Local recruitment: WASH Specialist

Job Category: Programming

Requisition Number: WASHS006262

Job Details

Description

Position Title: WASH Specialist

Duty Station: Negele

Open Position: 1

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in the four outcome areas: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in Eight regional states – Afar, Sidama, Tigray, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. 

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps Ethiopia currently secured USAID/BHA funded multisectoral response program entitled ‘Humanitarian Assistance for Conflict-Affected Populations (HACAP)” in Oromia region. The goal of the proposed program is to increase access to Life-saving Services for Conflict-affected IDPs, Returnees, and Vulnerable Populations through provision of integrated Multi-Sectoral Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion (WASH), Nutrition and Protection support and, Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) in two Woredas (Liben and Gumi Eldelo) of Oromia region.

General Position Summary

Under the direct supervision of the WASH Coordinator, the WASH Engineer will be responsible for planning, implementation, and monitoring of the WASH activities in MC Negelle Borena field Office. He/she will work in coordination with the other team members and participate in rapid assessment for new proposal development and program expansion efforts. He/she will ensure quality programming by monitoring technical aspects of WASH activities. Coordinate and network at a field level with regional authorities, attending clusters and other NGOs, He/she will also ensure that all capacity-building activities related to WASH activities are carried out in an effective and participatory manner.  He/she will further ensure that all WASH activities are done in a context-sensitive manner and holistically coordinated with other Mercy Corps projects/programs and other stakeholders.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Water supply activities

• Ensures all emergency WASH activities are implemented in accordance with the Mercy Corps, donor and government guidelines and policies.
• Planning, designing, and implementing technical aspects of WASH projects, including infrastructure development and hygiene promotion.
• Conduct site assessments, create engineering designs and cost estimates, supervising construction, following up the procurement, and ensure project quality and community involvement and provide technical guidance and expertise to the Hygiene Promotion team.
• Provide technical training and ensure projects comply with standards and are completed on time and within the budget. 
• Ensure appropriate design, construction, and implementation of WASH facilities according to technical standards. Prepare drawings, Bill of Quantities and contract documents.
• Conduct data collection, accurate record keeping and management of information to measure progress and impact of project in line with the guiding humanitarian standards and as required by WASH Cluster.
• Maintain an oversight of WASH NFI supplies, and water quality standards ordered for the emergency WASH project, supporting the WASH and logistics staff in the coordination and quality control of WASH supplies.
• Ensures application of best practices in the WASH interventions. Ensures a coherent, community-based and market approach to emergency WASH services.
• Define appropriate policies, guidelines and protocols for the WASH activities of Mercy Corps in line with relevant government, Sphere and WHO guidelines.

Hygiene and Sanitation activities

• Work with health extension workers and target beneficiaries to identify volunteers for hygiene promotion/education.
• Undertake assessments to identify appropriate hygiene NFI needs and ensure their distribution
• Train volunteers on basics of hygiene promotion/education, hygiene promotion/education methods/approaches, communication and facilitation skills.
• Prepare detail implementation plan for hygiene promotion/education activities
• Ensure implementation of hygiene promotion activities as per planned approaches/methods
• Work with Hygiene promotion officer and WASH Coordinator on development, testing, printing and positioning of culturally appropriate IEC materials, and monitoring tools and ensure proper use of the same,
• Prepare weekly and monthly progress reports/updates,
• Ensure the needs of most vulnerable are considered at all stages of hygiene promotion interventions,
• Coordinate and integrate with other implementing partners in harmonizing hygiene promotion/education interventions,
• Document and share lessons learned and success stories in relation to hygiene to inform future programming 
• Ensure proper implementation of hygiene and sanitation component of WASH projects within allocated budget and timeline meeting international standards.
• Ensure integration of Water, sanitation and hygiene promotion components of the project with other sectors
• Prepare monthly field reports covering all Water supply, hygiene and sanitation components and submit to the Field WASH Coordinator.

Program Management

• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Develop partners’ MoUs and contracts & oversee a training program for program partners.
• Develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process as well as WASH, psychosocial and capacity building of partners.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.

Team Management

• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

 Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• BSc degree in Hydraulic and/or Water Resources Engineering, or related field 5 years of experience in WASH projects including infrastructure development.
• Key programmatic knowledge includes project formulation and design, SBCC, and project management.
• NGO/Private sector experience has a significant advantage.
• Excellent team and interpersonal relationship skills, especially in a cross-cultural setting, required.
• Ability to take directions, follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.   
• Organized, reliable, and good communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and teamwork capability
• Proficiency in Afaan Oromo language.

 Success Factors:

• Willingness and ability to perform fieldwork and travel to the remote areas
• Willingness to travel frequently to villages and reside in rural areas.
• Flexibility and accommodation in challenging conditions.
• Hard-working, honest, dedicated, ability to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels – with colleagues, government and military officials, community leaders and community members
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience of working closely with community volunteers and local authorities.
• Commitment to teamwork and gender equality.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and    diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 25 October 2025 / 4:00 PM