Senior Project Officer - WASH at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary

• This will be a hands-on field engineer position , with Hygiene Promotion and Community Mobilization experience . S/he will be accountable for the technical contributions to WASH Infrastructure programming and construction project activities within the framework of the Sokoto emergency response program in the North East.  The role will work with partners and locally recruited Community Mobilizers to lead the delivery of hygiene promotion messaging and create hygiene behaviour change. .

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Project Design and Implementation

• Lead elements of WASH programming, not limited to planning, designing, development, implementation, monitoring.  Take lead in identifying community water and sanitation requirements, including conducting needs assessments, and contributing to technical water and sanitation solutions.
• Supervise field-level WASH infrastructure works related to the project (e.g., supervision of contractors, suppliers, Partner staff, local artisans, and construction supervisors
• Oversee the drafting of technical specifications, which will include the drafting of technical documentation, designs, and drawings, as well as technical bills of engineering measurement and evaluation for all water and sanitation activities under the emergency program. 
• Work closely with construction supervisors providing technical expertise related to the planned infrastructure works to be carried for WASH, including but not limited to construction best practices and construction administration, water quality testing and treatment, and technical assessments.
• Support in trainings for ‘Community WASH Focal Points’ on WASH infrastructure monitoring, operations, and maintenance. 
• Conduct hygiene promotion sessions and HH visits and plan all field activities in communities that reduce WASH-related health risks by training and supervising Community Mobilizers 
• Create, train and organize together with Community Mobilizers, monitoring Latrine Maintenance Teams , including Water Management Committee.
• Mentor LCCs and WMC on the operation and maintenance of sanitation and water infrastructure, ensuring the prudent management of user fees generated with the support of the field engineers. 
• Set up monitoring systems for Community Mobilizers for daily inspection of community latrines, drainage, and solid waste collection points.   
• Coordinate a once-a-week Hygiene Promotion session with children, plan child-to-child hygiene sessions and organize events every two weeks with children to raise hygiene and heath awareness. 
• Liaise with partners , community leaders and other sectors and agencies working locally to coordinate within the WASH sector and between sectors such as health, nutrition and shelter. 
• Organize data collected from Community Mobilisers and prepare regular activity reports for submission to the Emergency Coordinator. 
• Document success stories, best practices and lessons learnt for sharing internally and externally. 
• Review and highlight opportunities for Protection, safeguarding and Gender mainstreaming in the proposed sector activities and follow up to ensure, protection principles are integrated during activity design and implementation.

Information Management/Reporting-

• Report the daily progress of works to the Infrastructure PM.
• Ensure that all WASH infrastructure data within the staff’s portfolio of sites is well managed and provides an accurate representation of the reality on the ground.
• Submit regular reports related to the project’s WASH infrastructure to team lead.

Security management responsibilities-

• Responsible of the day-to-day security management as it relates to program implementation. 
• Abide by the security procedures and policies and report any breaches.
• Participate in personal safety training as required.
• Perform other relevant tasks as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience engaging with and providing capacity strengthening of partner organizations.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards as relates to Shelter and WASH Sectors.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software applications (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook Access). 
• Proficiency with engineering designs/mapping software applications (AutoCAD, QGIS, ArcGIS).
• Willing and able to be based and travel regularly within remote areas, where network may be limited.
• Effective inter-personal skills, consensus-building.
• Demonstrated experience of integrity and professionalism
• Good knowledge of the intervention area/s and local economy
• Good time management skills with ability to multitask.
• Strong customer service orientation with good communication and interpersonal skills 
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results oriented.
• Hausa and Kanuri languages are added advantage.

Required Languages English, Hausa

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (SKAs)

• Must possess ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.  
• Ability and desire to work well with diverse employees and customers in a cooperative and friendly manner. 

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff)  

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

 Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal:  Sector leads ,  Community Liaison Officer, Procurement Officers, Finance Officers, Administration Officers, Protection Officers, MEAL team, Emergency coordinator

External:  Partner Staff (Including CMs and POs), Construction Supervisors, Contractors, Community Stakeholders, Community Based Committees, NFI Vendors

Qualifications

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering,  Hydrogeology, or equivalent field experience. Professional license is a plus. 
• Practical experience in public health, health or Hygiene Promotion, community development, education, or community water supply and sanitation. 
• Minimum of five years’ experience in water supply and sanitation project supervision, or construction management, with a balanced awareness of how to effectively manage contractors’ performance, preference for work within humanitarian sector.

 Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.