ETU WASH Specialist

DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION
The American Refugee Committee seeks to establish an Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) in Liberia. The ETU will be a high-capacity, isolated unit with up to 30 beds, which will require the oversight of approximately 125 staff, over a period of 6-9 months. Given the magnitude of the need, the plan is to set up the ETU immediately. Staff safety is an absolute priority and strict adherence to infection control procedures will be undertaken to protect staff. Given the tedious nature of the work, personal protective equipment which must be worn at all times in the heat and need for strict adherence to infection control protocols, staff will have ample rest time.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The ETU WASH Specialist will lead the overall set-up and management of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions at the ETC. The ETU WASH Specialist will supervise the water, sanitation and hygiene at the ETU to ensure that WASH controls maintain general hygiene/sanitation standards, to prevent the further transmission of Ebola, and to ensure that the ETU maintains a regular supply of potable water at all times. He/She will oversee hiring, training and supervision of the WASH staff.

MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY/
PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILTIES

Assessment

• Provide WASH expertise in technical needs assessments and analysis at health care facilities, and surrounding communities.
• Conduct initial rapid assessment of current situation in collaboration with health care facility management and staffs, and affected population; determine priorities and immediate activities and resources.
• Represent ARC to stakeholders and Governmental and non-Governmental agencies, including relevant Ministries and Cluster.
• Assess in-country resources and capacities (human, material and financial) for response with relevant staff and agencies.

Project Implementation

• Support further development of overall program strategy and scale up / phasing in ARC’s Ebola response
• Oversee and advise on technical implementation of WASH related activities in the Ebola response
• In close collaboration with relevant sector leads develop and ensure strict adherence to protocols and SoPs for various tasks in the ETCs and, where necessary, in community-based interventions
• Ensure regular and effective communication with all team members
• Monitor and evaluate appropriate implementation of technical interventions against program objectives
• Assure appropriate and timely spending of grants to achieve program goals, grant reporting contributions, use and distribution of supplies and resources
• Provide regular reports, document results and lessons learned, and maintain detailed records
• Actively contribute to proposal writing and strategy development

Human Resource Management

• In collaboration with relevant technical advisors, develop and/or deliver WASH specific training for incoming managers (classroom and at ETC)Manage, supervise and provide support to all WASH staff, and address any concerns raised in a timely and safe fashion
• Pro-actively 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
• Overall responsibility for staff work plans, including shifts and rotations, vacation schedules, and staff training / development activities
• Ensure adhere to and act in accordance with relevant policies and procedures
• RepresentationExternal representation of WASH activities towards relevant stakeholders
• Pro-actively participates at technical working groups, and ensures dissemination of information to the WASH team
• Any other duties as assigned by the line manager

EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in public health, engineering or related field (emphasis in Water / Sanitation)
• Minimum of 5 years experience managing and implementing multi-site, multi-team emergency WASH programs of professional WASH programs in complex crisis settings.
• Experience in outbreak response, including rapid assessments and needs analysis.
• Experience working in West Africa preferred.
• Strong familiarity/experience with SPHERE, USAID and UN standards, and other professional guidelines.
• Strong personnel and program management skills, including solid organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Familiarity with private, US government, UN and multi-lateral programming donors.
• Strong proposal and writing skills.
• Proven training and capacity building experience.
• Ability to work in extreme conditions.
• Fluency in English (both oral and written skills).

KEY BEHAVIORS & ABILITIES

• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines required.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently.
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations and frustrations
• Ability to adapt to changing environments.
• Profound cross-cultural awareness.
• Willingness to travel and live in remote and security difficult situation.
• Ability to relate to and motivate local staff effectively.
• Creativity and the ability to work with limited resources.
• Sense of humor.

How to apply:

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