Environmental Health Manager Re-Advert

Background: - 

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. We began work in Ethiopia since 2000 and currently implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response. 

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview: 

The Environmental Health Manager (EHM) reports to EH coordinator based  at Addis Ababa Technical Unit and Field Coordinator/Senior Program Manager at Adama Field Office responsible for the overall strategic and technical lead  the EH teams in Oromia region, Ethiopia  including sector strategy development, proposal development, conduct need assessment, project design, implementation,  report writing, technical oversight, staff management and development, administrative supervision, budget management, grants compliance and local partner relations/support. 

The position holder will also supporting operational implementation of the country WASH strategy that will steer the WASH sector towards overall efficiency and effectiveness in delivery of WASH services including awareness raising coordination work of safe sanitation and safe hygiene promotion works, and establishment of water scheme management system. The position holder will coordinate with local partners, field team and participate in coordination platforms (WASH, KPC surveys and assessments) representing the IRC. The EH manager will be based in Harer and is expected to travel a minimum of 60% of the time to project locations to support staff and monitor field activities.

Major responsibilities include: 

Project development and Implementation

• Ensure all WASH sector activities are performed and implemented with consistent approaches and quality, quantity and on time.
• Ensure proper and timely utilization of funds in WASH sector activities and budgets.
• Ensure that all interventions follow the IRC’s strategy action plan, national policies and international WASH standards including WHO Minimum Standards, National Minimum Standards, and SPHERE in consideration of Protection Standards.
• Ensure that all WASH projects are in compliance with the humanitarian principles, design and guidance.
• Ensure that EH projects are implemented in a timely and professional manner, according to goals, objectives, and indicators and in line with donor requirements and beneficiary needs.

• Maintain close contact with EH filed team to ensure effective technical, logistical and management support for all aspects of project implementation

• Provide guidance to EH filed team and review assessment and technical designs of water systems, ensure the quality of designs reports meet donor requirements.

• Ensure quality of construction and project delivery meet donor requirements

• Conduct needs assessments, project review assessments, and post-project impact assessments as needed.

• Coordinate and lead filed level Hygiene Promotion team and other technical unit members to ensure targeted support and effective, quality programming

• Advise partners and field staff on all technical aspects of WASH sector activities implementation, ensuring a unified and effective approach to achieving project milestones. 
• Organize technical training for project staff as required to enable them to implement the project strategy and activities effectively. 
• Identify and collate evidence base of context specific promising practices and support dissemination workshops to improve existing practices and introduce new practices and/or ideas among project partners. 
• Prepare or review all technical designs & BoQs, drawings, specifications, and tenders for a variety of water and sanitation interventions. 
• Ensure that effective engagement is maintained with communities and with local government partners, to ensure responsive and sustainable programming. 

Project monitoring and Evaluation

• Oversee the WASH components of the project in Oromiya, Ethiopia, with a focus on keeping activities on track for completion. Develop detailed physical activity in reference with budget plans and monitoring tools for the project, and monitor progress against plans ensuring that objectives and indicators are achieved. 
• Maintain regular contact with the field WASH staff through regular field visits to ensure that the WASH component of the project is carried out promptly, to a high quality and according to the project strategy. 
• Compile and submit WASH monthly and technical reports; verify and validate WASH project implementation reports received from partners (Output tracker, WASH Matrix Activity, Monthly/quarter Reports, ad hoc reports, donors report, etc). 
• Prepare monthly field reports incorporating activity and financial progress for project work across the country. 

• Monitor and ensure EH filed staff have the capacity and understand tools and timelines to monitor – spending and implementation against work, procurement, and spending plans, including monthly analysis of financial reports; identify and flag issues in a timely fashion, working in collaboration with Grants, Finance, and Supply Chain teams as needed to jointly address them in accordance with donors’ rules and regulations.

• Conduct regular monitoring and technical support visits to project sites.

Coordination & representation 

• Represent IRC in WASH cluster coordination meeting at all levels and collect and share monthly updates including 4W’s matrixes with clusters on time. 
• Build links with WASH stakeholders to share knowledge, experience and ideas. 
• Represent the to the IRC with local communities, government departments, international agencies, local partners, donors and cluster coordination as required. 
• Attend relevant meetings as required. 
• Ensure regular communication with Field-based WASH Unit technical staff for feedback, updates and guidance as required. 

• Ensure that effective engagement and coordination is maintained across IRC technical teams; between EH and operational departments (e.g. HR, Supply Chain, and Finance). 

• Ensure provision of timely inputs of high quality to the Grants Unit in the preparation of donor and any internal reports, as well as project proposals and concept notes.
• Closely working in coordination with filed and Addis MEAL team on project follow up, data capturing, data feeding in the system, analysis. etc.

Operations (HR, Logistics and Finance) 

• Identify training needs and ensure that members of the WASH sector team receive appropriate training (including mentoring, on-the-job sessions as well as formal trainings). 

• Identify staffing needs and assist with recruitment when necessary and orientation of staff 

• Conduct EH filed team performance reviews.

• Strive to improve and maintain overall team atmosphere and foster team-building relationships

• Monitor ongoing capacity building activities in the EH team, identify gaps and capacity building needs, propose and undertake targeted trainings to improve overall team capacity.

• Mentor and support EH team to increase their ability to perform effectively. 

• Support the EH field staff in designing & organizing training/workshops for members for host communities.

• Ensure that high priority purchases are monitored and prioritized by the logistics team. 
• Ensure that tenders are prepared in accordance with the projects logistics requirements and the WASH sector standards. 
• Monitor and ensure spending against plan and analyze monthly financial reports. Alert the concerned management team of any anomalies and propose corrective actions. 
• Subsequently follow up with the implementation of the agreed corrective actions. 
• Regularly follow up and monitor WSAH projects financial Powe BI and ensure timely utilization of budget in consultation with finance and supervisor. 
• Monitor, facilitate regular financial Power BI monitoring with field team (finance, SC, HR and Technical units 

• Develop and maintain tools to monitor project progress, financial commitments and expenditures against budgets as necessary. 

• Maintain budget plans & monitor spending for allocated EH budgets
• Ensure preparation of item forecast, reviewing it and facilitate SC to upload on the system, and follow the approval process and procurement of the required items in timely manner.
• Ensure development of dimensional codes (D2) in coordination with filed team, finance and sc.

Reporting, proposal and grant unit.

• Mainly participate on project development proposals in collaboration with Hygiene promotion team, , and Technical Coordinators at Addis based on the donor templets and formats and share the proposal timely.

• Follow the smooth implementation of the project activities at project site level and share implementation reports to the Field coordinator and Technical Coordinator.

• Reporting any change on the context of the project timely to the Field coordinator, Addis technical coordinator and gran unit for acting timely.

• Work and share donor reports and government reports regarding the active grants to Addis technical Coordinator, Field Coordinator, and grant unit.

• Participate and give inputs on project cycle meetings arranged with the grant unit, work on the action areas proposed on the meetings and update on the next action in collaboration with the grant unit. 

• Work in collaboration with field team and Addis technical team on RFPs for the project proposal development and shared with grand unit. 

• Address any feedback and comments on the donor reports and technical documents requested by the donor.

• Timely share any changes, realignment, and new plans of project indicators during project implementation based on the budget and context on the ground.

• Conduct regular project review meetings with staff to assess the level of achievement of project targets for the various EH grants.

Safeguarding Responsibilities: - 

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies

Job Requirements

Education Requirements: 

• BSc or MSc in hydraulic engineering, water resource engineering and civil engineering field from a recognized University. 
• At least MSC degree and 3 years’ experience or BSC degree and 4 years’ experience in related sectors including experience in WASH sector development and emergency or post-conflict project management. 

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Strong technical experience in areas of WASH program design, and implementation, proposal development, project management, and emergency Responses, professional capacity development, staff management, and coordination and working with others. 
• NGO experience is desired. 
• Have excellent skills on Epanet, AutoCad, and other engineering software. 

• Very good at computer skill- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point and e-mail) and use of SPSS and related software

• Strong critical thinking and proposal writing skills. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to learn with new environment. 
• Ability to work productively under stress while maintaining a sense of humor. 

Language Skills

• Strong written and verbal language skills in English.

• Local language knowledge is advantageous.

How To Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website: 

IRC Carrer Site: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req53372/Environmental-Health-Manager-Re-Advert

• Please include 3 references from current and former employers.
• Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.
• Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information. 

• Name of the position you have applied for 

• Date of application 

• Summary of  your qualifications and experience 

• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address 

• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees. 

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients. 

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.