WASH Manager

Background/IRC Summary: 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. IRC has been working in Pakistan for over 30 years, and manages and delivers large, complex programs to meet the needs in health, education, protection, environmental health and livelihoods for displaced, poor and disaster affected communities. IRC works in partnership with local government and non-governmental organizations and currently works in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces. IRC Pakistan will be implementing five years “leveraging Inclusive WASH for Empowerment in Pakistan (LIFE-Pakistan) project i.e. Water For Women Fund supported by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian government. With an overall goal of gender equitable and socially inclusive WASH services for improved health conditions of marginalized groups, this project aims to directly improve the lives of 168,000 beneficiaries in 75 villages in three districts of KP, Pakistan. The project will reach its goal through three pillars:

1. Inclusive community level WASH

2. Improved WASH governance

3. Strengthened decision making around WASH.

The project will focus on schools and health centers that serve communities, as well as community and household WASH. A process of participatory training and discussion will be utilized to strengthen women’s role in the community, and will be supported with life skills training and gender protection programming. Knowledge management and learning through ongoing monitoring, periodic evaluations and research will keep the project on track, provide evidence for advocacy for improving legislative environment, and draw learning for future programing.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Manager is responsible for the organization and technical management of water, sanitation and hygiene project and activities, ensuring that activities are relevant, successfully implemented and sustainable.

Major Responsibilities:

• Manage the IRC LIFE-Pakistan Project, ensuring that the project remains on track to achieve the intended outcomes, while also staying on budget and time. Take corrective action wherever necessary to maintain this performance.

• Manage and supervise staff according to standard IRC guidelines including performance management, job orientation, capacity building, support in recruitment process and grievance handling.

• Provide technical guidance, strategic leadership and support to the IRC LIFE-Pakistan project.

• In consultation with the Project Coordinator, develop and maintain relationships with UN, NGOs, donors, partners and other stakeholders

• Extensive knowledge to mobilize the community on Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) methodology to effectively guide the implementation team

• Ensure Pakistan National Sanitation Policy guidelines are in place while framing project sanitation related strategies and programming.

• Continuously improve performance in Environmental Health and hygiene innovation while maintaining compliance with all government bodies and donors.

• With support of Project Coordinator and Technical unit, develop behaviour change communication (BCC) strategies to promote positive inclusive WASH practices.

• Work to achieve sustainable WASH outcomes for women, the poor, transgender and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs).

• In collaboration with the MEL unit organise assessments, design surveys and monitoring mechanism for project sustainability.

• Ensure the effective communication, collaboration and networking developed and maintained with government bodies, donors and partners.

• Strengthen capacity of institutes to support and sustain inclusive WASH services.

• Develop the work-plan for the sector and monitors compliance to ensure objectives and targets are met and achieved.

• Enhance program efficiency and effectiveness through evidence base approach and implementation follow-on, including monitoring inputs, local conditions and resources.

• Identify problems and propose and implement remedial action. Identify alternative courses of action, to accelerate/improve program delivery.

• Prepare guidelines and technical briefs as necessary to improve the technical capacity of the EH section.

• Organize training workshops to improve existing practices and introduce new practices or ideas.

• Exchange information on implementation, status, capacity and risk mapping and preparedness.

• Overseeing and monitoring MEAL protocols, project accountability plan etc.

• Review and update EH strategy on a periodic basis in order to reflect the changing situation and any changes in the overall IRC Pakistan strategy.

Job Requirements: a) Education:

• Master Degree in Life & Environmental Sciences, Public health or other relevant field, preferably with inclusive WASH specialization.

b) Work Experience:

• Minimum 5 years experience in EH project, preferably in an INGO environment

c) Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrate analytical, project conceptual and planning skills

Profound cultural awareness and sound knowledge of public health issues

• Ability to effectively lead and motivate a team, in order to pursue and achieve outcomes

• Strong technical design skills.

• Previous experience in writing EH proposals

• Highly effective written and verbal communications skills

• Hygiene promotion project planning and management experience

• Strong project management, planning, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills

Language Skills:

• Must be fluent in Urdu & English languages.

• Pashto language will be preferred. Others: Gender Equality and Diversity: IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures and actions demonstrate this commitment. Women, minorities, persons with disability (PWD) and transgender candidates are highly encouraged to apply.