Environmental Health (WASH) Coordinator

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Environmental Health (EH) Coordinator is responsible for strategy development, program design, and technical support to ensure quality implementation, standardization, monitoring and evaluation of all activities in the WASH sector. Primary duties will include strengthening EH activities and providing technical oversight of this program across all sites of implementation.

A second focus is on emergency response capability, with the ability to respond to a fluid programming context, and deliver key services rapidly and effectively.

 The EH Coordinator reports to the Country Director and is based in Sana’a, Yemen.  Depending on security outlook, this role may include regular travel within Yemen. Followed the evacuation back in March the position is relocated to Amman for temporary period.

This is an unaccompanied position.

  MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

The EH Coordinator shall: 

Program Management & 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.
• Visit country field offices as and where possible, developing close and effective communication with local teams.
• Support the program managers and field teams in the technical design, implementation and monitoring of the work plans ensuring that activities reflect the commitments IRC made to the donor and the community.
• Develop and/or improve monitoring and evaluation 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.
• Coordinate and participate in the development of new proposals and initiatives for the IRC EH program in accordance with the country program strategic plan, IRC program framework and IRC EH strategies.
• Coordinate and participate in the development of budgets for program proposals in conjunction with the grants and finance departments.
• Work with the Deputy Director of Programs and the EH team to strengthen the WASH sector in Yemen, defining the strategic direction of EH programming and establishing a Country Sector Strategy.
• Liaise regularly with the relevant HQ technical units. 

Emergency Response Programming

• Support emergency needs assessments in response to the developing humanitarian situation.
• Together with local teams, develop programs and proposals for rapid and timely support of populations affected by conflict.

Staff Support

• Establish regular and direct communication lines with the program managers. 
• Work with the Field Coordinators/Managers to ensure technical aspects of the Performance Management System documentation for the program teams is in place and followed up regularly.
• Provide ongoing training and technical support and guidance to the program managers, and ensure all EH staff adhere to best-practice principles in all aspects of program implementation.
• Conduct technical interviews of candidates for EH program manager positions and other roles as needed.

 Grants Management and Reporting

• Review progress in achieving program objectives and targets in collaboration with the programs managers.
• Participate in Grants Opening, Mid-Term and Closing meetings.
• Develop technical aspects of internal and external reports within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required.
• In collaboration with program managers, review Budget vs. Actual expenditure for EH programs on a monthly basis.  Bring any over/under expenditure issues to the attention of the Program Managers in a timely manner and jointly develop corrective plans in collaboration with the DDP and the Grants team.

 Representation and Coordination

• In coordination with the DDP actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders in the Yemen response, 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. 
• Participate in inter-agency EH forums at national and international levels.
• Represent the EH program with national authorities, non-state actors, UN agencies, NGOs, and donors.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• MSc or equivalent in Civil, Environmental Engineering or Public Health (MPH) degrees, with Water and Sanitation specialization preferred.
• Experience working in humanitarian and insecure environments.  Minimum of five years overseas professional experience in program design, implementation in the field of environmental health.
• Experience in emergency response.
• Ability to remotely work with teams in an advising role, and strong understanding and experience of remote monitoring approaches.
• 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 and likely protection concerns arising in the Yemen context as well as conflict sensitivity
• Experience in working with and coordinating with the UN, donors, INGOs and other stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills. 
• Excellent analytical and writing skills
• Fluency in English; Arabic language a strong advantage.
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills.
• Additional qualities: ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions

WORKING ENVIRONMENT :

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Security level orange. The situation in Sana’a is tense at the moment and remains unpredictable; concerns include criminality, presence of armed troops, and looting. There is active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and other states.

HOUSING:

Lodging in Sana’a is in a private bedroom, with a shared bathroom, in a shared IRC guesthouse. In field sites, accommodation similar to the head office. All IRC sites have electricity and internet all day through. Food is the individual’s responsibility.

 The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.