Environmental Health (EH) Manager

Job Description

More than 3.6 million people have fled across borders to seek safety in the 1st month since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and over 6.5 million Ukrainians are reported to be displaced internally. As the vast majority of the displaced are women, girls, and boys, this could become the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades.

Between February 7-23, 2022, an IRC team undertook a scoping mission covering Poland and Ukraine to better understand the context, humanitarian and civil society landscape, and anticipated service gaps in the event of an escalation of conflict in Ukraine and consequent displacement into neighboring Poland. As of February 24th, the IRC has pivoted to an emergency response, and have identified partner agencies in Ukraine to facilitate immediate assistance that can be used where it is the most needed. Simultaneously, the IRC is establishing operations across Ukraine to complement partner response services either in breadth or scale.

This position will be based in Vinnytsia and Lviv, with occasional travel to other locations in Ukraine as permitted and occasionally to Rzeszow Poland, and other locations. As this is a fluid and rapidly changing context, the location of this position and length of assignment may change based on the needs of the program.

Scope of work

The Environmental Health (EH) Manager will be responsible for day to day management of EH staff involved in direct implementation of IRC’s projects in Ukraine and any new LGAs that may become accessible for programming. S/he is overall responsible for ensuring that approved technical designs and approaches are adhered to, maintaining program quality and that all water, sanitation and hygiene objectives are met on time and within the budget. When requested, s/he will, in coordination with the Sr. EH Manager, undertake capacity building of team members and representation in coordination forums.

Position objectives

• Ensure that all WASH activities are in line with project strategy and design

• Assist and input into the Ukraine EH strategy

• Maintain close links and collaboration with other sectors and in particular Health, Nutrition, Protection, Gender, CYPD (Child and Youth Protection and Development), Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE) and Economic Recovery and Development (ERD)

• Ensure that the WASH activities are implemented in a timely and professional manner (as per SPHERE and IRC Standards) and in line with beneficiary needs

Responsibilities

Technical Quality

• Participate in any inter sectorial assessment process, including analysis and planning;

• Input into the development of Ukraine EH Project Strategy

• Provide direct technical support to the EH staff in defined geographical areas are in accordance with best practice and IRC policy.

• Ensure that WASH activities meet stated objectives within the timeframe;

• Ensure IRC EH programs demonstrate adherence to international and national standards, including Sphere and others;

• Ensure program activities foster accountability to beneficiaries, gender and protection sensitivity and inclusion are adequately addressed in programming;

• In coordination with the Ukraine EH Coordinator, propose technical designs and approaches for all WASH activities

• Provide technical support and when directed by the Ukraine EH Coordinator, training for project staff in the defined geographical area.

• Provide regular reports, document results and maintain detailed records

Staff Supervision & Development

• Directly manage the EH Officer Water and Sanitation, the EH Officer-Hygiene Promotion and the EH M7E Officer in the defined geographical area.

• Support the Ukraine EH Coordinator with assessing staffing requirements against the size and scale of the emergency.

• Participate in recruitment of staff in the approved EH organogram

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

• Responsible for EH Officer-Water and Sanitation and EH Officer-Hygiene Promotion timesheets, work plans, vacation schedules, and staff training/development activities.

• Ensure that the EH Officers collect technicians and assistant’s timesheets, vacations and progress with work plans

• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures

Grant Planning & Implementation

• Assist the Ukraine EH coordinator draft technical proposals and budgets to enable programs required to meet the immediate needs of the affected community.

• May have some budget authority to pre-approved limits and responsibility for budget development and compliance.

• Responsible for ensuring the achievement the specific WASH grant timeline and completion date in designated area of project/activities

• Provide direction and monitor staff in their implementation of the work plan and quality of technical activities,

Donor Monitoring & Reporting

• Lead on monitoring WASH activities and spend in line with donor grants within defined geographical areas

• Participate in developing timely donor reports

• Fully responsible for field monitoring of all WASH activities making recommendations for modifications of activities as required.

Coordination & Representation

• Maintain effective coordination and networking with internal as well as external stakeholders,

• Work closely and coordinates with IRC supply chain and finance staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures;

• When requested, represents IRC in external WASH forums

Program Development

• Contributes to the development of Ukraine EH strategy direction and plans

• Participates in sector specific strategy development and technical proposal design

Monitoring

• Responsible for ensuring that monitoring and data collection/analysis of all WASH indicators are in line with the approved monitoring framework, using all the correct monitoring tools and at the frequency prescribed

• Participate in analysis of monitoring data

Other duties

• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to the EH Coordinator, and when liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Requirements

• Degree level qualification in Civil Engineering or Environmental Sciences; relevant experience will supersede the formal qualification

• 3 to 5 years of experience in leading/managing WASH programs with INGOs;

• Excellent understanding of EH issues in emergency situations and knowledge of emergency standards (Sphere)

• Strong management, planning, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills;

• Ability to live and work in stressful and insecure environment;

• Able to manage multiple tasks.

• Able to work under pressure and good at timely decision making.

• Competent in Microsoft Office, Word and Excel

• Knowledge and/or experience in conflict management, protection, or other related field;

• Excellent professional approach and strong team building skills.

Languages Requirements: Fluency in Ukrainian and English. Polish is a plus

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

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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