WASH Officer at Mercy Corps Nigeria

Mercy Corps works in fragile and conflict-affected environments to build secure, productive, and just communities. We believe that transitional environments – countries affected by civil wars, economic and political crisis, or natural disasters – offer tremendous opportunities for positive change. Since the 1990s, Mercy Corps has managed over 100 peace building projects in over 30 countries and regions, and currently implement 34 peace building programs in some of the world’s toughest places.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: WASH Officer

Location: Biu, Borno State
Job Type: Full-Time Regular

Program/Department Summary

• Mercy Corps Nigeria’s humanitarian program aims to provide assistance to populations affected by the crisis in Northeast Nigeria.
• With funding from humanitarian donors including OFDA, FFP, and ECHO, the humanitarian programs engage in several interventions including but not limited to food assistance, logistics and relief commodities, protection, livelihoods, WASH and capacity building of humanitarian response actors.
• Mercy Corps plans to scale up and expand its humanitarian response in Northeast Nigeria to reach more beneficiaries with additional and varied assistance in a wider geographic area.

General Position Summary

• The Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Officer is responsible for both the soft and hardware components of the sanitation infrastructure activities of the WASH program in targeted implementation area.
• The Hygiene and Sanitation officer will assist in supervision of the all works related to implementing infrastructure improvement; and provide input on monitoring and evaluation of the project.

Essential Job Functions

• Under the guidance of WASH Program Manager, supervise the implementation of the program in the field, and provide input into design and improvement of WASH infrastructure in targeted areas.
• Perform the planning of –and organize and ensure quality performance of- monitoring of WASH projects.
• Ensure and promote appropriate health messages related to water, sanitation and hygiene behaviors in targeted communities
• Promote community involvement and ownership in all water and sanitation activities and infrastructure projects
• Organize and Supervise processes like borehole drilling and well constructions at the program site level.
• Organize Supervises water treatment activities in general, at the program site level and makes sure that the consumables are timely replenished
• Organize and Supervise the latrine construction process at the program site level.
• Organize the mobilization of families or communities to participate in the WASH program activities.
• Ensures inclusion of protection principles like gender segregation, adaptation to meet the gender-specific and disablement needs, in the design and implementation of the program.
• Perform regular progress visits of the projects sites, and final inspection of completed water and sanitation infrastructure projects, and ensure that technical, safety and environmental standards have been met.
• Conduct regular quality control and activities’ monitoring to the water and sanitation infrastructure project conducted by contractor.
• Provide regular capacity building and mentoring to Community Water Groups (CWG) on water and sanitation issues, and monitor their evolution.
• Organize and conduct focus group discussion on WASH related topics, including the importance of WASH in Nutrition programming.
• Prepare project designs, estimates and drawings as required, including a list of materials & labor, technical specifications needed, contract documents and project implementation plans.
• Based on the complexity of design or magnitude of the project, advise if the project should be managed by a qualified contractor or through a community managed process.
• Provide training to the program teams for the preparation of construction, supervision check-list or each engineering design.
• Review and finalize each construction supervision check-list prepared by the program teams.
• Assist the procurement manager by providing all technical specifications needed for preparing tenders, in addition to assisting the procurement team by reviewing the technical profiles from contractors.
• Provide advice on the official handing over of projects to communities/beneficiaries.
• Security savvy, s/he Complies to -and sets the good example for the respect of- security measures and regulations in place.
• Adherence to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals;
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission in country of operation;

Qualification and Experience

• Degree in in Water and/or Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Public Health or other relevant background and/or relevant experience in water and sanitation that related to slum upgrading program is preferred
• Over three years’ relevant experience working on community based water and sanitation project preferably in urban context is required
• Experience in water supply systems: boreholes, pumping, basic hydraulics, etc.
• Fluency in both verbal and written English is highly preferred.
• Multi-tasking, coordination, organization, prioritization skills essential.
• Highly-developed computers skills, with strong familiarity with MS Office, Power point, Outlook, Excel, Word, and infrastructure design software
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively with team members required.
• Ability to work under pressure
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
• Fluency in English and Hausa is required.

Success Factors

• The successful candidate will combine curiosity and strong technical skills, experience in WASH programs, and a want-to-do attitude. S/he will be an effective communicator, with dedication towards community work, commitment to work long hours in the field conditions with limited access to resources.
• S/He will be highly motivated, with initiative and capable to work with limited direct supervision.
• Ideally s/he will have previous experience in working in large-scale emergency programs in insecure and conflict-affected contexts, including remote management and capacity development.
• S/he will be willing to conduct several days-long field travels and work in ethnically and culturally diversified and fast growing team

Application Closing Date
22nd February 2017.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Cover letter and CV's in one document, addressing the position requirements to: [email protected] All applications must include the position title in the subject line and be not more than four pages.

Note

• Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview and we are an equal opportunity organization so women are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.