Position Title:   WASH Officer

 Duty Station: Gode

 Open Position:  One  

About 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 partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.  Now, and for the future. We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. During our 34-year history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world. Mercy Corps Ethiopia invites motivated and qualified candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

Program / Department Summary

As part of its humanitarian response program, Mercy Corps is anticipating USAID/BHA funded Humanitarian Assistance and Recovery Program (HARPII) to respond to the immediate needs of vulnerable individuals in the Somali, SNNP and Oromia regions to meet their immediate WASH, Nutrition and Health requirements and basic needs to navigate through stresses and shocks.

He/ She will further ensure that all WASH activities are done in a context-sensitive manner, and holistically coordinated with other Mercy Corps projects including livelihoods, health and nutrition sectors and other stakeholders. In addition, he/she will contribute to the proper representation of Mercy Corps and establish strong linkage with government, UN agencies, and other key stakeholders.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to field level hygiene promotion officer on potential involvement in new WASH interventions and internal WASH capacity for implementation.

• Define appropriate policies, guidelines, and protocols for the WASH activities of Mercy Corps in consultation with other field managers and in line with relevant government, Sphere and WHO guidelines.

• Carry out regular monitoring visits in conjunction with other staff, ensuring that project objectives are met within the stated timeframes.

• Maintain an oversight of WASH NFI supplies, and water quality standards ordered for the emergency WASH project, supporting the WASH and logistics staff in the coordination and quality control of WASH supplies.

• Whenever necessary (highly technical activities) prepare design documents, bill of quantities, organizes a competitive bidding process with the procurement team to select the most qualified and cost-effective contractor.

• Ensures all emergency WASH activities are implemented in accordance with the Mercy Corps, donor and government guidelines and policies.

• Ensure appropriate design, construction, and implementation of WASH facilities according to technical standards. Prepare drawings, Bill of Quantities and contract document; lead the bid evaluation and related contract administration components of the project.

• Ensures application of best-practices in the WASH interventions.  Ensures a coherent, community-based and market approach to emergency WASH services.

• Documents and disseminates success stories and lessons learned.

• Conducts participatory surveys, needs assessments, data and information collection as per the needs and schedules of the program.

• Guide program officers and team in, and support, joint community-based analysis and awareness-raising around resource conditions, and the interests and needs among multiple key stakeholders.

• Oversee processes in relation to community priorities and needs of Water schemes.

• Work closely with the other emergency technical and mobile team and field level advisors to support timely implementations of action plans.

 Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.

• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support. 

 Program Management

• Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations. 

• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.

• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.

• Develop partners’ MoUs and contracts & oversee a training program for program partners.

• Develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process as well as WASH, psychosocial and capacity building of partners.

• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.

• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.

• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.

• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

 Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.

• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.

• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

 Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.

• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

 Influence & Representation

• Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.

• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

 Security

• Ensure 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.

 Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. 

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• BSc Degree in Hydraulic and or Water Resources Engineering or related field. 5 years of experience in WASH projects including infrastructure development.

• Key programmatic knowledge includes project formulation and design, SBCC, and project management.

• NGO/Private sector experience has a significant advantage.

• Excellent team and interpersonal relationship skills, especially in a cross-cultural setting, required.

• Ability to take direction, follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.   

Success Factors

Good organizational skills

• Ability to analyze complex situations and to make recommendations for improvement of and contribute to overall program strategy.

• Experience in conducting training and workshops.

• Experience with monitoring and evaluation.

• Willingness and ability to perform fieldwork and travel to the most remote areas.

• Hard-working, honest, dedicated, ability to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels – with colleagues, government and military officials, community leaders and community members.

 Success Factors

• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions like long distance.

• Good interpersonal and communication skills

• Experience in closely working with regional, Zonal and Woreda Health

• Ability to prepare program reports Knowledge in local language.

• Communication skill, good human relations

• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

 GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the

• realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute to the execution)

• Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners, and program participants.

Security

• Ensure 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.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to Apply

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised.  All applications submitted electronically include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and    diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

Link:- CLICK HERE

                                  DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 11 June 2023/ 4:00 PM