Manager WASH

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a non-governmental organization that has been operating since 1933, focusing on humanitarian aid and development in over 40 countries worldwide. The IRC's mission is to help people affected by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. The organization employs thousands of staff globally, working to provide health services, education, and economic support to vulnerable populations.

Job Overview:
The Manager WASH position is critical in the response to the Ebola epidemic in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This role is based in Bunia and serves as the national technical reference for environmental health within the IRC's health projects. The Manager WASH is responsible for integrating WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) components into all supported health structures. This includes overseeing the establishment of WASH infrastructures in health facilities and enhancing the skills of health personnel in hygiene, sanitation, access to safe drinking water, and waste management. The position also involves providing direct technical support to partners and training teams working in health units, ensuring compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures and the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The Manager WASH actively participates in WASH coordination frameworks, needs assessments, drafting terms of reference, preparing data collection tools and training guides, and contributes to data analysis to size the response and supervise its implementation according to national and international standards. This role requires in-depth technical expertise in WASH and confirmed experience in project management in emergency contexts to ensure the quality and safety of interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Key responsibilities include conducting needs assessments to identify hygiene practices and barriers to safe practices in supported health structures, analyzing data from assessments to design sustainable WASH interventions that comply with standard protocols and healthcare requirements. The Manager WASH will plan and implement activities aimed at reducing risky practices by integrating physical and behavioral aspects. Coordination of assessments and activities with the IPC team is essential to ensure effective integration. The role also involves designing technical plans, specifications, and work programs for WASH infrastructures, providing technical expertise to field teams, and supervising contractors to ensure quality work. The Manager WASH is responsible for reporting activities, managing administrative tasks, and overseeing the budget for WASH projects. Monitoring water quality, ensuring hygiene and sanitation installations meet standards, and promoting staff participation for the sustainability of actions are also critical. Additionally, the Manager WASH will contribute to the application of environmental standards and conduct climate-sensitive analyses of IRC interventions, particularly in health centers.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate should possess a degree in hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, or environmental engineering, with proven experience in implementing activities related to water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in healthcare settings, particularly for highly infectious diseases. Desired experience includes prior work in triage and isolation units, high-risk infectious zones, or biosafety level 4 environments, as well as experience with viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, Lassa, and Marburg. Technical skills required include a strong understanding of environmental standards in emergency contexts, mastery of international standards (Sphere), and experience in designing and implementing WASH and sanitation infrastructures in emergency situations. The candidate should also have the ability to develop innovative WASH interventions tailored to humanitarian contexts, strong managerial and behavioral skills, and the ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision in stressful and uncertain environments. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and design software (AutoCAD, ArchiCAD) is also necessary.

Educational Background:
A bachelor's degree in hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, or environmental engineering is required. The candidate should have a solid academic foundation that supports their technical expertise in WASH-related fields, particularly in the context of health facilities dealing with infectious diseases.

Experience:
Candidates should have significant experience in the field, particularly in emergency response settings. This includes practical experience in WASH project management, ideally in contexts dealing with infectious diseases. Experience in training and capacity building of local teams is also essential, as well as familiarity with the challenges and dynamics of working in high-risk environments.

Languages:
Fluency in French is mandatory, with excellent communication skills. Proficiency in English and/or the local language is considered an asset, as it facilitates better interaction with diverse stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and based in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The role may involve travel to various project sites and requires a commitment to maintaining the safety and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security of the teams. The IRC offers competitive compensation and benefits, including health insurance and opportunities for professional development.