WASH Project Manager 2652 views9 applications

Job Title: WASH Project Manager

Location: Marsabit County, Kenya

Job Holder Reports To:

In Field: Nairobi office Manager for line management

Headquarters/ Technical (Matrix) Management: Senior WASH Advisor for objectives, deliverables, training, and expertise/skills

Reporting to Job Holder:

N/A. Position will supervise casual labour, contractors and volunteers.

Overall Purpose: Working as an important member of a diverse team who are committed to serve the world’s most vulnerable with practical and compassionate care the WASH Project Manager plans, develops, monitors and evaluates the assigned WASH project(s).

This involves assessing WASH needs, designing projects, writing proposals and initiating and effectively managing and reporting on the projects in line with the objectives, timeframe and budget. Providing technical support, leadership and strategic direction, other important aspects of the role include meeting quality standards in WASH delivery, encouraging beneficiary participation, liaising with other stakeholders and managing and training WASH staff.

Project Overview: In Marsabit County Medair is responding to the serious drought through an integrated nutrition and WASH programme. Project activities in lude support for health facilities and mobile outreaches, and rehabilitation of water points.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

WASH Project Management

• Manage the assigned WASH project(s) in order to meet the project objectives within budget and within the allotted time frame
• Provide strong leadership of the assigned WASH project(s), working to ensure both short and long-term positive impacts and outcomes for the beneficiaries, local authorities (where applicable) and local WASH staff
• Develop and implement an appropriate and effective WASH strategy in consultation with other WASH staff and field managers
• Set clear objectives and indicators for WASH activities in collaboration with the WASH staff, field managers and, where appropriate, with the local communities
• Continuously monitor and supervise WASH activities, overseeing the technical design, execution and evaluation of progress through outputs and impacts using both quantitative and qualitative data
• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation, accountability and environmental protection in all aspects of the project
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of activities according to Medair, donor and other applicable timeframes and formats
• Develop new proposals, linked to the country strategy, in conjunction with the relevant field managers

Staff Management

• Line-manage any WASH staff of the assigned project(s), including day-to-day management, development and training, appraisals, etc. It may also be necessary to line manage other WASH project staff
• Facilitate regular meetings to assist information sharing between project staff, to ensure all staff members are aware of project objectives, progress, current work plans and to provide the opportunity for feedback
• Provide coaching and technical supervision for staff in order to develop ownership and full responsibility for WASH activities
• Assess the training needs of any WASH staff and ensure that appropriate training is provided/conducted

Financial Management

• Manage the WASH budget for the assigned project(s) and ensure all expenses are according to budget and meet the Medair standards with regard to financial management, including accountability and good governance

Communication and Coordination

• Develop and maintain appropriate, regular, transparent and supportive communication structures with the assigned WASH team, Medair in-country and HQ WASH managers and advisers and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. beneficiaries, community leaders, local and national government officials, UN agencies and other NGOs), with the objective of ensuring good cooperation and partnerships
• Participate in WASH coordination meetings and other working groups or meetings as required, representing Medair and feeding back to the WASH staff and field managers on relevant issues

Logistics

• Support the logistics activities of WASH staff, particularly in relation to the purchasing of supplies and equipment for the assigned WASH activities
• Liaise, as necessary, with the WASH, logistics and finance staff to ensure items are procured, transported, stored, managed and accounted for correctly

Quality Management

• Promote and use the Medair designs, approaches and other operating procedures, ensuring that all standardised formats are used and guidelines are followed
• Ensure WASH projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country and international standards i.e. CHS, Sphere and WHO, standards etc.

Delegated Responsibilities

• Implementation of the assigned WASH project(s) within budget and the agreed timeframe
• Management of the WASH budget for the assigned WASH project(s)
• Authorisation of expenditure on applicable budget lines up to $5,000 USD
• Line management of assigned WASH staff, including recruitment, performance monitoring, disciplinary action, etc.
• Management of the technical aspects of the assigned WASH project(s), including staff knowledge and performance
• Representation of Medair at meetings and through relationships with external partners (e.g. community leaders, local and national government officials, UN agencies and other NGOs)

Qualification / Experience

• Higher level qualification in a technical field, preferably in water and sanitation
• Qualification in any of the following fields is desirable: BSc / MSc in Water / Environmental Engineering or Management or Civil Engineering or Hydrology / Geology

Work experience

• 2 years post-qualification professional experience in a relevant field
• Management experience in a WASH context
• Experience working in a WASH programme in a developing country, preferably in a humanitarian context is desirable.

Languages

• Good English (spoken and written)
• Ability to speak, or willingness to learn, local language

IT

• Computer literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook
• Experience with mWater
• Experience with ODK or similar software
• Experience using GIS software

Competencies

Motivation

• Strong Christian commitment
• Passionate about serving the poor
• Self-motivated
• Desire to learn

Team-building

• Team-player with good inter-personal skills
• Willingness to support others and to share workload
• Aptitude for community mobilisation and capacity-building
• Experience in training / mentoring / coaching staff
• Experience of living and working in a multi-cultural team

Adaptability

• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels
• Creative, open-minded, flexible, self-learner
• Able to cope with basic living conditions in the field and during field trips
• Willingness to be stretched professionally, personally, and spiritually

Technical expertise

• Ability and willingness to manage project implementation
• Good numerical, report writing and administration skills
• Problem solving ability
• Technical WASH skills within a humanitarian setting
• Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian standards such as Sphere and HAP
• Advanced planning, assessment and analytical skills

Management and leadership

• Able to prioritise clearly and oversee multiple tasks
• Able to take the initiative in project decisions
• Able to enforce procedures
• Able to set clear objectives for staff and to delegate
• Committed to consultative and servant-minded leadership
• Good understanding of humanitarian work

Areas of expertise

• Construction
• Engineering
• Management
• Water, Sanitation & Hygiene

Job Commitment

Planned State Date: 1st December 2022

Duration of Commitment: 12 months