Desired start date: September 1st 2020
Duration of the mission: 8 months (April 2021)
Location: Bhamo, Kachin State, Myanmar
SI has been in Myanmar since 2008. For the first three years SI worked in the Delta in response to the devastating Cyclone Nargis. In 2011, SI expanded to three new regions (Dry Zone, Rakhine, and Chin State) focusing on Livelihoods, Food Security, Shelter, and WASH. In January 2012, SI expanded to Kachin State to respond to an emergency situation created by the displacement of Kachin population affected by the arm conflict. Today SI operates in South Kachin mainly in IDP camps and villages and implements both WASH and FSL programs.
SI currently has a coordination base in Yangon (17 national employees and 7 expatriates), with field bases in Rakhine and Kachin States. Each office is operational with a Field Coordinator and 46 national employees + 3 expatriates in Kachin and 251 national employees + 9 expatriates in Rakhine. In Kachin, there are currently 2 offices:
- One main operational Base in Bhamo (South Kachin) including 3 expatriates (1 Field Co, 1 Admin Manager, 1 WASH PM) and 2 senior national managers (LOG Manager and FSL PM)
- One office for representation in Myitkyina (Regional capital) with a national Deputy Field Co
The programs implemented by SI in Kachin State cover 13 camps (approximately 20,000 IDPs) and 15 villages through WaSH (construction and maintenance of water and sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion) and Food Security & Livelihoods (home gardening, income-generating activities, vocational training) support. Currently, WaSH activities are 100% concentrated into IDPs camp.
ORG CHART POSITION (reporting and functional relationships)
- Under the hierarchical authority: Field Coordinator
- Hierarchical authority over: WaSH Activity manager
- Under the functional authority of: WaSH Coordinator
- Functional authority over: Local Partner
About the job 1/2
Objectives
The Wash Program Manager is in charge of the WaSH projects on the base, including project implementation and achievement of the objectives defined in the operation proposals.
- He/she is responsible for overseeing operational teams assigned to the program and WaSH partners activities follow up.
- He/she guarantees the good performance and the quality of project activities implemented, and, where appropriate, proposes adjustments or developments to ensure relevance.
The Wash Program Manager can be asked to support the implementation of Wash emergency activities in his/her areas of intervention in Kachin.
Main Responsibilities
Diagnosis and project design
- Participate in the preparation and implementation of diagnostics (assessments, surveys);
- Participate in the design and the financial dimension of the human and logistical programs to implement;
- Prepare the appendixes and technical chapters (of logical framework) of operation proposals and amendment needed;
- Implement activities in compliance with the annual operational strategy, Solidarités International technical requirements, and donor criteria.
- Participate to the annual strategy review process
Implementation and operational monitoring
- Plan and oversee the implementation of activities that (s)he is responsible for, both on-time and within the set technical specifications;
- Plan activities and identify which means and resources will be needed with the support Departments (administrative, logistics), according to objectives, in coordination with the partner organization;
- Identify relevant quality criteria and monitoring indicators for program activities, and ensure the regular tracking of these indicators by his/her team;
- Use Solidarités International standard tools for project progress follow-up (APU – OFU);
- Ensure the achievement of results of the programs (s)he is responsible for within the timeframe;
- Ensure continuous project monitoring, periodic evaluations and adjustment of project activities where necessary in close coordination with partner organization;
- Provide support and advice to the logistics base for the purchase of materials specific to activities;
- In collaboration with the administrative service, contribute to the development of program budgets, budget follow up and proposal budgets for the WaSH program parts;
- Initiate cash flow forecast and budgetary planning in order to pre-empt financial problems;
- Respect SI procedures
- Anticipate the difficulties associated with conducting activities and help solve problems related to programs
- Propose program changes according to the changing environment and indicators;
- Organize and facilitate internal and external evaluation missions;
- Be the operational focal point for the local partner’s WaSH activities in its area of intervention;
- Maintain daily awareness of the security risks from community perceptions;
- Liaise with FC regularly on security trends and threats communicated by his/her team or other stakeholders;
Capitalization
- Organize and supervise the daily capitalization, as well as hard and soft archiving.
- Write the capitalization documents in accordance with SI tools;
- Prepare handover reports before the end of his/her employment contract and forward them to concerned parties in the mission and at headquarters;
- Ensure diffusion of SI technical documentation.
About the job 2/2
Project closure and lessons learned
- Ensure project data and information is archived and shared appropriately;
- Use Solidarités International standard tools for lessons learning and institutional knowledge management, in particular the Activity Description sheets;
- Organize staff induction and debriefing;
HR management
- Plan HR and organizational structure in function of the project and in consultation with the Coordination team, and Field Coordinator;
- Participate in validating recruitment for all staff under his/her direct supervision;
- With the administrative department, define the prerequisites for the vacant positions and, if necessary, adapt the referent job profile;
- Welcome and brief new employees (including the local partner’s ones) under his/her responsibility;
- Implement training related to operational WaSH requirements and the identified training needs;
- Manage and support the team under his/her responsibility;
- Conduct workshops and regular or ad hoc meetings, including for local partners;
- Evaluate the performances of his/her team members;
- Identify potential changes in members of his/her team(s) and provide feedback to coordination team and field Coordinator;
- Make sure his/her team(s) follow the safety rules.
Reporting / communication / representation
- Share with the field coordinator any information on the security context and any event which may have consequences on SI activities and team safety;
- Carry out regular team meetings to relate individuals’ contributions to project objectives and to develop and inform members of decisions;
- Draft the reports, annexes and project amendments to donors, together with WaSH Coordinator, and Deputy Field Coordinator – Programs and Field Coordinator;
- Contribute to monthly and ad-hoc reports meant for local authorities;
- Ensure compliance with reporting deadlines and guidelines and in the correct format;
- In collaboration with the Field Coordinator, prepare relevant documents (MOU, handover, etc) to be signed with local authorities, communities and other partners;
- Attend technical meetings with government departments, other aid agencies and donors, and represent the organization when asked to do so;
- Be the focal point for HP TWiG (Hygiene Promotion technical working group) for Kachin State, in cooperation with Unicef;
- Liaise with other organizations and agencies to share past experiences and lessons learnt;
- Represent SI on request and/or delegation;
- Maintain a local operational communication network and positive relations with, UN and other international agencies in cooperation with the Field Coordinator.
For the first 2/3-months the top priority for WASH program manager will be:
- Ensure implementation of the active projects (OFDA, ECHO and MHF) timely with the desired qualities
- He/she should visit all intervention sites = at least 50% on the field (both Bhamo and Lwegel)
- Discuss and identify program related challenges
- Assess and report COVID-19 impact on the beneficiaries
- Prepare lessons learnt from the ongoing or concluded grants
- Ensure timely communication of monthly APU, donor and WASH cluster requested reports/information
Your profile
Education
- Minimum BA degree in Environmental science or Water, Hygiene and sanitation or other related fields with project/program management experience
- WaSH technical background with management experience.
Experience
- Minimum 1-year experience managing team (including in remote management)
- dealt with various stakeholders
- IDP/refugee camp experience desirable
- Experience in working with local partner is highly desirable
- Experience in coaching and capacity building of national teams
Technical skills and knowledge
- Strong background in Hygiene Promotion and Community Mobilization in camp set up;
- Experience in managing multiple grants and project simultaneously;
- Strong data management and Monitoring and Evaluation skill,
- Rural hydro project experience,
- Humanitarian experience,
- Proposal writing,
- Team management,
- Resources management,
- Representation skills,
Previous experience with SI is an asset.
Languages
Good English command (spoken and written) essential.
Other desirable qualities
Leadership, ability to cope with field movement restriction, knowledge of Asian cultures.
SI will offer you
A salaried post:
According to experience from EUR 1980 gross per month (1800 base salary + 10% annual leave).
Per Diem of USD 500.
Social and medical cover:
Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
Breaks:
During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. Our policy was just modified: from now on, Solidarités offers you 7 working days ever three months, with a 850 USD allowance for each break. In addition to these regular break, SI adds a day off per worked month. These days off as well as the breaks are not deducted from the paid leaves that are paid every months with your salary as they are offered by the organization.
Security and living conditions
Bhamo is located in Kachin State (Northern Myanmar), 186km south of the capital city of Kachin State (Myitkyina). From Yangon, it takes a 3-hour flight to get to Bhamo, through Mandalay.
There are no major security constraints, and it is possible to have social activities (restaurants, shops, markets, local gym).
SI has a comfortable guesthouse, spacious and equipped with all basic furniture, included good internet connection.
SI office is 10 minutes by bike from the guesthouse. Expatriates move independently by bike or on foot.
Application process
Please send us your CV and Cover letter in English. CV only applications will not be considered.
NB: The vacancy may close before the deadline. Thank you for your understanding.
For more information about SI, please visit our website: http://www.solidarites.org/en/
