WASH Officer Job in Lodwar, Turkana, Kenya (KShs 100K)


Position: WASH Officer
 
Location: Lodwar, Turkana
 
Department: Health & Nutrition
 
Reports to: Project Health Coordinator
 
Relationships internally: All programme and support staff
 
Relationships externally: MoMS/MoPHS personnel, other governmental, UN agencies counterparts.
 
Salary: Kshs 100,000 per month
 
Benefits: Insurance cover, house allowance at 15% of basic salary, and annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.

Merlin Objective
 
Merlin is a British humanitarian Non Governmental Organisation providing health care to populations in crises. Merlin exists to provide an immediate and effective response to medical emergencies throughout the world.
 
The Purpose of the Job
 
The overall objective of the position is to develop, implement, monitor and report on all WASH technical aspects of Merlin’s projects in assigned areas of Turkana.  

S/he will ensure that field staff and partners adhere to technical and standard protocols in WASH.  

S/he will train and mentor staff as well as participate in WASH assessments, surveys and proposal design processes. 

S/he will be responsible for WASH activity reporting from field sites to district stakeholders and Merlin management. 

The WASH coordinator will work under the supervision of the Project Health Coordinator and in close collaboration with the MOPHS authorities and staff at district and community level.
 
Position Summary: The officer is responsible for the on-going management, continuing development, and daily supervision of all activities under Merlin’s linked water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion objectives.
 
Essential Responsibilities and Duties:
  • Facilitate Rapid Hygiene & Sanitation Promotion with special attention to hand washing with soap at critical times in coordination with DPHO, MoH and other relevant partners.
  • Distribution of emergency WASH supplies such as soap, jerricans, HWTS technologies such as water filters and chlorine tablets. Including training in their use.
  • Assessment of WASH needs in the Health Centre/Feeding Centres and identification of necessary repairs to WASH infrastructure.
  • Report on the status of WASH infrastructure in Health facilities & Outreaches, coordinate with District Water Officer & DPHO for rehabilitation/repairs to WASH infrastructure, supervise & monitor progress.
  • Training of Community Health Workers on hygiene promotion & HHWTS,
  • Mobilization of community groups & training on HHWTS & hygiene promotion activities,
  • Distribution of hygiene promotion IEC materials
  • To assist the MoPHS in the formation of operational networking groups at community level on Health HWTS,
  • Establishment of supply chain links for HWTS supplies.
  • Conduct community assessments to identify critical requirements for program interventions with a particular focus on returnees, women, and vulnerable populations.
  • Maintain on-going Merlin WASH activities focused on water point construction and rehabilitation, household and community sanitation, hygiene promotion, and community mobilization / sensitization
  • Promote and work to expand community capacity on WASH, with sensitivity to the political and cultural context.
  • Develop the Merlin WASH activities, with emphasis on response to perceived needs indicated by communities and beneficiaries.
  • Plan and implement emergency wash interventions in beneficiary communities as needed
  • Consult with beneficiary groups, community leaders, and relevant line ministries while planning project implementation
  • Consult with peer and UN agencies on international standards with regards to program design and implementation.
  • Participate actively with interagency water, sanitation, and related forums on behalf of Merlin.
  • Conduct and design WASH activities with the utmost sensitivity for the safety and well-being of beneficiaries.
  • Provide capacity-building for district staff: technical support, organizing training, and preparing a training schedule for WASH program staff
  • Ensure that Merlin provides quality services that meet Sphere and other international standards.
  • Review and write all WASH and WASH-inclusive proposals, reports, assessments, and research in consultation with the Project Health Coordinator and other field and country office senior staffs.
  • Submit weekly, monthly and quarterly reports by collection of information and data from the field, data analysis, and report documentation
  • Actively support timely, substantive, and appropriate documents that lead to funding support from donors in coordination with the project Health Coordinator.
Qualifications & Requirements:
  • This position demands a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced environment.
  • An advanced graduate degree in Environmental Health Science or related fields preferred, but can be substituted with relevant and equivalent experience
  • Demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills.
  • Logistical planning and problem-solving skills.
  • Experience with data collection and analysis.
  • Experience living and working in an insecure environment and with local communities.
  • Experience (2 years) developing and implementing WASH sector activities
  • Demonstrated written and oral communication skills
  • Demonstrated statistical survey, analysis and presentation  skills
  • At least 2 years experience working with an INGO in increasing positions of reporting and responsibility, especially in implementing WASH sector activities.
To apply for this position:

All applications including cover letter and CV should be sent to:

HR Department,
Merlin, Nairobi Office,
P.O Box 3350 – 00200, 
Nairobi, Kenya

OR Email to: recruitment@merlin-kenya.org

Application deadline is 5:00pm on Friday, 7th June 2013. 

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Data Protection
 
Please note that in accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act, Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purpose of recruitment and employment. This information can be stored in manual and/or electronic form. This information may also be disclosed to third parties in accordance with the Data Protection Act.  In cases where a job offer is conditional on ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States due to donor funding requirements, Merlin will use the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.