Emergency Environmental Health Officer

BACKGROUND:

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.

The IRC responds to people’s acute and longer-term needs with integrated programs that improve health and safety, prioritize children’s education, foster economic wellbeing, and empower communities to regain control over their lives. Our work gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, conflict sensitivity, coordination, and impact.

The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. Since establishing its presence in the South of Yemen, in the Red Sea Coastal city of Aden, the organization has grown from just an implementing small project to handling large scale emergency and relief operations. Following the war which broke out in Yemen in March of 2015 and the humanitarian disaster, which was crafted by the same, IRC launched one an emergency response program in the southern governorates of Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah and Aldalea. Currently IRC Yemen is operating in eight governorates in the south and north of Yemen and Sana’a and Hodeidah in the North through direct programming and through local partnerships, in Health, WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development, Education, Child Protection, Gender and Women Protection and Empowerment.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) have been working in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for more than forty years. Today, the IRC has more than 2,200 staff working across the region, including in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen to support those affected by some of the world’s most complex and protracted humanitarian crises.

Scope of work:

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Emergency Environmental Health Officer, the Emergency EH Officer position is a junior level management position (Based in Aden) that involves planning, management and supervision for the emergency WASH responses in targeted areas for overall implementation, supervision and monitoring of the EH emergency activities implemented directly by IRC and through local partners. The position requires the supervision of local contractors and labors, construction of activities outsourced to private contractors as well as the accurate financial, material, and other resources management under the program and reporting periodically to supervisors. In close coordination with the community health members to ensure hygiene promotion activates are coordinated with WASH targets and work on cholera responses in collaboration with the health department.

Job summary:

The Emergency Environmental Health Officer, under the direct supervision of the Senior Emergency Environmental Health Officer, responsible for assessment of projects, water and sanitation projects, rehabilitating health units and facilities, cholera emergency responses, water supply, preparing BoQs and drawings as well as tender documents. Leading the assistants. Administratively, responsible for submitting purchase orders “items forecast”, facilitate the project implementation and communicating with supply chain and finance.

Working relations:

Will be a direct supervisor of the field team, under the emergency department with support from the environmental health director and connect with the supply chain department to facilitate project implementation as well as the finance department regarding cash payments.

Assists in communicating with local authorities and partners to facilitate the work of the project and the team collaboration with the meal and evaluation depart. for main tasks.

Main responsibilities:

• In collaboration with other members of the emergency team, conduct rapid assessments to identify emergency needs in communities affected by an emergency event.
• Participate in the review of partner proposals submitted for funding.
• Undertake regular and frequent supportive field visits, and supervise progress of activities.
• Review reports submitted by implementing partners.
• Act as the technical lead for all IRC-implemented emergency WASH responses, including developing budgets, workplans, procurements plans, MEAL plans and regular report updates.
• In collaboration with the Supply Chain department, support the procurement, pre-positioning, and timely distribution of context-relevant emergency supplies.
• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to establish team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office].
• Develop ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.
• With coordination with Senior Emergency EH Officer, Conduct detail technical assessment to water supply and sanitation facilities to be rehabilitated or constructed; prepare bills of quantities and specifications, and raise items forecast for goods, services or works.
• Prepare weekly and monthly activity plan.
• Assist Senior Emergency Environmental Health Officer, to Coordinate with local authority in his intervention areas.
• Develop monitoring tools for contract management in coordination with WASH program team. Communicates with the Monitoring and Evaluation Department for key tasks.
• Work on the rehabilitation and construction works for water sources and health facilities.
• Implementation the cholera emergency response in the health facilities and community level such as DTCs and ORCs.
• Reporting to Senior Emergency Environmental Health Officer, on EH activities, weekly, quarterly, annual. And when require.
• Track and maintain records on construction progress, labor and material utilization, challenges and prepare progress reports.
• Work with communities and pertinent partners and participate in building their capacity.
• Coordinate with community health team for delivery of hygiene promotion services.
• Establish/activate and facilitate the training of water management committee/group to ensure accurate management of WASH facilities.
• Conduct regular water quality testing.
• Closely work with Health unit to ensure that the mobile clinics and health facilities have regular access to safe water and sanitation facilities.
• Collaborate with Finance Unit in budget preparation and utilization.
• Perform other tasks as requested by the Emergency Coordinator and Senior EH Officer.