WASH Officer South Sudan Uror

Position:                                  WASH Officer (Emergency) – 2 Positions. 

Reports to / Supervision of:     WASH & Shelter Coordinator

Context:                                    Humanitarian / Emergency

Duty station:                            Uror, Jonglei state (Field based)

Norwegian refugee council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization. Our task is to improve international protection of refugees and internally displaced persons and offer humanitarian assistance regardless of race, nationality or political views. 

Our efforts are founded on the principal that all human beings are entitled to a life in peace, liberty, safety, and equality, as this is expressed in the universal declaration of human rights. NRC has been working in South Sudan since 2004. Our core activities include WASH, Education, Shelter & Settlement, Cash and Markets, and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA). 

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s core values; Dedication,Innovation, Inclusivity and Accountability. These attitudes and believes shall guide our actions and relationships.  

1. Role and responsibilities

The purpose of the WASH Officer is to be responsible for the implementation of WASH activities of the project including; Coordinating rehabilitation of boreholes, Construction of sanitation facilities and Design plans and development of BOQs and participation in report writing from the field. The WASH/construction officer shares regular updates with the programme WASH coordinator concerning project implementation and any other situation that require immediate action. 

The following is a brief description of the role. 

Generic responsibilities (max 4)

These responsibilities shall be the same for all positions with the same title. The responsibilities shall be short and essential. Details belong in the Work- and Professional Development Plan.

1. Coordinate the WASH activities according to strategy, proposals, budgets and plans.

2. Develop technical specifications and bills of quantities (BOQ) for works.

3. Managing WASH assistant and incentives workers, pump mechanics, community hygiene promotors, school hygiene clubs, Water user committee: 

4. Preparing weekly reports and including follow-up on the actions for improvements - preparing weekly reports and submitting to the WASH & Shelter Project Coordinator with the challenges and plans for the following week,

Specific responsibilities 

• Assist the WASH & Shelter Project Coordinator in all aspects of WASH programs planning implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

• Provides technical supports to WASH Assistants and local counterparts on issues of WASH information and communication strategies.

• Assess the WASH training needs of the community base workers and assists in the development of appropriate training materials and plans.

• Representing NRC on different forums (WASH Cluster, specific working groups, etc.) at the county level.

• Rehabilitation and repair of boreholes and other water points liaising with the authorities and partners. Rehabilitating India Mark II/Mark III boreholes and Duba tropic pump; handing over to community; keeping photo documentation; preparing works reports. 

• Preparing tools for WASH technical activities - forms, designs of technical structures (latrine structures, water systems), BoQs, technical manuals, guidelines, contracts, completing certificates etc. 

• Designing a completion certificate for constructors and advice on the payment process of the constructor,

• Liaising with Logistics Department to prepare/organize field trips and purchases of WASH supplies and to release spares from the stock for carrying out activities. 

• Upgrading boreholes to mini or full water yards – providing technical design for water yards; carrying out technical analysis of given water point; purchasing necessary materials (sand, gravel etc.), assessing its quantities; liaising with causal laborers; erecting the structure; conducting bio-chemical analysis of water; preparing community hand over reports.

• Cooperation with local authorities and local communities – attending meetings, taking notes, informing the WASH & Shelter Project Coordinator about the outcome of meetings attended.

• Facilitating appropriate community involvement in the design and delivery of essential WASH services and facilities – mobilizing of Local Hand Pump Mechanics and providing information on water source operation and maintenance to communities.

• Cooperation with and training for local Pump Mechanics and Water User Committees – mobilizing communities; ensuring trainings are well balanced in terms of gender and age; carrying out trainings; keeping records of attendees.

• Regular water quality tests – getting oneself familiar with DelAqua kit; designating sources for analysis (household/water point); collecting samples; incubating samples in the laboratory; presenting results in digital form (Excel file).

• Setting up surface water treatment plants (SWATs).

• Constructing emergency latrines and rehabilitating existing institutional latrines. 

• Participation in carrying out WASH assessments and report writing once required.

• Cooperation with the WASH & Shelter Project Coordinator in general, and specifically in managing procurement and logistics for project-related equipment and material - preparing and revising purchase requests from the technical side; analyzing quantities and quality of material for carrying out activities in accordance with NRC standards.

• Cooperating with the Monitoring and Evaluation team – conducting baseline and post-intervention surveys and any other relevant assessments in the given context.

• Maintaining an accurate record and taking proper care of all field equipment and material stocks for the NRC WASH Team. Representing NRC on different forums (WASH Cluster, specific working groups, etc.),

• Keeping proper records of field expenditures and reporting accordingly.

• Documentation and monitoring of water infrastructure, water point mapping in cooperation with other stakeholders. 

• Assessing water points; collaborating with other WASH actors in given location as well as authorities and communities; analyzing the data for further repairs and upgrades

• Writing interventions reports in English using NRC templates.

• Translating program IEC materials into vernacular or any other languages when required.

• Assists in the compilation of weekly and monthly WASH reports, program documents, project proposals, and budgets.

• Conducts water quality testing and sanitary inspection at water points.

• Assists in the establishment, and training of water point committees as well as monitoring their performance.

• Adherence to NRC policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines, policies and procedures and other NRC tools and handbooks.

Critical interfaces

By interfaces, NRC means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons. Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• Project planning: WASH & Shelter project coordinator. 

• Area operations: Logistic support. 

• Staff capacity building:  WASH PC, WASH PDU. 

• Implementation: PC, WASH officers, incentives workers, pump mechanics, community hygiene promoters. 

Scale and scope of position

1. Competencies 

Competencies are important for the employee and the organization to deliver desired results. They are relevant for all staff and are divided into the following two categories:

 1. Professional competencies 

These are skills, knowledge and experience that are important for effective performance. 

Generic professional competencies for this position: 

• Degree or higher diploma in WASH, Civil, hydrological engineering or related field. 
• Minimum experiences of 2-3 years of working with humanitarian in preferably in WASH or engineering related.

• Good technical drafting or reading skills (ability to understand engineering designs, technical drawings, and BoQs).

• Computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel); familiarity with mapping/design tools (AutoCAD, ArcGIS, GPS) is an added advantage.

• Ability to mitigate and mediate conflict and disagreements amongst teams. 

• Experience in integration of WASH and other sectors (such as WASH, Education, Shelter & Settlement, Cash and Markets, and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA, Health, Nutrition,) and effectively engage communities in the implementation process.

• Mainstreaming of gender, disability inclusion and accountability to affected populations in WASH programming.

• Knowledge on Emergency and Recovery interventions (post disaster interventions).
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal. 
• Demonstrated previous experience from working in the related position. 

Context related skills, knowledge and experience (shall be adapted to the specific position): 

• Ability to plan and lead.

• Experience in representing NRC and participating in meetings such as Humanitarian coordinations and cluster meetings when delegated. 

• Ability to work independently in a result oriented multi-tasking and multi-culture environment and managing conflicts issues. 

• Knowledge on prioritization of disadvantaged groups or population (IDPs, marginalized groups, returnees, GBV victims etc.). 

• Flexibility and time management. 

• Knowledge of the local languages

• Knowledge of the local context (areas of operations). 

• Knowledge of good practice standards: SPHEREstandards. 

• Proven strategic experience in implementing community WASH projects.

2. Behavioural competencies (max 6)

These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job. NRC’s Competency Framework states 12 behavioural competencies, and the following are essential for this position:

• Planning and producing results.
• Team spirit and management. 
• Empowering others. 
• Communicating with respect and impact. 
• Team spirit. 

• Working in insecure environments. 

1. Performance Management

The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with NRC Performance Management Manual. The following documents will be used for performance reviews: 

• The Job Description. 

• The individual Work- and Professional Development Plan.

• The Competency Framework.

1. Application Procedure

• The applicant must provide a detailed updated CV with as a motivation letter with an explanation as to why he or she would like to work for NRC and why he/she is the best candidate for this position.

• The applicant must have a valid nationality certificate or passport. 

• Contact details including phone numbers and email address plus three referees are all essential. 

• Applications must be submitted not later than __________ in an enclosed enveloped marked with the position tittle: WASH Officer 

• Please do not submit original certificates; submitted application documents will not be returned (Hard copies are only accepted) or email application respectively. 

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.