Senior WASH Officer - Hardware, Ethiopia

Application deadline extended to May 11th 2015
Organisation Caritas Switzerland is a non-governmental aid agency and member of Caritas Internationalis.

Caritas works worldwide and adheres to international humanitarian principles (NGO code of conduct). Caritas Switzerland is involved in Ethiopia with a main focus on development oriented humanitarian aid, water resource development (including aspects like management, sanitation and hygiene) and education.

We seek a dynamic person as Senior WASH Officer with expertise in WASH hardware aspects. Based in our office in Addis Ababa and Negele/Wadera she/he will support our partner organisations in planning, implementation, monitoring and provide technical backstopping for WASH/hardware activities.
Position WASH Officer
Reporting to Country Representative for Caritas Switzerland in Addis Ababa
Duration 1 year contract with a possible extension based on performance and depending on available funding.
Location Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with frequent trips to projects of Caritas Switzerland’s partner organisations in different parts of Ethiopia (Oromia (Guji, Bale, W. Hararghe), Somali (Sitti), and Tigray).

Key tasks & responsibilities 
Provision of technical assistance to Caritas partners in Ethiopia
 Develop or review technical designs and bill of quantities for construction works in close coordination with partner’s project teams and the WASH Unit in Nairobi;
 Provide recommendations/guidance/advice to project teams by making reference to international, national and regional construction standards in the course of the planning, implementation and operation of WASH infrastructures;
 Assist in tendering processes; and  Conduct trainings of key staff of partners on WASH related methods, tools and guidelines, management, operation and maintenance and provide guidance, technical support and follow up as required.
Monitoring of Caritas Switzerland WASH projects in collaboration with the WASH teams of partner organisations  Regularly visit Caritas projects and partners to provide onsite supervision and monitoring of progress against set standards and agreed on upon indicators;
 Monitor the implementation of recommendations/ advice provided to partners and project teams, the construction processes as well as the functionality of infrastructures after completion of works during operation;
 Document key lessons from implementation of WASH/hardware activities;
 Take part in preparation and execution of evaluations of Caritas WASH projects;
 Assist the periodical review and upgrading of the M&E system and tools for WASH activities in consultation with regional M&E staff;
 Coordinate with the regional WASH Unit further technical support and for create synergies and knowledge sharing opportunities among Caritas partner organisations.
Provide general support to the Ethiopia programme
 Assist in identification and pursuing of national/regional funding opportunities;
 Organise/take part in technical surveys to identify potential WASH projects sites or activities;
 Assist the development of concept notes and project proposals as well as the reporting; and Assist in project design and planning processes.

Programme approach 
 Use and encourage partners to use participatory approaches as far as possible throughout the project cycle, in site identification, implementation, operation and maintenance of schemes;
 Be informed about local context and needs and make use of indigenous knowledge to check the appropriateness proposed activities, technologies and approaches; and
 Take account of gender, Do-No-Harm, environment and other important cross-cutting con- cerns in programme design, implementation and reporting; carry out activities in a way that reflects the needs of specific groups and individual’s e.g. elderly people, women, children and people with disabilities.

Essential re-quirement & qualifications 
 Bachelors or advanced degree in water engineering plus additional qualification/specialties in construction management of water schemes, WASH project management, hydrogeology or any other relevant field of study;
 At least eight years of relevant work experience in the WASH sector preferably in interna- tional humanitarian and/or development organisations;
 Experience in providing technical and administrative oversight for a wide variety of water supply systems and WASH activities in rural settings;
 Experience in implementing community based WASH projects;
 Experience in project cycle management such as practical experience in project identifica- tion, proposal writing, monitoring, report writing, etc.;
 Sensitivity to the needs and priorities of different sectors of a community;
 Good knowledge and experience of accompanying partner-managed projects;
 Proficiency (oral and written) in English and Amharic (knowledge of other local languages such as Oromifa and Tigrigna are desirable);  Assessment, analytical and planning skills;  Diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills; and  Ability to work well in a team.

Contract start June 1 st, 2015 or as soon as possible
Special Remarks This is a national position. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply.

Application
If you feel you fit the required profile, please let us know how your qualifications, experience and career aspirations match the requirements of this position. Send your application latest by 11th May 2015 via email to jobs.nairobi@caritas.ch indicating ‘Senior WASH Officer – Hard- ware, Ethiopia’ in the subject line.

Please provide an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) with details of your qualifications, experi- ence, present position and remuneration, earliest date of availability, telephone contacts and names of three referees.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a subsequent written and oral test to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Website www.caritas.ch