Wash Team Leader Ethiopia Jigjiga

Engineering

Overview

Lead the management of WASH programs, ensuring high quality and compliance with standards.

You have:

• Bachelor's/master's degree in Hydraulic Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in humanitarian WASH programs, including 2+ years in leadership roles.
• Proven experience in WASH programs (hardware: water/sanitation infrastructure; software: hygiene promotion/behavior change).
• Expertise in SPHERE standards, donor compliance (e.g., UNHCR), and contract management.
• Experience in refugee settings and complex volatile environments.
• Fluency in English (written/verbal).
• Knowledge of local language (Somali).
• Experience in Dollo Ado contexts.
• Knowledge and experience water supply and treatment systems design and operation.
• Experience in Solar water pumping systems.
• Skills in AutoCAD/WaterCAD, GIS, COMPASS.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world's most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH

1. Role and responsibilities

The WASH Team Leader leads the management of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs within his/her respective camp, conducting needs assessments, designing and overseeing infrastructure projects (water systems, sanitation facilities), ensuring technical quality and compliance with SPHERE/UNHCR/NRC standards. The successful candidate is also expected to manage budgets and resources, preparing workplans and donor reports, and representing the organization in relevant coordination forums.

Responsibilities

Program Management

• Contribute to the development of the camp-wide WASH strategy, ensuring alignment with donor requirements, and transition/resilience frameworks/strategies.
• Conduct needs assessments by identifying the gaps, challenges (bottlenecks) and needs, and correspondingly design context-appropriate responses (hardware/software)
• Oversee WASH activities’ planning, budgeting, procurement, and resource allocation to ensure timely and cost-effective project delivery.
• Manage project documentation, contracts, and tender processes for WASH infrastructure (e.g., water systems, sanitation facilities).
• Prepare and submit high-quality donor reports (e.g., UNHCR), and deliverables.
• Plan and lead the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of electrical and mechanical, piping, water treatment systems, and sanitation to ensure WASH infrastructure operating efficiency and sustainability.
• Ensure timely procurement of essential tools, spare parts, equipment, and chemicals by helping officers prepare bills of quantities and technical specifications (including part numbers, quantities).
• Develop design drawings, specifications, bills of quantities and other related technical documentations for WASH infrastructure developments/Rehabilitations.
• Ensure the proper and efficient use of the WASH inventories, tools and spare parts in his/her respective camp
• Audit fuel consumption, and equipment performance by developing tracking and monitory systems and mechanisms (Manuals, checklists, Excel sheets).
• Ensure all WASH activities meet SPHERE, UNHCR, and NRC technical standards, prioritizing sustainability.
• Implement robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) frameworks to track progress, manage risks, and adapt.
• Supervise construction of water/sanitation infrastructure (e.g., boreholes, water treatment systems) and hygiene promotion activities.
• Ensure systems for long-term operation/maintenance of WASH assets, including transfer of key skills capacities to local communities.
• Enforce compliance with donor regulations and internal controls.
• Prepare and submit donor reports (e.g., UNHCR), and deliverables.

Coordination and representation

• Serve as NRC’s primary WASH representative in cluster meetings (UNHCR, RRS), liaising with authorities, NGOs, and host communities.
• Foster partnerships with stakeholders (e.g., local government, UN agencies, INGOs) to ensure coordination, advocacy, and program coherence.
• Proactively sharing context updates, challenges, and opportunities with relevant internal and external bodies.

Financial and Resource Management

• Oversee project budgets and ensure resource optimization.
• Ensure efficient procurement processes and accountable use of WASH assets and inventories.
• Identify funding gaps and contribute to proposal development for new opportunities.

Team Leadership and Capacity building

• Line-manage WASH field staff, including performance management, objective setting, and conflict resolution.
• Conduct capacity needs assessments, and deliver tailored training and skill development
• Promote a positive team environment, wellbeing, and professional development

Qualifications

1. Professional competencies:

• Bachelor’s/master’s degree in Hydraulic Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in humanitarian WASH programs, including 2+ years in leadership roles.
• Proven experience in WASH programs (hardware: water/sanitation infrastructure; software: hygiene promotion/behavior change).
• Expertise in SPHERE standards, donor compliance (e.g., UNHCR), and contract management.
• Experience in refugee settings and complex volatile environments.
• Fluency in English (written/verbal).
• Knowledge of local language (Somali).
• Experience in Dollo Ado contexts.
• Knowledge and experience water supply and treatment systems design and operation
• Experience in Solar water pumping systems
• Skills in AutoCAD/WaterCAD, GIS, COMPASS

2. Behavioral competencies

The following NRC’s competencies are essential for this position:

• Managing resources and achieving results
• Handling insecure environments
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Working with people
• Coping with change
• Planning and delivering results.
• Managing performance and developing teams.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving.
• Empowering others and building trust.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: nrc.no