WASH Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 

The role holder will have contact with children and/or young people, or access to personal data about children or young people, as part of their work; therefore a police check will be mandatory unless the content or location of the role changes, in which case the Child Safeguarding level will be reviewed.

South Sudan lags behind the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa in access to drinking water supply and sanitation services. Low levels of access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) severely undermine health and nutrition outcomes in South Sudan. WASH-related neglected tropical diseases are widespread across the country, and the persistence of the underlying factors that intensified successive cholera outbreaks in South Sudan between 2014 and 2017 puts the country at high risk for a resurgence of the disease. In addition, lower respiratory tract infections and diarrheal disease are the second- and third-largest causes of death in South Sudan, with poor WASH being the second leading risk factor for all death and disability combined. Conflict dynamics, population movement, and climate change all influence the emergence and dispersal of many infectious disease pathogens, and the risks are exacerbated by lack of access to water supply and sanitation services, and poor-quality health services

The key drivers of need for clean water in South Sudan are: limited access to functional WASH infrastructure; increased displacements due to conflicts; and recurring flooding.   canal, Ulang/Unkuel/Lony swamps area. In addition to being sources of unclean water, these areas have also been known to be places where abduction of children and women and killing of people have occurred in the past.  In dry seasons, households relying on surface water sources such as swamps for their domestic water are usually affected due to drying up of open swamps. Women and girls are forced to trek long distances in search of water. This further exposes the women and girls to GBV and abduction risks. 

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Roving WASH Coordinator

Work with: Construction Engineer and WASH Officers

Under the general direction and guidance of the National WASH Specialist, work to strengthen WASH Infrastructure intervention including water, sanitation and hygiene, foster and strengthen WASH integration with other thematic sectors, provides thematic leadership in designing WASH facilities in collaboration with the construction Officer/Manager, and ensure all WASH programming is well monitored and is of excellent technical quality, attracts significant donor funding and contributes significantly to national/global learning, advocacy and programme development.

The WASH Engineer is responsible for developing BOQ, WASH contract management, Quality construction assurance and providing technical guidance on approved government infrastructure designs. The post holder is expected to provide (1) technical advice and (2) support to SC project staff to ensure programming objectives are successfully achieved. 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

1. Need Assessment: – Contribute to WASH needs assessments in respective target location to inform program design.
2. Responsible for the design, establishment of work specifications and quotation, follow-up and evaluation of activities related to the construction of WASH infrastructures in public institutions and communities, such as: Construction or rehabilitation of sanitation facilities (latrines, incinerator, refuse pit, soakage pit…).
3. Lead the implementation of WASH at community level, WASH in Schools, WASH in Health and Nutrition Centres in SCI target locations 
   – Be responsible to establish the technical aspect of the internal purchase order and tender documents for construction and rehabilitation of WASH facilities.
4. Provide direct management and oversight over the WASH infrastructure development activities, in line with work plans and standards of the project, with the support and oversight by the SCI WASH Specialist
5. Source and provide technical resources and support needed to complete scopes of work, including reviewing the quality of the work completed, the adherence to health and safety standards and ensuring the work stays within assigned schedules and cost targets.
6. To work with other WASH officers, construction manager and sectorial TA to ensure WASH related engineering activities are of high quality, and to provide technical backstopping and trouble shooting.
7. Together with the team, ensure regular contact with the beneficiaries is maintained in target areas including refugee representatives, peer group members, as well as with the wider community members, with particular attention to vulnerable groups.
8. Ensure all implemented WASH activities are in line with recommended Sphere standards for WASH, WHO standards and the national standards and policies
9. Conduct community training in Hand Pump repairs and rehabilitation and support the establishment and training of Community WASH User Committees 
10. Work with the project team to define the methods of community participation that ensure the greatest possible participation of vulnerable groups, and mentor SCI Community Health Volunteers and others WASH partner team members in the implementation of appropriate approaches for community engagement and provide feedback as necessary.
11. Contribute to monitoring learning and developments of community focal points and groups, impact of activities and adapt project activities and approaches accordingly in coordination with the project manager and relevant technical Advisors. 
12. Ensure that health and safety and child safeguarding monitoring is incorporated into all daily site supervision activities.
13. Ensure the integration of gender, child protection, environment and other crosscutting issues to 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.
14.  Ensure that construction works is integrated with hygiene promotion and community participation component, to ensure sustainability of the infrastructure built.
15. Create and maintain a good relationship with the implementing partners and construction workers and sub-contractors.
16. Ensure that daily site supervision for WASH infrastructure and ensure its in line with agreed specifications and method statements, with comprehensive documentation of supervision activities.
17. Contribute to the generation of  ‘lessons learnt”, innovation and research  during the project.
18. Plan and be responsible for the weekly reporting of data in order to follow up the standard project and strategic indicators (number of beneficiaries, number and type of activities completed
19. Coordinate WASH construction activities including borehole drilling with other sectors of Save the Children, in order to integrate activities in the same geographical area and for the same beneficiaries.
20. To implement any other tasks assigned to him / her.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Must be a South Sudanese national
• Previous experience with NGO;s in the field of WASH engineering, project management, or construction including borehole drilling and supervision.
• Educational Qualification Diploma/BSC in, Civil engineering, Water Engineering, sanitation engineering, water hydraulics, Construction Engineering etc
• Previous experience in WASH infrastructure construction, BH drilling, hand pump repairs, solar pumping station, Surface water treatment, water Quality Assurance (desirable)
• High level and ability and understanding of key concepts of Water Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion 
• Good knowledge of WASH Minimum standards, Sphere and WHO standards
• Knowledge in Cluster coordination and representation 
• Previous experience in emergency response (flooding, public health diseases outbreak, displacement, conflict)
• Enthusiastic, willing to work for community and has or can easily gain support of community. 
• Ability to understand the cultural and traditional practices of the communities in the area
• Ability to assess and understand community WASH needs
• Able to engage communities in finding problems and, with the support of PHO and supervisor to help the community find solutions to their health problems
• Carry out any other responsibility as may be requested by his or her immediate supervisor

Desirable

• Previous experience within a humanitarian aid organisation is a plus
• Experience in use of Engineering software AutoCAd, ArchCad, Water Cad if an add advantage
• Previous experience working within the regions of focus in Southern Sudan
• Borehole drilling and supervision experience in South Sudan
• Knowledge of locally spoken languages will be an added advantage
• Ability to remain calm and to be diplomatic, both with the local health authorities and with the community as well as fellow staff

ABOUT US

The Organization
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

· No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
· All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
· Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.