Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Manager

Background/IRC Summary:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The WASH Manager will oversee the daily operations of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) staff involved in the design, implementation, and supervision of health facility-based WASH interventions. This role is responsible for ensuring that approved technical designs and methodologies are followed, maintaining program quality, and achieving all WASH objectives within the allocated time frame and budget. The WASH Manager will also support the capacity building of team members as needed and represent the program in relevant coordination forums and stakeholder meeting.

Responsibilities:

Technical Quality

• Participate in any inter sectorial assessment process, including analysis and planning.
• Input into the development of hub WASH strategy
• Provide direct technical support to the Environmental Health, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Promotion, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Distribution and Monitoring teams in accordance with best practice and IRC policy.
• Ensure that water, sanitation, hygiene promotion and distribution activities meet stated objectives within the timeframe;
• Ensure the project demonstrates adherence to international and national standards, including Sphere and others;
• Ensure program activities foster accountability to beneficiaries, gender and protection sensitivity and inclusion are adequately addressed in programming;
• Propose technical designs for all water and sanitation activities including those within IRC Health facilities
• Provide technical support and training for project staff including staff supporting infection prevention and control (IPC) measures within IRC Health Facilities.
• Provide regular reports, document results and maintain detailed records

Staff Supervision & Development

• The post holder will directly manage the entire WASH team
• Support the Senior IPC/WASH officer on technical WASH improvements for targeted Health Facilities
• Participate in recruitment of staff in the approved Health organogram
• 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
• Take responsibility for discussing job expectations, performance, and objectives on an informal, quarterly basis with designated staff.
• Responsible for WASH teams’ timesheets, work plans, vacation schedules, and staff training/development activities.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures

Grant Planning & Implementation

• Support the Health Coordinator in preparing technical proposals and budgets to ensure programs effectively address the immediate needs of the affected community
• May have some budget authority to pre-approved limits and responsibility for budget development and compliance.
• Responsible for ensuring the achievement the specific Environmental Health grant timeline and completion date in designated area of project/activities
• Provides direction and monitors staff in their implementation of the work plan and quality of technical activities.

Donor Monitoring & Reporting

• Lead on monitoring Environmental Health /WASH activities and spend in line with donor grants
• Participate in timely donor reports
• Fully responsible for field monitoring of all Environmental Health activities making recommendations for modifications of activities as required.

Coordination & Representation

• Maintains effective coordination and networking with internal as well as external stakeholders,
• Works closely and coordinates with IRC supply chain and finance staff to ensure timely and complaint program activities and expenditures.
• When requested, represents IRC in external WASH forums

Program Development

• Contributes to the development of EH emergency strategy direction and plans
• Participates in sector specific strategy development and technical proposal design

Monitoring responsibilities

• Responsible for ensuring that monitoring and data collection/analysis of all water and sanitation indicators are in line with the approved monitoring framework, using all the correct monitoring tools and at the frequency prescribed
• Participate in monitoring data analysis

Other duties

• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to the Health Coordinator, and when liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

•  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 the teams in Syria.
• 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 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, minimally on a monthly basis.
• 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.