Role and Responsibilities

Lead the WASH team, designing and implementing a programme to provide WASH services to refugees. Assess WASH needs, design projects, write proposals and initiate and effectively manage and report on projects in line with objectives, timeframe and budget. Provide technical support, leadership and strategic direction; meet quality standards in WASH delivery, encourage beneficiary participation, liaise with other stakeholders and manage and train WASH staff.

Project Overview

Medair is currently implementing three projects within South Sudan. There are two large field bases in Upper Nile State (Maban and Renk), plus an ERT (emergency response team) who carry out short-term (typically 1 – 3 month) interventions across all states. In Maban, Medair is responsible for WASH, health and nutrition in Batil refugee camp (approximately 40,000 people). In Renk, Medair is providing WASH and health care in camps for returnees (people who returned from Sudan after independence), as well as a more development-style programme in the host community. The ERT is flexible to respond to new emergencies in South Sudan, from disease outbreaks, population displacement due to conflict or flooding, or emergency level global acute malnutrition rates.

Medair

Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. As signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, we believe that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of political, social or religious viewpoint. We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. We provide a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition; safe water, sanitation, and hygiene; shelter and infrastructure.


Workplace
Maban, Upper Nile State, South Sudan


Starting date
As soon as possible


Initial Contract Details
Full time, contract of 18 - 24 months


Key Activity Areas

Technical Design and Oversight

• Strategy and project design. Ongoing discussion with the team, UNHCR and other partners to develop the strategy for the WASH programme in Maban. Medair South Sudan has an annual strategy meeting in June, which is then used as the basis for developing the donor proposal (Sept-Nov). The Project Manager is responsible for preparing the log-frame and Budget.
• Monitoring project indicators. A large monitoring component in the programme, as donors and UNHCR require a significant amount of data to be collected and reported on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Technical input and support to the team. Monitor project implementation and provide support to the team to ensure the quality of construction, trainings, and provide guidance on future improvements.


Staff Management and Leadership

• Lead weekly team meetings, reviewing progress and planning for the week ahead.
• Update the team on the wider humanitarian, security, political context in which we operate – as well as communication with donors and other partners.
• Flight planning for the team (staff movements in and out of the field).
• Line management of (currently) 3 IRS, 1 KRS and 4 SRS: - providing encouragement, constructive feedback, support, coaching, as well as conducting formal appraisals.


Logistics

• Based on the donor proposal, develop and annual procurement plan.
• Regular communication with Juba Logistics concerning procurement of supplies in Juba, Nairobi and HQ. This requires a great deal of planning.
• Ensure good accountability with regards to warehousing and stock reporting.


Coordination and Reporting

• Participate in weekly co-ordination meeting with NGO partners and community leaders.
• Participate in bi-weekly co-ordination meeting with other WASH partners.
• Preparation of weekly reports for UNHCR, the monthly SitRep for senior management, and other information as required for donor reporting.


Finance

• Manage the WASH budget, tracking expenditure against planned.


Security

• Support PC and PSM with security management.


Qualifications

• University degree in a technical field (e.g. civil or mechanical engineering)
• Higher level / professional qualification in Water Engineering, Environmental / Public Health Engineering in a humanitarian context desirable


Language

• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)


Experience / Competencies

• 2 years post-qualification professional experience in a relevant field
• Experience working in a WASH programme in a developing country, pref. in a humanitarian context
• Experience in the design, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of WASH programmes
• Technical (engineering) WASH skills; understanding and appreciation of the links between hardware (water, sanitation facilities) and public health promotion
• Excellent project management skills; good report and proposal writing skills
• Self-motivated, energetic, hard-working, servant-hearted
• Team player with good inter-personal skills; experience and willingness in training/mentoring staff
• Ability to prioritise clearly, oversee multiple tasks and delegate
• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels


Medair Standard Working Requirements for the Field

• Experienced professionals in a relevant field; Overseas intercultural experience
• Committed Christians; commitment to the Medair values
• Strong working knowledge of English, spoken and written
• Working knowledge of French, spoken and written, for French-speaking field programmes
• Single or married (with no children under 18). If married, your spouse must also apply.
• Successful completion of Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC)
• Reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, external contacts
• Able to live and work in a multicultural team under difficult conditions
• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit


Benefits

• A salary based upon the grade of the position and the experience of the position-holder
• Comprehensive briefing at our Swiss headquarters, as well as an in-country briefing
• Security training for those going to particularly insecure environments
• Accommodation, food, and transportation in-country
• Return flights to and from the country programme (one return flight for every year of service)
• Rest and recuperation (R&R) leave (including travel, accommodation, and food allowance)
• Annual leave; Death and disability allowance
• Contribution matching programme for retirement savings (for experienced relief workers)
• Additional contract benefit allowance for those who commit to longer contracts
• Comprehensive medical and emergency rescue insurance, with up to 60 days post- assignment coverage, including debriefing


Working Conditions

• This is a field position based in Maban and working and living conditions may be very different to that previously experienced.


Application Process

Follow this link: www.medair.org/work-with-us, check if you are an Experienced or New Relief Worker and that you fit our standard working criteria, then:
a) apply for this vacancy (or another position that matches your profile), or
b) apply for a Medair ROC (where we can try and match your competencies to our vacancy needs).

Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed. Medair does not set closing / deadline dates for applications; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled.