Position Title: Advisor, Utility Services 

Department/Program: Urban WASH

Level: TBD 

Reports to: Regional WASH services lead

Based in: Dire Dawa

Required number: One

Vacancy type: Internal/External

Duration of contract: Indefinite based on performance and availability of funds. 

Remuneration: As per organization pay scale plus other PSI/Ethiopia staff benefits. 

Vacancy posted date: December 13, 2024

Application Deadline: December 26, 2024

Who we are?

We’re Population Services International (PSI), the world’s leading non‐profit social marketing organization. We work to make it easier for people in the developing world to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire by marketing affordable products and services that range from mosquito nets to contraceptives to HIV testing. We are a $560m enterprise based in Washington, DC, operating in the private and public sectors in more than 65 countries.

Join us!

There are over 9,000 “PSI’ers” around the world. It’s a diverse group of entrepreneurs and professionals with an unusually wide range of backgrounds - from the medical industry to the music business - all with unique skills we bring to the job. 

PSI/Ethiopia wants to reimagine healthcare, put the consumer at the center, and whenever possible, bring quality care to the front door.  We achieve health impact in Ethiopia by working with both government and private partners and harvesting technology innovation to bring quality care closer to communities, schools, and homes.   We empower consumers by including them in the design of healthcare solutions, offering them more healthcare choices, and helping them to have a voice in influencing national priorities.  We work with all market actors in the health system to understand their needs, designing and delivering solutions so that market systems can sustainably serve consumers for the long term, helping to support the Government of Ethiopia in achieving Universal Health Coverage.

We are looking for aUtility Services Advisor to support Utilities to consolidate the corporatization process, improve operational efficiency to meet the performance standards based on the agreed key performance indicators. The Utility Services Advisor will work with utilities and is responsible for providing technical support and advice to utilities to enable them to professionalize WASH service provision.  The incumbent will work closely with the Addis Ababa-based technical teams to provide targeted technical assistance specifically in the design and implementation of performance improvement plans for the utility. Supports the development of citywide WASH services plans, and technical support  to  utility to improve their performance in all utility performance areas such as NRW reduction (coordinating with the 2nd Urban WSSP),   improving collection efficiency, customer management, supporting the creation of pro-poor unit  to address the low income  community wash services  need , review of tariff , Improving in operation and maintenance  of the wash infrastructure  and technical support the utility in reporting against key KPI.

Key Result Areas:

• Programmatic objectives in Hawassa (e.g., regional adoption, learning, growth performance)

• Water Utility Performance Improvement Plan covering all the key area of functions of utilities including 

• Coordination and integration of technical implementation activities of the two towns Dire Dawa and Harar. 

• Adviser services to utility managers to improve their services and other technical staff.

Sounds like you? Read on! 

Essential Functions

Under the supervision of Regional WASH services lead, the Utility Advisor will be responsible for the following:

• Designing and implementing a Utility Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)

• Support utilities in designing strategies to increase Water access to the low income   area ( pro-poor  community through improving the existing water source and identification of new water sources

• Technical support utility to establish the Pro poor unity and to increase water connection and sanitation services to  low income  households. 

• Support utilities in preparing plan and for the ground water /well field management monitoring and ensure the institutionalizing of the activity in the utility route activities 

• Support utility to develop preventive operation and maintenance plans and make sure that utilities have in placed the monitoring mechanism and technical support the implementation and support utility to produce the period report WASH infrastructure rehabilitated or constructed by USAID Urban WASH  project 

• Support utility to have climate resilience WASH strategy, Water and sanitation safety plan

• Support utilities and municipalities in the development, execution, reporting the performance based on the agreed KPIs.

• Support utilities and municipality in fecal sludge management across the value chain to improve access to safely managed sanitation services

• Assist in developing goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities for Water Utility. 

• Plan, direct, coordinate, supervise, and review the work of consultants when necessary. 

• Assist in the development and monitoring of the overall budget for Water Utility. 

• Additional assignments as required by the management and/or immediate supervisor (Delegation) 

Job Requirements

What are we looking for? The basics

• Master’s degree in civil, water engineering, sanitation, environmental science, management, Business Administration, Marketing, Economics or related field with four (4) years of demonstrated experience in a water and sanitation utility, of which two (2) years at a managerial level in a water utility or business development-related programs. 

  OR

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environment, management, Business Administration, Marketing, Economics or related fields with at least six (6) years of demonstrated experience in a water utility, of which two (2) years at a managerial level. 

• Experience in a water supply and sanitation enterprise is key for this position. 

Key Competencies

• Demonstrated experience in Working with water utility in the past and involved in the capacity building of water utilities in different area include operation and maintenance, water quality monitoring, business development 

• Preferably experience in Capacity building of water utilities and having the experience in NRW, institutional development, Technical management of water utilities, experience in directly working with utilities 

• Excellent communication, strong leadership/management skills, 

• Proficient in English and Amharic languages/ / both in oral and written communication

• Knowledge of regional languages is preferred.

• Comfortable using Microsoft Office and mobile applications.

• Willingness to be based in the regional office at the Dire Dawa water utility  

How to Apply

Are you intrigued? Apply!

By following our 3 steps application process:

1. Fill out the mandatory application form using THIS LINK. It will only take 5 to 10 minutes.

2. Send your CV and application letter to recruitment@psiet.org clearly mark “Application for Advisor, Utility Services Position” in the subject line.

3. Check your email and make sure you receive an automatic response acknowledging receipt of your CV. If you don’t receive the automatic response, check again your subject line and if needed, re-submit your CV and application letter with the correct subject.

Application deadline is December 26, 2024. We’ll call or e-mail you back if there is a good fit on both sides.

PSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.