The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND
The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damaturu of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods.
Job Overview/Summary
The WASH Officer will support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities in Borno State. The position will ensure effective management of water and sanitation infrastructure while promoting good hygiene practices among target communities to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with waterborne and fecal-oral diseases.
The WASH Officer will ensure that all activities follow approved technical standards and contribute to maintaining high quality programs.
Major Responsibilities
Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy
Support the implementation of hygiene promotion and water/sanitation infrastructure activities in line with SPHERE standards.
Conduct rapid and detailed assessments to understand community hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
Assist the EH/WASH Manager in planning and implementing hygiene promotion, water supply, and sanitation activities.
Coordinate closely with other IRC sectors including Health, Nutrition, Protection, Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Child and Youth Protection and Development (CYPD), and Economic Recovery and Development (ERD).
Support the implementation and monitoring of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in supported health and nutrition facilities.
Ensure the availability and proper functionality of WASH facilities in health care settings, including safe water supply, handwashing stations, sanitation facilities, and waste management systems.
Support the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of WASH infrastructure in health facilities, including handwashing stations, incinerators, placenta pits, waste pits, and drainage systems.
Conduct regular IPC and WASH facility assessments using standard tools and checklists.
Promote adherence to minimum WASH in Health Care Facility standards and relevant national guidelines.
Provide technical support and training to health facility staff on hand hygiene, safe water handling, environmental cleaning, and healthcare waste management.
Monitor the functionality of hand hygiene stations and water supply systems in health and nutrition facilities.
Coordinate with Health and Nutrition teams to ensure integration of IPC measures within facility-based services.
Support routine water quality monitoring in health facilities to ensure safe water for patient care and hygiene practices.
Program Development
Develop and regularly update detailed work plans to meet grant timelines and completion targets.
Guide and supervise staff to ensure quality and timely implementation of activities.
Support the EH Manager in designing hygiene promotion activities and related monitoring tools.
Participate in the design and execution of water supply infrastructure (e.g., boreholes, hand pumps, solar pumps, water tanks, piping systems, tap stands).
Engage in the design and construction of sanitation facilities (e.g., latrines, waste pits, handwashing stations, drainage systems, MHM facilities).
Ensure programs uphold accountability, gender sensitivity, protection, and inclusiveness.
Recommend technical approaches and methods for hygiene promotion activities.
Provide technical support and training for community hygiene promoters, water point attendants, pump technicians, and system operators.
Prepare regular reports and maintain detailed documentation of results and activities.
Oversee emergency water supply logistics, including water trucking and accurate record-keeping.
Supervise water delivery, chlorination, and quality monitoring, if needed.
Submit weekly progress reports on WASH facility construction to the EH Manager.
Share regular water quality reports with the EH Manager.
Obtain approval from the EH Manager for any design or supply-related changes.
Keep accurate records of materials, tools, and their quality.
Collaborate with EH staff and M&E on water-related issues and site planning.
Provide periodic and special reports as required.
Assist in onboarding new national staff when necessary.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Grant Monitoring & Reporting
Conduct regular field monitoring visits to track progress and ensure technical quality.
Identify implementation challenges and recommend appropriate solutions.
Ensure accurate and timely data collection for program monitoring and evaluation.
Contribute to internal and donor reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual).
Coordination & Representation
Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and complaint program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings
Undertake/participate in liaison, coordination, and information sharing activities with national NGOs, international organizations, donors and government at field level.
Key Working Relationships
Position Reports to: EH/WASH Manager
Indirect/Technical Reporting: Senior Health Outcome Manager
Position directly Supervises: None
Key Internal Contacts: Health and Protection Outcome sectors
Key External Contacts: Government authorities, Community Leaders, and other humanitarian partners.
Job Requirements
· B. Sc. /High National Diploma in Civil, Water Resources, Building or Mechanical Engineering, Hydrogeology with hand on experience in developing and adopting emergency WASH technologies and designs experience in implementation of water and sanitation projects - relevant experience will supersede the formal qualification.
· At least 2-4 years professional experience with NGOs (INGO experience preferred)
· Previous experience leading teams in public awareness raising campaigns focused on water and sanitation related health issues.
· Competent user of Microsoft Applications: Word, Excel; Auto CAD or similar, Google Earth
· Working knowledge of SPHERE standards
· Proven abilities in developing work plans, data collection and analysis and performance monitoring.
· Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
· Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual
· Ability to work as part of a team as well as to work autonomously when required
· Confident communicator, able to command respect from a wide range of people
· Fluency in English and Hausa language preferred.
Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. 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.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting.
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.
Employment Gaps: We welcome applicants with varied career paths and recognize that a gap in employment does not define a candidate's potential. We value transferrable skills and are committed to investing in the growth and development of our team members. We encourage applicants to highlight any relevant skills or experiences they have acquired, even if they were not gained in a traditional work setting.
Compensation and Benefits: IRC strives to provide externally competitive and internally equitable Compensation and Benefits programs that attracts, motivates, and retains employees that deliver strong performance while demonstrating the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.
Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status and cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
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