WASH Coordinator / WASH AND WRM - IQ Talent Marketplace

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action – helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by the Middle East, since 1989 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the region and of those communities where we work.

Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on the specific needs of refugees and displaced persons. Mercy Corps Iraq current goal is to work with new and existing civil society, public and private sector partners to meet immediate and long-term needs by strengthening communities’ ability to rebuild amidst increasing crisis. Mercy Corps Iraq focuses on (1) a relief-to-resilience pathway to meet the needs of conflict-affected communities leveraging agency expertise in conflict management and civil society development (2) a humanitarian response that empowers conflict-affected populations to meet their own needs (3) partnering with conflict-affected adolescents to address their diverse needs, promoting leadership and linkages with civil society.

 

Program / Department Summary

The WASH Coordinator will oversee the implementation of WASH project to support water, sanitation, and hygiene in camps and out of camps in Anbar, Ninewa, Erbil and Salah al-Din. This position will ensure all project activities are started on timely basis and will provide proactive support to field teams on need basis. This position will travel to all field locations and will provide leadership in all activities. This position will work closely with WASH deputy director, Senior Program Manager and will support WASH Project managers in provision of WASH services in camp and out of camp. Furthermore, WASH coordinator will ensure all online tracking sheets are fully updates (PR tracker, WQQM, desludging, NFI distribution plans and others), this will include weekly updates to the supervisor on status of all online sheets, preparation of summary sheets of all activities, and summary of bi-weekly reports from all governorates. And ensure all activity, and implementation tracking, and situation reports and updates are timely drafted and tracked. Reporting to the Deputy Director of WASH Program,. S/he is responsible for ensuring that projects run smoothly by providing technical and administration leadership, supervising, training and mentoring the WASH project staff, and  coordinating  the  implementation  of  WASH activities.

 

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Support WASH teams in implementation of the WASH project, including hygiene education, water and sanitation infrastructure rehabilitation, construction, and services.
• Provide internal and external quality reporting.
• Engage in verification of beneficiary households that promote accountability.
• Actively support in tracking the Program health and budget
• Conduct field visits to all field location, support teams as requested by WASH project managers, completes assignments assigned during field visits, Support in planning of distribution of hygiene kits, dignity kits and other NFIs that are an integral part of the project.
• Oversee the successful implementation of project activities, ensuring that teams are following work plans, that activities are on schedule, and that project deliverables are completed as promised.
• Identify priorities in term of assessments, designing and overseeing Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices(KAP) and other surveys. Works closely with MEL manager, MEL officers, data officers to ensure all MEL databases are fully updated.
• When security permits, conduct field assessments, makes recommendations about the needs and vulnerabilities of the target populations regarding water, sanitation, and hygiene issues, and develop and implements feasible yet sound technical solutions.
• Conduct regular monitoring of project activities and project impact, per Mercy Corps Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning and in accordance with existing related guidelines; (HAP, SPHERE and donor regulations)
• Actively participates to preparation of tender and contracts, including technical specifications of works to be performed by contractors.
• Write monthly reports and other donor-based reports or organizational based notes for PD to review and submit.
• Work closely with vendors and contractors, as well as participate in vendor assessment and selection.
• Assist in proposal / concept note development and report writing as necessary.
• Design, plan and execute workshops in coordination with the project managers, partner and local directories.

Team Management

• Provide technical direction and advice for administrative team and relevant staff in emergency response in insecure environment, and develop work plans in collaboration with the team.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive staff and local partner (if any) training series to build team capacity in the area of WASH and M&E; 40% of the role focus on capacity building of the WASH team,
• Work with partners and directories to strengthen linkages with other actors to enhance organizational learning which directly impacts staff performance and productivity.

Representation and Coordination

• Represent Mercy Corps at the WASH external meetings (as needed),
• Liaise with local officials including the Local and the Regional Water directory, Sanitation directory, Health structures, local NGOs and project partners, local religious leaders and other community members to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps projects in the AOR.
• Develop and maintain working relationships and coordinate with relevant international and local agencies active in the water and sanitation sector of an emergency response, including donors, other humanitarian and human rights organizations, local authorities and local partners,
• Represent Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings (when asked)

Other

• Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy.
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities.
• Contribute to monthly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements.
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

• Other assigned tasks, as necessary.

 Organizational Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Supervisory Responsibility

Technical supervision of WASH administrative team in North and South Iraq.

Accountability

Accountable to position description, MC HR Manual

Reports Directly To: Deputy WASH Director

Works Directly With: Program support counterparts (program performance and quality, finance, operations, and human resources teams), Program Managers, Program specific staff, headquarters operations and technical support unit team members.

External Contacts: NGOs, Donors, and local communities.

Knowledge and Experience

• BSc or master’s degree in Water Resources Engineering, Water Treatment Technologies, or Civil Engineering, public health or any related discipline with WASH-related experience
• Demonstrated expertise with at least four years of relevant project management experience, including implementation of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in emergency response project management in highly insecure environments.
• Commitment to local capacity building and the ability to engage local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with INGOs and national NGOs. Familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures, and the mandates of UN agencies, and other NGOs.
• Good organizational and project management skills and the ability to anticipate project needs.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively with colleagues of other departments in a team environment, and to lead a diverse group of national and international staff.
• Understanding of participatory methodologies for project design, implementation and evaluation.
• Knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE and HAP.
• Working understanding of procurement, administration and finance systems.
• Must be able to strategically manage and guide staff on project and office activities and security issues.
• Fluent English and Arabic essential.
• This role is only open to Iraqi citizens and individuals who have the legal right to work in Iraq

 

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful candidate will have proven experience working effectively and respectfully with host country government and other authorities, NGO, and CBO representatives, and will have effective verbal and written communication as well as multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills. S/he will have demonstrated attention to detail while keeping a strategic view, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members, and will have an interest and ability to travel and work in insecure environments. Sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work and ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles are all critical, as is a commitment to working with community members to make concrete improvements to their livelihoods and living conditions. An ability to creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting project operations are also essential, as is patience, tenacity, and a good sense of humor.

 

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Erbil, Iraq with frequent travel to Kirkuk, Anbar, Salah Al Din and Baghdad. Personnel in this location are expected to follow all security protocols. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values always and in all in-country venues.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES:

Successful candidates should meet the education and experience requirements in the position descriptions for the vacant positions.

S/he must be self- motivated, creative, tolerant, and able to work in difficult, stressful environments and follow Mercy Corps procedures. S/he must respect diversity and gender equality at the workplace.

Interested candidates should submit their CVs to the email address [email protected], before the deadline indicated below.

Please indicate on the subject of the email the title of the position you are applying for, for full position description for the noted posts, please visit websites NCCI.

 

ALL APPLICATIONS/ CVs SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY March 5^th, 2023 at 4:00PM

Potential candidates for the post will be contacted for an interview and processed according to Mercy Corps Human Resources policies and procedures. As soon as qualified candidates are identified the positions will be closed automatically. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for potential interview.

Any documents submitted will remain with Mercy Corps and will not be returned to candidates.

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. Females are highly encouraged to apply.

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply for This Position.  Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global Impact.  

Mercy Corps Iraq offers a variety of arrangements that enable women to excel in their careers.  Mercy Corps Iraq ensures a safe and inclusive working environment for women and men through field security training and measures to provide secure working arrangements on-site and in the office.