Environmental Health (EH) / WASH Coordinator at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Full Time

Job Title: Environmental Health (EH) / WASH Coordinator

Requisition ID: req28469
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Full Time
Sector: Environmental Health
Employment Category: Regular
Open to Expatriates: No

Job Overview / Summary

• The Environmental Health (EH) Coordinator is the focal point for environmental health programs in Nigeria and ensures the implementation of quality WASH programing in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
• The EH Coordinator will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all partners, including the Ministry of Water, Ministry of Health, UN agencies and other NGOs, and will also be responsible for fulfilling IRC’s strategic objectives for the EH sector.
• The EH Coordinator is also responsible for program design, and technical support to ensure quality implementation, standardization, monitoring, and evaluation of all activities in the WASH sector.
• The EH Coordinator will strengthen sector activities and provide technical oversight of the program across all sites of implementation in northeast Nigeria.
• S/he will also focus on emergency response capability, with the ability to respond to a fluid programming context and deliver key services rapidly and effectively. The EH Coordinator supervises all EH staff, and reports to the Senior Program Coordinator.
• The EH Coordinator will receive technical support from the Technical Advisor for EH Programs. The position is based in the IRC Maiduguri field office in Borno state with regular travel to supervise IRC’s EH programs throughout the northeast.

Major Responsibilities

• Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy
• Program Development
• Oversee the technical aspects of the implementation and coordination of the EH program; providing support to the program managers and field teams to develop work plans to guide implementation of approved grants.
• Support the program managers and field teams in the technical design, implementation, and monitoring of work plans, ensuring that activities reflect the commitments made to the donor and the communities we serve.
• Work closely with M&E team to develop and improve M&E and feedback mechanisms for the EH program, ensuring that the EH teams in the field actively monitor set indicators and effectively address concerns of the target communities.
• Work closely with Supply Chain department to develop and monitor procurement and distribution plans monthly.
• Coordinate and participate in the development of new proposals and initiatives for the IRC EH program in accordance with the country program’s strategy action plan.
• Coordinate and participate in the development of budgets for program proposals in conjunction with the Grants and Finance departments.
• Work with the Senior Program Coordinator and the EH team to strengthen the WASH sector in Nigeria, defining the strategic direction of EH programming and developing a sector strategy that fits into the IRC2020 strategy.
• Support emergency needs assessments in response to the developing humanitarian situation.
• Together with field teams, develop programs and proposals for rapid and timely support of populations affected by conflict.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Required for all positions with supervisory responsibility, if special considerations are needed (e.g. remote management), make this additive to the base language here.
• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the team in Nigeria.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train, and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Grants Management & Reporting:

• Review progress in achieving program objectives and targets in collaboration with the program managers.
• Participate in grant opening, mid-term review, and grant closing meetings.
• Draft technical aspects of internal and external reports within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required.
• In collaboration with the program managers, review Budget vs. Actual expenditures for EH programs monthly. Bring any over/under expenditure issues to the attention of the Senior Management Team in a timely manner and jointly develop corrective plans in collaboration with the SPC and the Grants team.

Representation & Coordination:

• In coordination with the SPC, actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Establish networks with UN, INGOs, and local partners to promote technical capacity and develop strategic partnerships, including active participation in cluster meetings.
• Represent the EH program with national authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, and other stakeholders.

Research, Learning and Analysis:

• Responsible for all in-country activities to ensure that research activities under run smoothly.
• Work closely with research and program teams at headquarters and in field programs to coordinate logistics and administration of research studies.
• Assist in data collection training, piloting, and implementation as needed, including possible programming of quantitative software for data collection
• Provide coordination support for dissemination of research findings.
• Adhere to research standards, including ethical approval protocols and other IRC research standards
• Ability to take initiative to implement administrative and logistical tasks needed within research projects with oversight from lead researcher.

Coordination & Representation:

• Experience working with host governments, UN bodies, INGOs and local NGOs
• Strong on donor relations in emergency/humanitarian context
• Adaptability and ability to re-priorities according to the changing context
• Able to work effectively and creatively within a team.
• Ability to manage local staff in a mature, respectful, and impartial manner
• Extensive experience in project cycle management
• Minimum five years sectoral lead experience in humanitarian emergency programming.
• Preferably in the Northeast Nigeria.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to: Snr Program Coordinator (Health)
• Indirect/Technical Reporting: Technical Advisor (EH)
• Position directly Supervises: EH Snr Managers and Managers.

Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program:  Work with Technical Coordinators, Finance, Grants, and supply chain team
• Region/Global: Technical Unit

Key External Contacts:

• Experience working with host governments, UN bodies, INGOs and local NGOs
• Strong on donor relations in emergency/humanitarian context.

Qualifications

• M.Sc or equivalent in Civil, Environmental Engineering or Public Health (MPH) Degrees, with Water and Sanitation specialization preferred.
• In lieu of Master’s Degree, an additional 2 years of relevant experience maybe considered.

Work Experience:

• Experience working in humanitarian and insecure environments. Minimum of five years overseas professional experience in program design and implementation in the field of environmental health.
• Experience in emergency response.
• Demonstrated experience in project design and development, including needs assessment and proposal development.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, including budget management
• Understanding of protection principles as well as conflict sensitivity
• Experience in working with and coordinating with donors, UN agencies, INGOs, and other stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural, and communication skills
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Additional qualities: ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.

Languages:

• Fluent spoken and written English.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.  Add position-specific (e.g., accounting software, statistical software, etc.).
• Ability to Travel: 50 % of time if applicable.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.