EH WASH Infrastructure Officer at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Overview/Summary

The WASH Officer will support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities in Borno State. The position will ensure effective management of water and sanitation infrastructure while promoting good hygiene practices among target communities to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with waterborne and fecal-oral diseases.

The WASH Officer will ensure that all activities follow approved technical standards and contribute to maintaining high quality programs.

Major Responsibilities

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy

• Support the implementation of hygiene promotion and water/sanitation infrastructure activities in line with SPHERE standards.
• Conduct rapid and detailed assessments to understand community hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
• Assist the EH/WASH Manager in planning and implementing hygiene promotion, water supply, and sanitation activities.
• Coordinate closely with other IRC sectors including Health, Nutrition, Protection, Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Child and Youth Protection and Development (CYPD), and Economic Recovery and Development (ERD).
• Support the implementation and monitoring of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in supported health and nutrition facilities.
• Ensure the availability and proper functionality of WASH facilities in health care settings, including safe water supply, handwashing stations, sanitation facilities, and waste management systems.
• Support the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of WASH infrastructure in health facilities, including handwashing stations, incinerators, placenta pits, waste pits, and drainage systems.
• Conduct regular IPC and WASH facility assessments using standard tools and checklists.
• Promote adherence to minimum WASH in Health Care Facility standards and relevant national guidelines.
• Provide technical support and training to health facility staff on hand hygiene, safe water handling, environmental cleaning, and healthcare waste management.
• Monitor the functionality of hand hygiene stations and water supply systems in health and nutrition facilities.
• Coordinate with Health and Nutrition teams to ensure integration of IPC measures within facility-based services.
• Support routine water quality monitoring in health facilities to ensure safe water for patient care and hygiene practices.

Program Development

• Develop and regularly update detailed work plans to meet grant timelines and completion targets.
• Guide and supervise staff to ensure quality and timely implementation of activities.
• Support the EH Manager in designing hygiene promotion activities and related monitoring tools.
• Participate in the design and execution of water supply infrastructure (e.g., boreholes, hand pumps, solar pumps, water tanks, piping systems, tap stands).
• Engage in the design and construction of sanitation facilities (e.g., latrines, waste pits, handwashing stations, drainage systems, MHM facilities).
• Ensure programs uphold accountability, gender sensitivity, protection, and inclusiveness.
• Recommend technical approaches and methods for hygiene promotion activities.
• Provide technical support and training for community hygiene promoters, water point attendants, pump technicians, and system operators.
• Prepare regular reports and maintain detailed documentation of results and activities.
• Oversee emergency water supply logistics, including water trucking and accurate record-keeping.
• Supervise water delivery, chlorination, and quality monitoring, if needed.
• Submit weekly progress reports on WASH facility construction to the EH Manager.
• Share regular water quality reports with the EH Manager.
• Obtain approval from the EH Manager for any design or supply-related changes.
• Keep accurate records of materials, tools, and their quality.
• Collaborate with EH staff and M&E on water-related issues and site planning.
• Provide periodic and special reports as required.
• Assist in onboarding new national staff when necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Grant Monitoring & Reporting

• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to track progress and ensure technical quality.
• Identify implementation challenges and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Ensure accurate and timely data collection for program monitoring and evaluation.
• Contribute to internal and donor reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual).

Coordination & Representation

• Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and complaint program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings
• Undertake/participate in liaison, coordination, and information sharing activities with national NGOs, international organizations, donors and government at field level.

Job Requirements

• B. Sc. /High National Diploma in Civil, Water Resources, Building or Mechanical Engineering, Hydrogeology with hand on experience in developing and adopting emergency WASH technologies and designs experience in implementation of water and sanitation projects - relevant experience will supersede the formal qualification.
• At least 2-4 years professional experience with NGOs (INGO experience preferred)
• Previous experience leading teams in public awareness raising campaigns focused on water and sanitation related health issues.
• Competent user of Microsoft Applications: Word, Excel; Auto CAD or similar, Google Earth
• Working knowledge of SPHERE standards
• Proven abilities in developing work plans, data collection and analysis and performance monitoring.
• Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as to work autonomously when required
• Confident communicator, able to command respect from a wide range of people
• Fluency in English and Hausa language preferred.