WASH and Construction Technical Adviser at SCI Career Site

, , Afghanistan -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

07 Mar, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

07 Dec, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

WASH Engineering, Construction Management, Program Design, Technical Oversight, Capacity Building, Community Engagement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Climate-Smart Approaches, Child Safeguarding, Donor Engagement, Report Writing, Team Leadership, Participatory Methods, Advocacy, Stakeholder Coordination, Risk Mitigation

Industry

IT Services and IT Consulting

Description

TITLE: WASH AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNICAL ADVISER TEAM/PROGRAM: Program Development, Quality and Advocacy (PDQA) LOCATION: based in Kabul, Afghanistan, but with at least 30% field travel GRADE: TBC CONTRACT LENGTH: 2 years CHILD SAFEGUARDING Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff. ROLE PURPOSE The WASH and Construction Technical Adviser is based in Kabul and serves as the thought leader and the sectoral technical lead for WASH in the Country Office. The adviser drives sectoral assessments, program design and ensures the delivery of high quality, standards-compliant interventions. The responsibilities of the role include developing the sector strategy, master budget, leading technical coordination and supporting program development and new business, recruitment and procurement activities. The post-holder also provides technical oversight on the implementation of the WASH program and construction activities (for eg. schools, clinics, child-friendly spaces) to ensure that programs are delivered on scope, on time, on budget and at the quality expected of Save the Children programs. Towards this end, the WASH and Construction Adviser will develop mechanisms, tools, SOPs, quality assurance plans, among others. As a key member of the Technical Unit, the WASH and Construction Technical Adviser ensures WASH programs and construction activities meet established sectoral standards and deliver results at scale. The role includes mentoring and capacity building for both Save the Children and partners’ staff, while fostering effective collaboration within the broader sector coordination mechanism. Additionally, the adviser represents the organization in national and state-level technical working groups, contributing to sector leadership, innovation and impact for the most marginalized communities. SCOPE OF ROLE Reports to: Head of Technical Unit KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY • Lead on WASH, construction-relevant or multi-sectoral technical assessments in coordination with other Save the Children thematic areas and/or other external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings are documented and that all assessments include a specific analysis of children’s needs. • Lead on developing WASH sector response plans and master budgets and contribute to Save the Children’s overall response strategy. • Lead the WASH sector component of the Country Strategic Plan and ensure the WASH targets are annualized with clear targets by location and with mechanisms for monitoring progress. • Lead on program design for the WASH sector and for construction deliverables across sectors, including crafting high quality concept notes and proposals, and engaging with donors’ technical advisers. • Develop technical standards for all WASH and hygiene promotion programming as well as construction interventions, including adhering to humanitarian standards and to internal Save the Children standards. • Review and develop construction designs to ensure fitness for purpose, structural safety and feasibility. Ensure that best practices on hazard mitigation measures are incorporated into buildings. • Extend support to supply chain team in reviewing specification and design of construction components and support in adjusting contract agreement accordingly. • With coordination with the WASH & construction team, build awareness on the minimum standards of construction activities, ensure they are maintained as per construction policy and national codes/international standards. • Provide technical oversight of WASH engineering designs and hygiene promotion activities as well as construction interventions promoting high quality WASH and construction technical approaches within the country programs. • Integrate climate-smart WASH approaches into program design and implementation, ensuring that water supply, sanitation, and hygiene interventions are resilient to climate risks and contribute to community adaptation efforts. • Lead the integration of anticipatory action within WASH programming by identifying climate- and shock-related triggers, supporting early action planning, and ensuring WASH interventions are designed to mitigate risks before crises occur. • Coordinate with program safeguarding team and facilitate discussions to mitigate or minimize safeguarding risks. • Support program managers in the preparation of timely program and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal and external requirements. • Work closely with the human resources team and identify WASH and Construction team needs for the Country Office, and ensure timely recruitment, induction and training of new staff. • Identify WASH program supply needs and support program managers and the logistics team to put in place a sensibly phased procurement plan. • Work closely with the REALM team to put in place a WASH sector monitoring and evaluation plan, ensuring this links to reporting requirements, and capacity build technical field staff in carrying out the work. • Together with the accountability lead, put in place sector accountability mechanisms, ensuring that feedback is incorporated into program design and learning disseminated to the wider WASH sector. • Ensure minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct and other applicable standards. Capacity Building: • Develop WASH learning needs assessment and capacity building plans for both Save the Children and partners’ staff, linking capacity building initiatives to wider opportunities identified internally or through coordination and networks. • Coach and mentor Save the Children’s relevant WASH and construction team members as well as their partner counterparts. • Lead the WASH and Construction Community of Practice in the CO, providing the WASH and construction implementers the platform to exchange knowledge, experiences, innovations and learnings. • Oversee the development of technical training materials that will improve the different components of WASH portfolio and construction interventions within Save the Children. Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning: • Help shape broader sector strategies through influence of and leadership within inter-agency coordination forums, such as the WASH cluster, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed. • Initiative documenting lessons learned, best practices and case studies to shape in-country strategies and program approaches, and contribute to the broader sector learning. Ensure these learnings redound to actions points that can either translate to program adaptations and improvements in programming or inputs for new program developments. • Pro-actively identify advocacy opportunities, case studies and research opportunities which link with the wider organisational strategic objectives that can be turned into pragmatic actions. • Lead in shaping WASH and construction-related communications and media priorities in line with thematic priorities, acting as a spokesperson when required. General: • Demonstrate leadership in relation to Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures. • Deliver high quality results and development effective relationships with country program staff which enhances the reputation of Save the Children. • Communicate with impact by delivering clear, evidence-based technical guidance to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring complex WASH concepts are translated into actionable, context-appropriate recommendations. • Share responsibility for the security of all staff. Ensure that the security, health and well-being of staff are ensured and staff management and other processes and policies and systems reflect Save the Children principles of equity and fairness. • Perform such other responsibilities as agreed with the line management. BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice) Accountability: • Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values. • Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved. Ambition: • Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same. • Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others. • Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale. Collaboration: • Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters. • Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength. • Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to. Creativity: • Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions. • Willing to take disciplined risks. Integrity: • Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity. QUALIFICATIONS • Bachelor of Science in Engineering or its equivalent is required. Master’s degree is preferred. EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS Essential: • A minimum of 5-7 years of experience working in the water and sanitation, and in the construction fields, both in development and humanitarian settings. Experience in WASH in emergency response is an advantage. • Advanced knowledge of water and sanitation engineering, and training in the use of a variety of water equipment including emergency mobile water treatment and storage unit, sanitation kits, water treatment chemicals, design of boreholes, rehabilitation of hand dug wells, pipe lines, basic knowledge of treatment of sewages as well as concrete storages, etc. • Ability to ensure that systems are in place for longer-term operation and maintenance of all water supply and sanitation facilities as well as construction projects and ensure these projects are implemented in a consultative and participatory manner with beneficiaries. • Demonstrated depth and breadth in participatory methods to engage local communities in needs assessments, design and implementation of local, culturally acceptable water and sanitation or any construction interventions. • Capacity to support the long-term capacity building and programmatic integration of water and sanitation into Save the Children core programming in health, with particular emphasis on hygiene promotion and environmental sanitation. Experience in integrating WASH in education and child protection interventions are also necessary. • Commitment to, thorough understanding of, and ability to train staff in participation and accountability approaches. • Demonstrated capacity in integrating climate-smart WASH approaches into program design and implementation. • Ability to integrate anticipatory action within WASH programming through identifying climate and shock-related triggers, supporting early action planning, and ensuring WASH interventions are designed to mitigate risks before crises occur. • Ability to guide the WASH and construction teams towards an integrated approach with other Save the Children programs to address community health needs, as well as cross-cutting themes such as gender, diversity and social inclusion, and climate change. • Demonstrated ability to set up monitoring & evaluation systems in large complex programs. • Demonstrated ability to set up learning and development processes. • Proven ability of mentoring and coaching. • Experience at technical level representation and in developing and negotiating successful partnerships with donors. • Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports in English. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. • Proven ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level. • Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy. • Willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult and insecure working circumstances. • Capable of working under pressure. • Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of Save the Children’s mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support. Desirable: • Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant contexts. • Specific experience of designing FCDO, ECHO and other major donor projects. Additional job responsibilities The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out reasonable additional duties within their level of skills and experience. Equal Opportunities The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and diversity policies and procedures. Child Safeguarding: We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Health and Safety The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

The WASH and Construction Technical Adviser leads sector assessments, program design, and ensures high-quality interventions in WASH and construction activities. They also provide technical oversight and support capacity building for staff and partners.