WASH Specialist - Water at WaterAid

Grade: E
Department: Service Delivery & Partnerships Unit, Programmes Directorate
Reports to: State Programme Lead
Contract Type: 1 year fixed term (renewable)
Direct Reports: NA
Travel: At least 60% time travel to support partners

Team Description

• WaterAid Nigeria has recently completed its 2016-2021 country programme strategy which sets a 5 year building block towards delivering a more influencing led programme over a 15 year horizon.
• This new country strategy rather than reflect a progression from previous country programme strategies, outlines key shifts in focus required to catalyse change and achieve maximum impact for our work in Nigeria.
• The recalibration of WaterAid Nigeria’s structure and programming architecture has placed the state as the focus of our work to maximize impact.

Specific Context

• WaterAid Nigeria is exploring a collaboration with UNICEF to deliver work in Zamfara State under the auspices of the DFID funded SHAWN II project.
• The Sanitation, Hygiene and Water in Nigeria (SHAWN) project will aim at strengthening the WASH enabling environment in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Zamfara State, working with state level systems towards increasing access to equitable and sustainable WASH services in Bakura, Shinkafi and Maru Local Government Areas (LGAs).
• The funding is for one year.

Job Purpose

• Under the direct supervision of the State Programme Lead, the State WASH specialist (water) will drive programmatic activities that will deliver water supply to rural communities in the target LGA in line with WaterAid and national drinking water quality standards.
• The role will also be responsible for strengthening capacity of state institutions to deliver much needed services to the population in the target LGA’s and communities

Key Accountabilities

• Ensure all infrastructure constructions to be implemented in the state are in line with WaterAid technical designs specifications and national standards. Support state and LGA’s to replicate similar standards and models in state and LGA financed constructions
• Ensure the mainstreaming of WaterAid key programme delivery approaches in the state including EIG (equity, inclusion and gender), sustainability models, Pro-Poor Approach, Risk Management, Health and Safety strategies/guidelines/policies etc 
• Identify and develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with key Water, Sanitation and Hygiene professionals in the state (e.g. government, donor community, service providers and utilities) and maintain them over time; Build and maintain effective network and collaboration with partners and key sector actors to achieve improved WASH access for the state.
• Work in close collaboration with communication team colleagues and voices from the field officers in the state to generate success stories, videos and case studies showcasing the quality of WaterAid work in the state.
• Develop a viable system than ensure the maintenance of services (WASH) and that involves community structures, state structures and private operators (district mechanics); Support the state institutions and LGAs and to develop their procurement and quality assurance processes for: groundwater assessments and waters systems design, water systems construction and water quality assurance processes
• Support the functionality of community management structures in line with best practices in every location where WaterAid has supported construction of WASH infrastructure.
• Promote understanding of WaterAid security and safety policy for construction sites by partners and communities and secure full compliance to these 
• Seek innovative approaches to develop community capacity and ownership of water quality surveillance activities and ensure routine reports of water quality assessments are collated and used to effect corrective measures

Person Specification
Essential Criteria:

• University Degree in Geology, or Civil Engineering. Applicants with Water Supply, Water Resources Management specialty will have an advantage
• Proven experience of at least (3) years’ in designing and implementing large scale WASH facilities suitable for a wide range of context
• Demonstrate a good understanding of the social and technical aspects of WASH programmes
• Demonstrable understanding of development programme management approaches 
• Prior experience working in the WASH sector, public, private or non-governmental
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to convey complex information clearly and persuasively
• Strong time management and organizational skills. 
• High level proficiency in the use of Microsoft suite of computer applications: MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint
• Good problem solving skills
• Commitment to WaterAid values and a working style that reflects these

Desirable Criteria:

• Five (5) years’ experience in designing and implementing WASH facilities  /WASH programmes of which at least 3 would ideally be in the area of public health, environmental health or community health management

Salary

• Competitive with excellent benefits