WASH Senior Program Officer Vacancy at Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we collaborate to put bold solutions into action – helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within, now and for the future. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps operates in over 13 states focusing on key thematic areas of humanitarian response, conflict mitigation and adolescent girls’ empowerment.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: WASH Senior Program Officer

Location: Dikwa/Ngala

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, GAC 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 WASH Senior Program Officer is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene sector interventions including water and sanitation infrastructure rehabilitation and hygiene promotion activities in the three (3) above mentioned locations in Borno state, Northeast Nigeria
• The Senior Program Officer will work closely with the Team Leader, Head of Office, and support staff (including finance, operations, and administration) to ensure that activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality.
• The position includes the daily management of WASH program staff.
• The WASH Senior Program Officer reports directly to the Team Leader and will work closely with the WASH Officers and other Program Officers.

Essential Job Responsibilities 
Strategy and Vision:

• Recognize opportunities to evolve the current humanitarian portfolio into a more effective and impactful portfolio addressing the changing needs of conflict-affected populations.
• Contribute to country-wide strategy development.

Representation and Coordination:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with communities, local authorities, WASHCOMs, Sanitation Brigades and other stakeholders.
• Ensure effective coordination with relevant working groups including UN Agencies, ICRC and colleagues I/NGO agencies.

Program Management:

• Oversee the implementation of all WASH sector activities and administration of the teams across three field locations;
• Develop activity work plans, manage day-to-day activity implementation, and conduct quality control visits;
• With guidance from the WASH Programme Manager, design and oversee technical and social WASH assessment tools;
• Analyze assessment data and develop appropriate messaging related to water, sanitation and hygiene behaviors in targeted communities;
• Prepare detailed project designs, estimates and drawings as required, including lists of materials, labor, and technical specifications;
• In collaboration with the WASH Programme Manager, assist the procurement team to prepare tender documents, review the technical profiles of contractors, and ensure materials procured meet required quality standards;
• Ensure the use of construction supervision check lists for each site to document progress and quality standards;
• Conduct regular monitoring at WASH infrastructure project sites;
• Promote community involvement and ownership in all water and sanitation activities and infrastructure projects and advise on hand-over protocols and activities;
• In collaboration with the WASH Programme Manager, perform final inspection of completed WASH infrastructure projects, and ensure that technical, safety and environmental standards have been met;
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, document filing, and monitoring and evaluation systems (to track, analyze and report on results) for both internal and external use;
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate;
• Ensure program filing system is in place, adheres to internal and donor regulation and filing is regularly maintained;
• Adhere to all MC policies related to security, operations and transport/ logistics information related to programming.

Team Management:

• Supervise, hire and orient team members, as necessary;
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence;
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews;
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives;
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Identify any gaps or capacity needs within the team and ensure training and capacity building is incorporated into program planning.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• In collaboration with the WASH Programme Manager, ensure compliance with all donor and Mercy Corps regulations;
• In collaboration with the WASH Programme manage, contribute to WASH sector activity budgets and project monthly cash flow.

Security:

• Observe 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.

Other:

• 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or higher 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.
• 3-4+ years in community based water and sanitation project preferably in urban context
• Experience in water supply systems: boreholes, pumping, basic hydraulics, etc.
• Fluency in both verbal and written English highly preferred. Fluency in Kanuri is required
• Multi-tasking, coordination, organization, prioritization skills essential. Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing
• 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
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills.

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 and must be able to problem solve and multi-task on a range of administrative and programmatic issues.
• S/He will also have a good understanding of humanitarian principles and their application to program implementation is required.
• Should be able to supervise, mentor and coach a diverse team.
• 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.

Deadline: 7th June, 2017.

How To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit CV’s and Cover Letter in one document, addressing the position requirements to: ng-recruitment.nigeria@mercycorps.org 

Note

• All applications must include the position title in the subject line, be not more than four pages.
• 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.