*This position may be based in New York or Nairobi.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
BACKGROUND:
Environmental Health (EH) programs presently serve approximately 5 million people in around 20 countries. Field-based EH staff are supported by a headquarters team of highly qualified EH professionals (‘Technical Advisors’) with many years of experience in humanitarian work, situated institutionally within the Health Unit of IRC alongside reproductive health, child survival, primary health care and HIV/AIDS. The Headquarters EH team consists of a Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for EH, three Regional EH Technical Advisors, a Technical Advisor for Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion, a Senior Emergency Response Team (ERT) EH Coordinator, an ERT EH Coordinator and a Program Assistant (shared with other Health Unit teams). The team ensures quality programming related to water supply, sanitation, hygiene promotion and vector control. The EH team also provides guidance to the Director of the Emergency Response and Preparedness Unit (EPRU) concerning the deployment of EH staff assigned in emergencies.
SCOPE OF WORK:
Based in Nairobi and reporting to the Senior Health Director, the Senior Technical Advisor for Environmental Health ensures high quality technical support to field programs from the EH team. Technical support within the International Rescue Committee consists of 4 main elements: 1) development of policies, strategies and tools, 2) identifying new program/project opportunities and funding streams, 3) research, evaluation and learning, and 4) country specific technical support, via field visits, emails, phone calls etc.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Leadership and management
- Lead and supervise the IRC EH Team;
- With the EH team, develop, articulate and promote the IRC’s Environmental Health strategy;
- Ensure that environmental health is integrated into broader programs (e.g. Primary Health Care or Integrated Food Security and Nutrition programs) as appropriate whilst maintaining efficiency and effectiveness of EH activities;
- Coordinate the development and implementation of the annual EH work plan and budget;
Ensure high quality EH programming
- Ensure that IRC EH programming uses evidence-based best practices and identifies and critically evaluates promising new technologies and approaches;
- Ensure that any surveys planned by EH programs are reviewed by Technical Advisors, that support with design and implementation is provided where needed, in collaboration with the Health Unit epidemiologist and STA for Information Management;
- Identify and promote appropriate strategies and resources for EH staff development and collaborate with the relevant Health Unit staff for their deployment;
- Coordinate and lead the annual EH Coordinators’ Workshop;
Representation
- Increase the visibility of EH; within the organization and promote IRC to the wider humanitarian community as a provider of high quality EH programming;
- Act as the main representative of IRC to relevant agencies on EH issues and EH focal point for the various departments at IRC’s various headquarters;
- Ensure that the EH team provides guidance to the Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit Director concerning deployment of ERT EH staff
Support to selected country programs
- Provide technical assistance to selected IRC field programs and the Emergency Response Team on environmental health issues;
- Conduct annual field trips to selected IRC programs for the purposes of program evaluation and technical support;
- Assist in the design and development of environmental health programs and country program EH strategies (typically every 3 years);
- Participate in the recruitment of EH field staff;
Miscellaneous
- Maintain a library of relevant resource materials on environmental health issues at IRC headquarters; make recommendations on resource materials to field teams;
- Participate in emergency response activities, if required
- Participate in limited research, teaching and academic activities
REQUIREMENTS:
- University or degree or postgraduate degree in engineering, hydrology, environmental health or related subject.
- In-depth practical knowledge of water supply, sanitation, vector control and hygiene promotion.
- Minimum 5 years experience in implementing EH programs in relief, post-emergency and development settings, plus at least 3 years experience in a role involving oversight or technical advisory duties for WASH/EH programs in multiple countries.
- Strong Leadership, assessment, management, project planning,and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Proven ability to work in a team environment and independently.
- Proven writing and editing skills.
- Excellent Computer skills: (MS Word and Excel as a minimum)
- English fluency essential, French highly desirable.
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IRC leading the way from harm to home.
IRC is an Equal 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, veteran status or disability.
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