WASH Specialist at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. NRC advocates for the rights of displaced populations and offers assistance within the shelter, emergency food security, and water, sanitation and hygiene sectors.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: WASH Specialist

Job Identification: 10007
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Job type: Contract
Job Category: Analysis and Assessment
Duration and type of contract: 12-month

Job Description

• The WASH Specialist will provide technical oversight and strategic direction to Country and Area Offices to further the development of the WASH Core Competency (CC).
• The Specialist will assure the quality implementation for all projects’ WASH activities, collaboratively develop a country strategy, capacity-build staff through mentoring and training to increase the technical capacity of the staff, and develop a donor strategy to further grow the program.

Role and Responsibilities

• Responsible for technical innovative development and quality of CC in the country, holistic programming (with other CCs) and ensuring harmonisation and consistency across CC projects in line with NRC Programme Policy
• Lead the process of establishing proposals, budgets, modifications, project reviews, and reporting, ensure high technical quality and provide strategic guidance on programme design
• Take the lead on establishing and following quality project deliverables to ensure high technical outputs including but not limited to review of technical and safety assessments, bill of quantities, participation in tender processes and review of output
• Provide strategic leadership on the development of programming that includes self-reliance and durable solutions where appropriate 
• Support programmatic M&E and indicator tracking, WASH data and means of verification reviews, and follow-up in conjunction with project teams and the M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) department
• Ensure budgets, work plans and spending plans in line with donor budgets are developed and maintained by supporting Project Coordinators, Managers and Area Managers
• Develop and lead on conducting technical and safety assessments, needs assessments (in collaboration with Area Program teams, Protection team and M&E team), baseline, mid-and end-evaluations
• Represent NRC within the WASH sector, to relevant donors, government ministries and in relevant humanitarian coordination meetings in the country
• Actively promote and operationalize synergies between WASH and other NRC programmes to move toward integrated programming focussing on Shelter, Livelihood and ICLA (Information Counselling and Legal Assistance)
• Provide support and input to the recruitment processes for all WASH staff in the country
• Accountable for organisational learning from programme implementation, for sharing of best practices and for capacity building
• Keep an overview of the activity implementation and undertake field support visits post initiation of projects to evaluate needs: support areas and teams including raising red flags where needed 
• Develop and lead quality improvement plans, using quality benchmarks and Complaint and Feedback Mechanism (CFM) outcomes, and ensure continuous improvement. 

Professional competencies: 

• Minimum 4 years of experience within a humanitarian/recovery context
• Experience working in complex and volatile contexts
• Minimum 2 years of WASH expertise (as Specialist/Technical Adviser or Project Manager)
• Documented results from previous experience related to the position’s responsibilities 
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal 
• Knowledge of the Lake Chad Basin region and north-eastern Nigeria context specifically
• Advanced computer skills, especially in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Experience in team capacity building
• Experience with youth/adolescent programming, particularly vocational training is desired
• Experience with alternative WASH in a humanitarian context is an asset
• Understanding of SPHERE and Interagency Network for Education in Emergency (INEE) Minimum Standards is required

What we Offer

• 12-month contract duration with possibility of extension.
• Grade 9 in NRC’s Salary Scale. NRC offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. In the selection of our staff, we are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.
• An opportunity to work in one of the largest humanitarian emergencies and have an impact in a neglected context.

Application Closing Date
6th April, 2023.