Wash Team Leader Ethiopia Dollo Ado

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Dolo Odo, Ethiopia 🇪🇹

Job Description

  1. Role and responsibilities

The WASH Team Leader leads the management of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs within his/her respective camp, conducting needs assessments, designing and overseeing infrastructure projects (water systems, sanitation facilities), ensuring technical quality and compliance with SPHERE/UNHCR/NRC standards. The successful candidate is also expected to manage budgets and resources, preparing workplans and donor reports, and representing the organization in relevant coordination forums.

Responsibilities

 Program Management 

  • Contribute to the development of the camp-wide WASH strategy, ensuring alignment with donor requirements, and transition/resilience frameworks/strategies.
  • Conduct needs assessments by identifying the gaps, challenges (bottlenecks) and needs, and correspondingly design context-appropriate responses (hardware/software) 
  • Oversee WASH activities’ planning, budgeting, procurement, and resource allocation to ensure timely and cost-effective project delivery.
  • Manage project documentation, contracts, and tender processes for WASH infrastructure (e.g., water systems, sanitation facilities).
  • Prepare and submit high-quality donor reports (e.g., UNHCR), and deliverables.
  • Plan and lead the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of electrical and mechanical, piping, water treatment systems, and sanitation to ensure WASH infrastructure operating efficiency and sustainability.
  • Ensure timely procurement of essential tools, spare parts, equipment, and chemicals by helping officers prepare bills of quantities and technical specifications (including part numbers, quantities).
  • Develop design drawings, specifications, bills of quantities and other related technical documentations for WASH infrastructure developments/Rehabilitations.
  • Ensure the proper and efficient use of the WASH inventories, tools and spare parts in his/her respective camp
  • Audit fuel consumption, and equipment performance by developing tracking and monitory systems and mechanisms (Manuals, checklists, Excel sheets).
  • Ensure all WASH activities meet SPHERE, UNHCR, and NRC technical standards, prioritizing sustainability.
  • Implement robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) frameworks to track progress, manage risks, and adapt.
  • Supervise construction of water/sanitation infrastructure (e.g., boreholes, water treatment systems) and hygiene promotion activities.
  • Ensure systems for long-term operation/maintenance of WASH assets, including transfer of key skills capacities to local communities.
  • Enforce compliance with donor regulations and internal controls.
  • Prepare and submit donor reports (e.g., UNHCR), and deliverables.

Coordination and representation

  • Serve as NRC’s primary WASH representative in cluster meetings (UNHCR, RRS), liaising with authorities, NGOs, and host communities.
  • Foster partnerships with stakeholders (e.g., local government, UN agencies, INGOs) to ensure coordination, advocacy, and program coherence.
  • Proactively sharing context updates, challenges, and opportunities with relevant internal and external bodies.

Financial and Resource Management 

  • Oversee project budgets and ensure resource optimization.
  • Ensure efficient procurement processes and accountable use of WASH assets and inventories.
  • Identify funding gaps and contribute to proposal development for new opportunities.

Team Leadership and Capacity building 

  • Line-manage WASH field staff, including performance management, objective setting, and conflict resolution.
  • Conduct capacity needs assessments, and deliver tailored training and skill development
  • Promote a positive team environment, wellbeing, and professional development

Qualifications

  1. Competencies 

1. Professional competencies:

  • Bachelor’s/master’s degree in Hydraulic Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, or related field.
  • Minimum 5 years in humanitarian WASH programs, including 2+ years in leadership roles.
  • Proven experience in WASH programs (hardware: water/sanitation infrastructure; software: hygiene promotion/behavior change).
  • Expertise in SPHERE standards, donor compliance (e.g., UNHCR), and contract management.
  • Experience in refugee settings and complex volatile environments.
  • Fluency in English (written/verbal).
  • Knowledge of local language (Somali).
  • Experience in Dollo Ado contexts.
  • Knowledge and experience water supply and treatment systems design and operation 
  • Experience in Solar water pumping systems
  • Skills in AutoCAD/WaterCAD, GIS, COMPASS

2. Behavioral competencies

The following NRC’s competencies are essential for this position:

  • Managing resources and achieving results
  • Handling insecure environments
  • Communicating with impact and respect
  • Working with people
  • Coping with change
  • Planning and delivering results.
  • Managing performance and developing teams.
  • Strategic thinking and problem-solving.
  • Empowering others and building trust.

Job Info

  • Job Identification: 18396
  • Job Category: Engineering
  • Posting Date: 06/20/2025, 10:00 AM
  • Apply Before: 06/26/2025, 07:00 PM
  • Degree Level: Bachelor’s Degree
  • Job Schedule: Full time
  • Locations: Dolo Ado

1 days remaining

Apply by 26 June, 2025

POSITION TYPE

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EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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IHE Delft - MSc in Water and Sustainable Development