About oxfam

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of the international confederation Oxfam.

Background

Access to latrine facilities and water supply is limited in most of the IDP sites in the Tigray region due to conflict and people are practicing open defecation and facing water shortage. To tackle this water hygiene and sanitation problem in the IDPs as well as in the affected host community in Border of Tigray and Amhara region, where IDPs have already started integrating with the host community, Oxfam designed the project to address this lack of access to water, latrine facilities and awareness of the community and IDPs in Tigray crises. 

As part of this project, Oxfam will work with the local government and partners in reducing the open defecation practice and accessing water supply through rehabilitation and, maintenance of water scheme, community awareness, using a participatory approach, and involving communities in constructing communal latrines for IDPs and affected host communities. 

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organization.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Our team

To work closely with Oxfam’s implementing partners in project target areas (IDPs and affected host communities) in Tigray by providing support in order to meet Oxfam standards and ensuring quality at each level within the project time frame. This will be implemented through partners and directly by Oxfam.

Job purpose

To provide technical support to local partners on water sanitation Engineering (PHE) programme ensuring quality, community-based intervention that considers sustainable coping mechanisms in the current Tigray conflict, building the capacity of the IDPs, affected host communities to create better awareness in Water hygiene and sanitation. Particularly, the work requires providing and/or supervising the provision of technical support and assistance to the local partners' project within an area of specialism. in close coordination with the PHP team and ensuring community participation and integration with EFSL, Gender, and protection.

Core details

Location: To be based in Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Salary: As per the Oxfam benefit package

Internal Grade: D2, National

Job Family: Programme

Contract type: Fixed-Term contract.

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week. This is a full-time role; however, Oxfam offers various flexible arrangements which candidates can discuss with the Recruiting Manager at interview stage

This role reports to: WASH Team Leader

Staff reporting to this post: None

Annual budget for the post: N/A

Key relationships/interactions:

Screening checks: All successful candidates will be screened through Refinitiv World-Check One to comply with counter terrorism and financial sanctions regulations

References: Should you be successful and not already employed by Oxfam GB, we will require minimum of two references covering five years of employment history.

DBS checks (for roles based in the UK):

It is a requirement in the UK for a new DBS check at enhanced level for every new member of staff who works directly with, or has regular contact with, children or vulnerable adults in the UK (consistent with DBS guidance and relevant law). N/A

DIMENSIONS: 

• Under the direct supervision of WASH TL, the position holder will be responsible for planning, managing, and direct supervision of WASH infrastructure construction and rehabilitation activities in IDPs and affected host community in Tigray. The PHE officer will support the local partners.
• Strengthen alliance building and develop cooperation with partners and stakeholders during WASH (PHE&PHP) projects implementation.
• Managing/ supervising resources within defined boundaries or a specialist area, which may include people, assets, and/or budgets.
• Providing professional advice to partners and managers and on areas of work covered in their remit.
• Influences the development of strategy and ensures and supports operational implementation.
• Provide capacity-building support for Oxfam PHE assistants and local partners.
• Develops solutions to diverse and complex problems within organizational policy.
• Interprets and applies operational and specialist information in a variety of formats from a variety of sources.
• Assist in developing and checking technical drawings and bill of quantities on water and sanitation.
• Flexibility to anticipate and resolve challenges within corporate or divisional parameters, with moderate scope.
• Contribute to and influence partners' operational planning.
• Influence Oxfam and partner’s managers, and staff working in the response to develop effective networks with external bodies. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational

• Support WASH TL in providing technical support to all project related to public health engineering in his /her lead role in planning, designing, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure high-quality programmes
• Support to local partners in providing technical support on designing and implementation

Training /Capacity Building:

• In close discussion with the WASH team leader undertake regular field visits to each location of Tigray crises and partner program implementation areas to review programs and build partner capacity in quality program implementation through coaching and support supervision.
• Provided technical capacity building to Oxfam PHE team and partners more importantly during designing, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of project activities
• Build the capacity of the Oxfam team and partners to produce quality project reports
• Support PHE assistant and partners PHE teams in identifying capacity gaps and assist in the planning of relevant training to address the gaps
• Participating in the workshops and training to support the implementation of Oxfam and partners.
• Supporting development and standardization of program work plans, implementation tools, and reporting templates.
• Provide constructive feedback to local partners for learning and development

Programme Implementation:

• Support in planning, implementation, and coordination of technical WASH needs assessment in communities, schools, IDP to identify new needs and ensure findings are well enumerated and incorporated in overall programming
• Provide technical support to local partners to implement high-quality WASH interventions.   
• To work closely with implementing partners, key government authorities to design the most appropriate emergency water systems including storage, treatment, and distribution networks as well as rehabilitation of existing systems as per the IDP set up and Oxfam standards.
• To select, design, and implement the most appropriate forms of sanitation systems which include excreta disposal, refuse disposal, and drainage as highlighted in the proposal.
• Developing bill of quantities and computer-aided designs with AutoCAD and ArchiCAD according to recommended engineering standards.
• To liaise closely with partners government authorities and line ministries throughout the planning, design, and implementation stages of water and sanitation activities.
• Coordinate the proper implementation/execution of project activities as per the required quality, according to work plan, and budget.
• Follow with local partners procurement process of construction materials and tools on time with clear specification and quantity and follow up for on time procurement and delivery to site
• Work closely with other Oxfam departments to integrate water and sanitation programming across all sectors.
• Ensure that all Oxfam and Partners program activities are in line with minimum requirements laid out in Oxfam Minimum requirements for PHE in emergencies and Sphere standards
• To liaise closely with the Public Health Promotion Team throughout the planning, design, and implementation stages of the Public Health Engineering Programme.
• Ensure priority areas such as gender equality and HIV/AIDS mainstreaming are integrated into all hygiene and sanitation interventions and technical support to local partners.
• Ensure that PHE and PHP are effectively integrated into designing, implementing, and monitoring all the Programmes.
• To promote and support technical training of WASH committees, health extension IDPs volunteers, and DOWN staff
• Provide technical support for the woreda rural water supply team
• Ensure project resources in the construction sites are utilized effectively and efficiently.
• Liaise with a local partners to ensure work completion certificates are issued upon completion of activities and payment certificates are prepared for approval. Payment requests are prepared and submitted for payment as agreed in the contract.

Documentation and Representation:

• Provide regular verbal and written reports to the Tigray WASH Team Leader, frequency of such reports to be agreed directly depending upon the nature and scale of activities.
• Work with the project team and partners to provide technical inputs to develop a high-quality report
• Support the WASH team leader in identifying needs and addressing technical gaps in the planning
• As part of an integrated team, contribute towards planning and proposal writing to provide clear objectives and establish indicators for monitoring and evaluating the programme.
• Contribute to regular reports adhering to OXFAM reporting formats at intervals to be decided by the Program Manager/WASH team leader

Co-ordination and Networking

• Liaise closely with the project PHE and Oxfam protection and gender team throughout the planning, design and implementation stages of public health activities. As appointed by the WASH team leader, represent Oxfam PHE team at Zonal and Woreda level WASH cluster meetings and technical working groups relating to WASH in the specified project areas.
• Coordinate with all project partners and collaborating agency on the results of the water Quality Monitoring (the routine FRC monitoring and the periodical bacteriological water quality test result) and based on the result agree on activities to be undertaken.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support local partners, volunteers, affected woreda water bureau carry out regular supervision and regular monitoring to measure and report on achievement and progress toward project objective and results
• Ensure that IDPs and affected host communities, WASH infrastructure construction, and rehabilitation works are carried out according to BOQs, drawings, quality standards established by Oxfam through quality checklists. Promptly report gaps and bottlenecks in project implementation which represent constraints for the smooth implementation of the Oxfam program.
• Carry out field monitoring visits to document progress, observations, and experiences and share them with the WASH team leader
• Work closely with the MEAL team through timely beneficiaries’ data submission and data review as well influence their periodic monitoring field visits
• Monitor the capacity of partners and community mobilization activities by community health volunteers for quality assurance and prepare review reports with a recommendation for continuous quality improvement in collaboration with MEAL team

 Staff Management

• When required support HR for PHP Assistant, Volunteers, partner PHP staff recruitment, this includes writing a Job description, interviews, etc
• Ensure partner PHP staff are fully inducted in Oxfam’s ways of working, Aims, and Values.
• Provide capacity building to local partners and volunteers implementing Oxfam programming
• Assess staff capacity level and suggest areas of improvement to the PHE Team Leader who will support in devising clear and concise capacity training schedules accordingly.
• Provide day-to-day support to project staff including performance management, recruitment, spacing team leaves, and any other HR function involved in team management.
• Under the direct supervision of WASH TL, the position holder will be responsible for planning, managing, and direct supervision of WASH infrastructure construction and rehabilitation activities in IDPs and affected host community in Tigray. The PHE officer will support the local partners.
• Strengthen alliance building and develop cooperation with partners and stakeholders during WASH (PHE&PHP) projects implementation.
• Managing/ supervising resources within defined boundaries or a specialist area, which may include people, assets, and/or budgets.
• Providing professional advice to partners and managers and on areas of work covered in their remit.
• Influences the development of strategy and ensures and supports operational implementation.
• Provide capacity-building support for Oxfam PHE assistants and local partners.
• Develops solutions to diverse and complex problems within organizational policy.
• Interprets and applies operational and specialist information in a variety of formats from a variety of sources.
• Assist in developing and checking technical drawings and bill of quantities on water and sanitation. 
• Flexibility to anticipate and resolve challenges within corporate or divisional parameters, with moderate scope.
• Contribute to and influence partners' operational planning.
• Influence Oxfam and partner’s managers, and staff working in the response to develop effective networks with external bodies.
• Strengthen alliance building and develop cooperation with partners and stakeholders during WASH (PHE&PHP) projects implementation.
• Managing/ supervising resources within defined boundaries or a specialist area, which may include people, assets, and/or budgets.
• Providing professional advice to partners and managers and on areas of work covered in their remit.
• Influencing the development of strategy and ensures and supports operational implementation.
• Provide capacity-building support for Oxfam PHE assistants and local partners.
• Develops solutions to diverse and complex problems within organizational policy.
• Interprets and applies operational and specialist information in a variety of formats from a variety of sources.
• Assist in developing and checking technical drawings and bill of quantities on water and sanitation.
• Flexibility to anticipate and resolve challenges within corporate or divisional parameters, with moderate scope.
• Contribute to and influence partners' operational planning.
• Influence Oxfam and partner’s managers, and staff working in the response to develop effective networks with external bodies. 

Job Requirements

Essential - Experience, Knowledge, Qualifications & Competencies

• BSc Degree in civil or water engineering, construction management from a recognized university/college, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that can bring added value
• Relevant experience of 5+ years as engineering officer or construction supervisor, at least some of which should be related to water supply and sanitation in Emergency IDP and affected host community.
• Proven technical skills in the use of computer-aided drawing software (ArchiCAD and AutoCAD)
• Excellent knowledge about the importance of integrated approach (PHE / PHP / Livelihood) for conflict crises management
• Experience in working with local partners including local authorities
• Influencing and negotiation skills with internal and external audiences and confident representation skills Proven experience in gender analysis and integrating gender & diversity into programs;
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in changing situations
• Good knowledge and experience in working with local partner agencies with a capacity of providing formal and informal training to Oxfam and partner staff.
• Good spoken and written English and the ability to communicate fluently in the local language will be highly beneficial (e.g. Tigrigna)
• Good oral and written reporting skills.
• Diplomacy, tact, and negotiating skills.
• Personnel management skills.
• Good communication skills and ability to work well in a team
• Ability to work well under pressure and in response to changing

Desired

• Experience in NGO sector
• Knowledge of preparation of estimates/BOQ
• Good knowledge of supervision techniques
• Able to travel and work in conflict-affected areas
• Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts
• Commitment to Oxfam’s mission, aims & objectives.

Your commitment to Oxfam

• Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women's rights
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles

Key Attributes:

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Organizational Values:

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.
•  Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

Note to candidates: Shortlisted candidates will be assessed on our organizational values and attributes at the interview stage. The successful candidate(s) will be expected to adhere to our code of conduct. We encourage candidates to read and understand our code of conduct here.

How to Apply

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile through www.ethiojobs.net or using Oxfam internal application portal https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/or https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/13524/description on or before 31st January 2021.

Your application will be shortlisted based on your CV and your responses to the above questions. You need not comment on your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.