• Proven experience of at least 5 years in the implementation and management of WASH programming project portfolio and large scale teams, preferably in an emergency or early recovery setting. 
• Proven experience of contractor and quality management. 
• Experience in international humanitarian work and refugee and/or IDP complex emergencies.  
• Experience with managing large and multifaceted teams and providing technical guidance and training. 

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.   
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.   
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.   
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.   
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required qualifications: 

Education :

• University degree relevant to the technical work of both WASH programming (e.g. engineering, public health, water resource management).  
• University degree with relevant engineering experience.

Languages:

• English (Fluent)
• Arabic (Fluent)

We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a contract until August 2023, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work As soon as possible, and be willing and able to work in Aden with travels to Lahj and South Hodaydah. 
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment. This position will be placed at Band (F2 Manager) and will be reporting to Area Program Manager.