WASH Project Manager (Construction)

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organization that has been operational in Nigeria since 201

• NRC's mission is to help displacement-affected communities meet their basic needs, improve their livelihoods, access essential services, and enhance their resilience to future shocks. The organization operates in various sectors, including Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Shelter, Education, Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA), Livelihoods and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security (LFS), Camp Management, and Protection. NRC has reached over 269,000 people with assistance in 2021 alone. The organization is dedicated to providing immediate assistance during emergencies through its Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM). With a focus on addressing the acute humanitarian needs caused by violence and displacement in Nigeria, NRC aims to restore lives and support communities in rebuilding their futures. The organization is committed to safeguarding and promoting the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, ensuring that aid is delivered effectively and ethically across the regions it serves.

Job Overview:
The WASH Project Manager (Construction) will be responsible for the design, development, and implementation of WASH infrastructure-related projects under the Education Core Competency. This role involves overseeing a small, integrated WASH/Shelter team within the Education program, ensuring effective implementation and delivery, as well as capacity building and technical skills transfer to the team. The Project Manager will play a crucial role in supporting the delivery of quality infrastructure activities in schools across NRC’s area offices. This includes conducting regular field visits for technical assessments, supervising staff and contractors, ensuring quality control, and validating completed works. The PM will also review and approve construction milestones, issue certificates of completion, and ensure compliance with NRC’s technical and minimum standards, donor requirements, and relevant national regulations or cluster guidance. Additionally, the PM will contribute to strategic program development, provide technical guidance, and integrate WASH and Shelter infrastructure components into the Education response, thereby strengthening NRC’s capacity to deliver safe, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments in displacement-affected communities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The WASH Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring that WASH service standards are met in learning spaces, supporting better learning outcomes, and delivering services that meet the needs of students and staff. Key responsibilities include conducting community engagements during technical needs assessments, facilitating WASH in schools training, and participating in focus group discussions and community mobilization activities. The PM will support the construction project budgets, including the approval of appropriate project expenses, tracking project spending, verifying monthly budget-vs-actual reports, estimating projected spending, and submitting monthly cash forecasts. The PM will also identify training needs for partners and implement appropriate interventions in both rural and urban contexts in coordination with other NRC programs. In collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team, the PM will monitor and follow up on the quality of services provided by NRC in the field, making recommendations for improvement. The PM will develop and maintain working relationships with relevant international and local agencies, provide leadership and management of all aspects of WASH facilities design, school construction design, and general construction planning, implementation, quality, and accountability. The PM will integrate community approaches, gender and disability sensitivity, Do No Harm/protection mainstreaming, and environmental sensitivity into all activities. The PM will establish, manage, and coordinate work plans for all project activities, ensuring that activities promote accountability to beneficiaries and effective inclusion in programming. Regular field visits to project sites will be conducted to ensure that construction activities are adapted to local needs and to provide quality control assurance. The PM will document successes, challenges, and any obstacles affecting implementation, and provide regular internal and external reports on project status as required.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the WASH Project Manager position should possess a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health, Public Health with a focus on WASH, Civil Engineering, Hydraulics, Hydrology, or Architecture. A minimum of 4 years of experience working as a Project Manager in a humanitarian, emergency, or recovery context is required. Candidates should have solid knowledge of the principles of WASH/Shelter and Education in Emergencies, as well as market-based approaches in a conflicting environment. Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities are essential, along with a good command of English for both verbal and written communication. Context-related skills, knowledge, and experience in construction works, borehole construction/rehabilitation, irrigation infrastructure, water points, latrines construction/rehabilitation, and school construction and rehabilitation are also necessary. Candidates should demonstrate a proven track record in managing and delivering projects effectively, possess project design skills, and have a good command of computer software including Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and CAD software. Familiarity with the NEAT+ tool is advantageous, as is the ability to plan and monitor activities effectively.

Educational Background:
Candidates applying for the WASH Project Manager position should have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Environmental Health, Public Health with a focus on WASH, Civil Engineering, Hydraulics, Hydrology, or Architecture. This educational background is crucial for understanding the technical aspects of WASH infrastructure and ensuring that projects are designed and implemented according to established standards and best practices.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years of experience working as a Project Manager in a humanitarian, emergency, or recovery context. Candidates should have a proven track record of managing and delivering projects effectively, particularly in complex and volatile environments. Experience in construction works, borehole construction/rehabilitation, and school construction and rehabilitation is essential, as well as familiarity with WASH principles and practices in emergencies.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both verbal and written, is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of local languages and cultures in the areas of intervention is highly desirable, as it will facilitate communication and engagement with communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position is Maiduguri, Nigeria, with a contract duration of 12 months. The salary and benefits are based on grade 8 of NRC’s Nigeria National salary scale. NRC is an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability. The organization encourages innovative ideas and gives responsibility to employees at all levels. Candidates must have the legal right to work in Nigeria, as NRC is unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorships for this position. The organization emphasizes safeguarding and expects all employees to treat everyone with respect and dignity, contribute to building a safe environment, and report any incidents of exploitation or harassment.