EH WASH Infrastructure Assistant at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: EH WASH Infrastructure Assistant

Requisition ID: req41356
Location: Katsinsa
Employment Type: Full-Time
Sector: Environmental Health
Employment Category: Regular
Position Reports to: EH/WASH Infrastructure Officer
Position directly supervises: WASH Com
Indirect Reporting: EH/WASH Manager, Consortium Management

Project Overview

• The BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance) project, “Integrated Emergency Response to the Displaced Population in Zamfara, Sokoto, And Katsina States, Northwest Nigeria” depending on fund availability will be carried out by a consortium led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in collaboration with the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima), Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), and Life Helpers Initiative (LHI), aims to leverage each partner's expertise to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people populations through area-based approach.
• The Consortium partners will provide an integrated multisectoral intervention in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Protection, and Multi-purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) activities in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states in collaboration with state governments, UN organizations and other key actors in Northwest Nigeria.
• The project will be implemented by a dedicated support, quality assurance, and coordination team, who will work closely with all partners through a management unit of well-structured consortium governance for the activity.

Job Overview / Summary

• The EH Water and Sanitation Assistant will report to the EH Officer – Water and Sanitation and will be primarily responsible for supervising all water and sanitation infrastructure works as directed by the EH Officer - Water and Sanitation.
• The main objective of this position is to support the EH Officer-Water and Sanitation in supervision and direct management of safe water and sanitation provision activities.  This will include field supervision of all construction and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure. 

Major Responsibilities

• Ensure water and sanitation infrastructure activities are implemented in a timely and professional manner while considering beneficiary needs as per the SPHERE standards.
• Conduct rapid and detailed assessments aimed at establishing knowledge, awareness, and practices of the target community with regards to sanitation and water infrastructure facilities.
• Assist the EH Infrastructure Officer in the design and implementation of the Water and sanitation infrastructure MEAL Plan.
• Maintain close work relation and collaboration with other IRC sectors and in particular Health, Nutrition, Protection, Gender, Child protection, Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE), and Economic Recovery and Development (ERD).

Grant Planning & Implementation:

• Directly implements the construction of water supply infrastructures including but not limited to drilling of shallow and deep boreholes, installation of hand pumps, installation of solar submersible pumps, construction of elevated water storage tanks, trenching and piping for water supply reticulation systems, construction of well aprons and communal tap stands with appropriate drainage.
• Directly implements the construction and installation of sanitation facilities including but not limited to Communal latrines, household latrines, Solid waste pits/bins, Hand washing stations, Drainage, Menstrual Hygiene Management facilities and bathing shelters.
• Identify and train Water Point attendants and Pump Technicians and motorized/solar systems Operators within WASH committees.
• Train and supervise skilled and unskilled daily workers during the installation and maintenance of WATSAN facilities.
• Coordinate closely with the EH Officer (Water and Sanitation) and EH Officer (Hygiene Promotion) on water quantity, location of water sources/communal taps while considering beneficiary proposals and needs.
• If required, supervise water trucking deliveries, water chlorination and water quality monitoring.
• Provide weekly reports of progress on the construction of water and sanitation facilities to EH Officer-Water and Sanitation.
• Provide regular water quality monitoring reports to EH Officer (Water and Sanitation).
• Seek guidance and approval from EH Officer – Water and Sanitation on any changes to approved designs for water supply including water trucking concerns.
• Maintain comprehensive control systems on materials and tools used including notes on quality of materials.
• Any other duty as assigned by the supervisor.

Grant Monitoring & Reporting:

• Daily volume of water supplied/delivered to location(s) including volumes and times of availability.
• Maintain records of number and location of all water collection points
• Maintain records of water quality monitoring.
• Routine O&M of water distribution system (s) and sanitation facilities including drainage around all water points and sanitation facilities.

Coordination & Representation:

• Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance, and grant staff to ensure timely and complaint program activities and expenditures, including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings.
• Undertake/participate in liaison, coordination, and information sharing activities with national NGOs, international organizations, donors, and government at field level.

Program Development:

• Assist the EH Officer – Water and Sanitation to identify, train and provide daily support to skilled and unskilled workers working in Water and Sanitation initial installations, operation, and maintenance activities.
• Supervise skilled and unskilled daily workers.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable work teams to successfully complete their tasks on time and within budget.
• Responsible for skilled and unskilled daily workers’ reports, timesheets, and work plans.

Others:

• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaise with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Qualifications

• B.Sc / Higher National Diploma in Civil, Water Resources, Building or Mechanical Engineering or Hydrogeology with hand on experience in developing and adopting emergency WASH technologies and designs experience in implementation of water and sanitation projects - relevant experience will supersede the formal qualification.
• 1-3 years professional experience with NGOs (INGO experience preferred)
• Competent communication skills, effective in representation and liaison
• Working knowledge of SPHERE standards
• Sound knowledge of English language
• Competent user of MS Applications: Word, Excel; Auto CAD or similar
• Knowledge of the Local language-Hausa
• Fluency in English and Hausa language preferred.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note
Working Environment: 

• Security level orange. The situation in Katsina is calm at the moment but remains tense and unpredictable; concerns include criminality. There is active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and other states.

Application Instructions:

• IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.