WaterAid is an international not-for-profit, determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation.

Since we started in 1981, we’ve remained resolutely focused on tackling these three essentials that transform people’s lives.

Without all three, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives. With all three, they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty, and change their lives for good. Children grow up healthy and strong, women and men get to earn a living, whole communities start to thrive. It sounds normal and it should be.

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Programme Officer – Technical

Team description

WaterAid Liberia has recently completed its 2023-2028 Country Programme Strategy (CPS) which sets a 5-year building block towards delivering a more sustainable programme over the strategy period. This new CPS does not only build on progress from previous CPS but also outlines key shifts in strategic focus required for a more catalyzed change to achieve maximum impact from our work in Liberia. Another key focus of the CP strategy is to harness existing partnerships for better results as well as building new partnerships and networking with key sector players including the government of Liberia and donors to ensure implementation of WaterAid Liberia’s Country Programme Strategy.

WaterAid Liberia as expressed in its Country Programme Strategy inspires to demonstrate its ability to achieve universal access to WASH in Liberia. Our theory of change requires having strong and committed leadership and people who will adopt and sustain positive WASH behaviours, prioritise and adequately invest in, model and replicate WASH interventions, and ensure that WASH is integrated into health systems (policies, programmes and practices) for better public health outcomes. The Senior Programme Manager will lead a team of experts to deliver research, capacity strengthening and service delivery work, modelling appropriate approaches, technologies and frameworks to facilitate replication and scaling up of interventions so that our overall ambition of universal access can be achieved in Liberia.

Job purpose

The Programme Officer -Technical will support the implementation of WaterAid WASH Intervention, ensuring high level quality control and site ordinance. He/she will provide technical supervision and quality control of WaterAid programmes and monitor the construction and rehabilitation of all WASH facilities. He /She will support in the efficient and effective execution of technical functions of WaterAid projects. He / She will regularly undertake initiation, monitoring, training and supervision of technical works with particular emphasis on the construction, maintenance, quality control, operation, management and reporting of WASH facilities at site/field level. The position holder will contribute towards achieving WaterAid’s three programmes of 1) Universal Access to WASH in Todee District; 2) WASH for Public Health; and 3) WASH Financing

Project & Site Management and Supervision:

• Support partners and contractors in the implementation of WASH activities with emphasis on construction and rehabilitation of WASH facilities.
• Supervise the work of partners to ensures quality control of all construction and rehabilitation activities.
• Manage health and safety at construction sites by ensuring that contractors are wearing their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and adhering to health & safety guidelines.
• Assists in developing engineering designs and preparation of Bill of Quantities
• Ensures that facility design take gender and disability issues fully into account
• Assesses engineering needs as requested and provide recommendations.
• Logs and reports activity progress; collects technical data and contributes to routine reports of project activities
• Provide supervision and technical support for the implementation of the hardware components of WASH Projects (Wessex, GAC, LDSC, etc).
• Communicate with internal staff, CHT and target communities as needed to support operational work
• Coordinate with National and sub-national elevel Government’s WASH staff to monitor and advise on WASH hardware activities
• Involves target communities into planned construction activities
• Support partner to ensure appropriate water quality testing is conducted in accordance with the WAL’s water quality protocl
• Ensures that all work carried out is sensitive to community needs, promotes participation and empowerment of community members and that a system is placed to get feedback on process and impact of the program
• Support in building the capacity of partners and contractor in relevant technical areas and ensure that PPAs and contract are executed in accordance with programme plans
• Coordinate and support trainings of target communities and local authorities on administration and operation of water points on aspects of operation, maintenance, disinfecting and chlorinating the water for consumption.
• Support programme innovation, scalability and sustainability to expand the reach and deepen impact of WASH interventions.
• Gives recommendations regarding the suitability of partners/contractors.

Programme Effectiveness Reporting and Learning:

• Support data collection and real-time information sharing to facilitate programme planning, reporting and learning for informed decision making.
• Work with the PMER and Learning departnment to develop plans, conduct monitoring and reporting on all works relating to Integrated WASH programme on WaterAid’s online platform – Project Center.
• Monitor and track implementation of activities of Implementing Partners and ensure timely submission of reports.
• Support partners to produce quarterly reports on progress and expenditure to specified formats and submit to Programme Manager in a timely manner.
• Contribute to the production of specific donor reports.
• Prepare and submit monthly progress report on WaterAid programme activities
• Support periodic monitoring of projects and activities of the Integrated WASH programmes and share lessons for adaptation and learning.
• Support hosting of Project & Programme Performance Reviews (PPRs) and facilitate programme learning and documentation with partners including voices from the field, success stories and other relevant documents
• Participate in WaterAid Liberia Annual Programme Planning and Reviews with partners.
• Support the development and management of all contracts and Project Partnership Agreement (PPAs) for contractors and WaterAid Implementing Partners respectively
• Work with PMER and other programme staff to contribute to WaterAid’s annual and mid-year planning and reporting processes to ensure high quality Programme Updates and Programme Reviews documents are produced and uploaded to Project Centre
• Represent WaterAid at local government level with decentralised Ministry/Agency staff on programmes related activities and when designated by the Country Director

Fundraising and Grant Management:

• Contribute to proposal development with creative and transformative project ideas.
• Support the Programme Manager in the management of all grants (restricted and unrestricted) including reporting (annual and specific donor reports) and adherence to donors’ requirements.
• Participate in budget preparation, revision and monitoring.

Other: Responsibilities may change to meet the evolving needs of the way WaterAid works.

Skills / Abilities / Personal Qualities

• University Degree or professional qualification in Geology, Rural Development, Civil / Environmental / Water / Public Health Engineering or related field
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in Construction related sector. Experience in the area of Water Sanitation & Hygiene is an asset.
• Strong experience of engineering and construction related project management and design of buildings in developing countries.
• Proven practical experience in developing countries in appropriate water supplies, sanitation and community mobilization.
• Experience of operational planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation.
• Ability to present concise reports reflecting the problems and possible solutions for particular situations
• Good knowledge and experience of working with local partner agencies with a capacity to provide formal and informal training
• Familiarity with relevant standards and guidelines for WASH in communities and Institutions would be desirable.
• Computer literate with skills in CRM tools, MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and Revit is an advantage
• The focus, commitment and dedication to help waterAid achieve its primary strategic goal of providing water & sanitation services to all.
• Ability to work well in a team in difficult circumstances
• Willing to stay in and work in deprived rural areas
• Well-developed interpersonal and team skills and proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Good understanding of community management and the integration of water supply with sanitation and hygiene and across wider development sectors would be desirable.
• Ability to ride a motorcycle

Apply

Kindly apply by sending your CV and cover letter to recruitmentwli@wateraid.org by May 3, 2024. The subject line of your email should read “Application – Programme Officer – Technical”

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

WaterAid believes in a fair and transparent recruitment process. It however reserves the right to accept or reject any application.

Please note: to apply for this role you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in Liberia.

No recruitment agencies, please