Senior WASH Technical Officer

Location: East Sepik, Papua New Guinea
Industry: Non Government Organisations (NGOs)
Job ID: #11508
Date Posted: 31st May 2021
Source: www.pngworkforce.com

POSITION DESCRIPTION
TITLESenior WASH Technical Officer
REPORTING TO: Head of Wewak Programs and Operations
LOCATION: Wewak, East Sepik
CLASSIFICATION: D
EMPLOYMENT DETAILS/HOURS:
START DATE: June 2021
END DATE:  March 2023 Full time

Introduction
WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the world’s poorest communities. WaterAid works with partners to maximise its impacts for policy change/influence.

WaterAid has been operating in Papua New Guinea (PNG) since 2004, working with local partners and the government to increase access to gender sensitive, socially inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. WaterAid PNG’s geographic focus is in the National Capital District, Central Province in the Southern Region and East Sepik Province.
Everything we do is shaped by our six values:

• Integrity
• Respect
• Collaboration
• Courage
• Accountability
• Innovation​

WaterAid is a child safe organisation. We recognise that we must meet community expectations and the trust placed in our personnel to maintain the highest standards of conduct with children. Therefore, all positions within WaterAid are required to comply with our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.

WaterAid is committed to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in everything we do. The values and standards we uphold are highlighted in our Global Code of Conduct. All positions within WaterAid are required to comply with our Global Code of Conduct.

Position Summary
WaterAid is committed to supporting the Government of PNG to reach universal access to sanitation, hygiene and water. WaterAid is seeking to recruit a highly capable individual with a sound technical WASH knowledge. The Senior Technical WASH Officer will support in the implementation and partner management of a new project delivering improved health outcomes through inclusive and equitable water, sanitation and hygiene across PNG.
The Senior WASH Technical Officer works closely with WaterAid Technical Advisor and the wider Program teams and partners’ teams in providing technical assistance to infrastructure projects. The individual has critical knowledge and skills to design cost effective and quality infrastructures and to oversee quality control of implemented activities by partners.

Key Performance Areas/Accountabilities

1. Program Management

• Lead on designing appropriate, cost effective, sustainable and inclusive WASH infrastructure that responds to local contextual factors in Wewak District.
• Develop accurate bills of quantities and design
• Ensure that programs and projects satisfy minimum criteria defined in WaterAid Guidelines and PNG Government policy, law and regulation, and are implemented in line with grant requirements, budgets and plans, including by overseeing work of construction partners.
• Work with the WASH Technical Adviser, Head of Wewak Programs and Operations and Program Officers to prepare and deliver project implementation plans that take into account project/grant requirements, partner engagement and capacity, and good development practice (sustainable, collaborative, empowering, rights based).
• Work with Program Officers to provide guidance to the WaterAid team on hygiene and sanitation behaviour change approaches and support the team to ensure ‘good practice’ approaches are pursued at all times.
• Arrange meetings with WaSH Committees/partners/constructors to agree on designs, construction approaches, negotiate contracts, build capacity of construction partners and local technician in the community, monitor progress of infrastructure construction; identify and manage any risks.
• Ensure timely processing of acquittals and follow up with partners/contractors. Ensure activities are implemented in accordance with the design, scope of work and available budget.
• Ensure the Directors and Head of Wewak Programs and Operations are kept informed of activity progress, risks and all relevant issues at all times by sending reports, and messages on whatsapp group
• Respond to requests for information promptly and accurately.
• Conduct formative research on hygiene and sanitation and support the design of activities that aim to change practices.

 

1. Monitoring, Evaluation, Knowledge and Learning

• Monitor and support implementing partners and staff to ensure that construction is of a high quality standard and consistent with their contractual obligations and plans.
• Ensure that data to support reporting is collected and maintained and is accurate.
• Support the Head of Wewak Programs and Operations; and Program Officers to facilitate information gathering activities related to the collection or development of baseline data, case studies and research.
• Coordinate and compile technical reports on WaSH infrastructure to contribute to timely reporting, communication and learning for WaterAid (internal), donors, partners and stakeholders.

 

1. Equity and Inclusion

• Ensure that WaterAid’s WaSH infrastructure work is inclusive in design, by engaging women, girls, people with disabilities and other marginalised groups in design and implementation.
• Identify opportunities to further engage the community in the planning, monitoring and review of WASH services and work with local authorities and community representatives to design and implement feedback mechanisms about community access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
• Build the capacity and understanding of the WaterAid Team on gender, equity and inclusion and how to ensure WaterAid programs are inclusive.
• Consult with the GEDSI Advisor on the equity and inclusion aspects of the work and ensure that WaterAid staff and external stakeholders are sensitive to gender and social inclusion considerations.
• Promote a ‘Do No Harm’ approach amongst WaterAid staff and partners and ensure that referral pathways are accessible for stakeholders and beneficiaries affected by WaterAid’s work.

 

1. Partner Engagement

• Build and maintain constructive working relationships with WaterAid’s local partners. Mentor and support WaterAid Team members to do likewise.
• Coordinate field visits with partners with sensitivity to security and accessibility issues.
• Support WaterAid to undertake due diligence assessments on all new /potential contractors and to take forward corresponding development plans.
• Represent WaterAid through local sector coordination bodies where required.

The role requires engagement with a moderate degree of complexity, due to the need to:

• Coordinate with multiple stakeholders, including formal program partners, as well as community leaders, traditional landowners and government agencies.
• Ensure that risks concerning financial mismanagement and fraud are adequately managed.

Communications and Working Relationships
Internal

• WaterAid PNG
• WaterAid Australia (participation in learning events, liaising with Advisors)
• WaterAid global intranet (participation in webinars and other online learning platforms)

External

• Multiple governmental and non-governmental stakeholders

Physical Environment and Demands

• High travel requirements within Wewak District and potentially occasional travel to other District in East Sepik..

Level of contact with children

• The role may involve engaging with communities and schools to develop and collect information for program monitoring and evaluation purposes, and as such may come into contact with children. The position will be required to maintain WaterAid child safeguarding principles and standards at all times.

Qualification, Skills & Attributes (Key Capabilities/Selection Criteria)
All applicants must address these criteria in their application:

Essential

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Being responsible for planning, designing and implementation monitoring of Water Supply and sanitation activities implemented by WaterAid and local partners or contractors.
• Assisting partners on technical survey, design and preparation on cost estimating of WASH projects.
• Experience using AutoCAD in doing 2D and 3D drawing.
• Conducting regular monitoring and providing technical feedback to the partners or contractors.
• Coaching and mentoring the staff and construction artisans on technical matters.
• Facilitating training to colleagues, partner/community on technical matters.
• Being proactive in taking necessary action to design cost effective, easy to maintain and easy to replicate the WASH components
• Ability to develop project implementation plans that align with grant requirements and available funding, and to plan own work, setting priorities and completing it under pressure or when faced with competing demands.
• Experience in working constructively with government and partners to co-develop and implement water, sanitation and hygiene and advocacy projects.
• Good relationship building skills.
• Commitment to child safeguarding.

Education

• Minimum Bachelor degree in technical field(s) of Building, Architecture, Engineering or a related field.

Personal qualities

• Commitment to WaterAid’ values and standards of safety of children and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in all our activities.
• Personable with a sensitivity to the communication styles of external stakeholders and internal staff.
• Confidence working with both government and non-government stakeholders.
• Commitment to the ‘Do No Harm’ approach to aid and development work.

Applications for this role must comprise of:

• An application letter addressing the essential person specification criteria outlined above (maximum 2 pages).
• A curriculum vitae (maximum 4 pages). The CV must include three professional referees (referees will not be contacted until after interviews, with permission from the candidate).

Applications which do not address the Selection Criteria specified and the page limits will NOT be considered.

Late and incomplete applications will not be accepted.

WaterAid is committed to welcoming people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, culture and experience. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We will make any practical adjustments to enable people with a disability to participate fully in an inclusive working environment. Please let us know if require any special assistance in making your application or attending an interview.

Email applications to: [email protected] with the subject line: “Application Senior Wash Technical Officer”.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Note: WaterAid is a child safe organization. The successful applicant will be required to comply with our child protection policy.

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