Specialist, WASH Humanitarian Response Personnel (HRP)
Summary
As part of a commitment to working with children in times of crisis, Save the Children will support programs in both sudden onset emergencies and chronic humanitarian situations. The Humanitarian Response Personnel (HRP) scheme ensuring that high quality personnel are deployed at speed and scale when and where emergency strikes. HRPs may be deployed in the first or second phase of a large or medium scale emergency where Save the Children is scaling up in order to provide expertise and leadership. HRPs may also deploy to small or medium emergencies or chronic humanitarian crises in order to provide additional support to Country Programs to continue to deliver quality programming.
As Save the Children US’s dedicated surge personnel capacity, HRPs can expect to deploy 6-9 months of the year for 2-3 months at a time in varying environments and contexts. During deployments HRPs should expect to work unusual hours and in potentially insecure and stressful environments. When not deployed, HRPs will support the work of their technical or operational teams in the US.
Responsibilities
The WASH Specialist HRP will generally be deployed to the field as the lead technical specialist in a small or medium-sized emergency or the 2nd phase of large emergency. Alternatively they may be deployed as a field level technical coordinator in a complex, large-scale emergency. The WASH Specialist will be expected to lead on sectoral assessment, program design and master budgeting, coordination, and support fundraising, recruitment and procurement. In most circumstances, the post holder will be expected to mentor and/or capacity building existing country program staff.
Assists in providing input to their function’s strategic and operational plan. Assists in developing short-term plans and organizes resources to achieve results. Accountable for day to day decisions around execution of job, and for setting clear objectives and measures for self. Exercises independent judgment and discretion on significant matters related to functional area. Requires little or no supervision on routine work assignments, but may require supervision to review work progress and results on non-routine work assignments. General regulations exist, but incumbent must interpret the regulations. Keeps manager informed of important issues. Builds effective relationships within their immediate or peer work group. Leads/supervises administrative support staff or program(s).
When not deployed, the WASH specialist will work with SHN team on the education team to support the WASH related aspects of SHN and strategizes on inclusion of SHN or WASH in Schools in Emergency responses.
Assessments (20%): Lead on WASH technical assessments in coordination with other SC 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
Program Design (20%) : Provide technical checking of WASH engineering designs and hygiene promotion programs as necessary, and proactively promote high quality WASH technical approaches within country programs
Program Implementation, Monitoring and Accountability (20%) : Prepare and oversee WASH program implementation to ensure timely delivery of program activities and capacity build technical field staff in carrying out the work. Work closely with the MEAL team on WASH sector M & E plan, accountability mechanisms. Prepare timely program and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements
Sector planning and fundraising (30%): Work with the Deputy Team Leader or Team Leader of a response to develop WASH sector plans, master budgets and support fundraising for the WASH sector, including development of high quality concept notes and proposals, and engagement with donors’ technical Advisors
Operations and capacity building (10%): Coordinate with operational functions including HR and Logistics. Identify WASH staffing needs (both national and international) for emergency programs, and ensure rapid recruitment, induction and training of new staff. Identify WASH program supplies needs and coordinate with the logistics team to put in place a sensible phased procurement plan. Identify learning and training opportunities for Save the Children staff and partners and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff. Oversee development of technical training material that will improve aspects of WASH work within Save the Children, at country level
Required Background and Experience, Skills and Behaviors
Required Experience and Skills
- Minimum 3-5 years’ experience required. High School diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s or Technical/Vocational degree, or advanced degree preferred. Requires a professional level of specialized knowledge, technical/functional skills and attention to detail to manage complex tasks, programs or projects. High School through Masters' Degree.
- Previous experience of managing a WASH team at national level
- Education to Masters level in Public Health, Water Engineering, or a related subject,or equivalent field experience
- Prior experience of working within a management role within a complex country program in an emergency response or fragile state
- Previous first phase emergency response experience
- Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability
- Demonstrated monitoring and evaluation skills
- Ability to work both in an advisory and a hands on implementation capacity
- Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff in WASH technical skills
- Experience with external representation
- Experience of preparing successful funding proposals for donors
- Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong influencing skills and experience in advocacy
- Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
- A high level of written and spoken English
- The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
- Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SCmandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support
Desirable Experience and Skills
- Language skills in French (Highly desirable), Spanish, and/or Arabic
- Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts
- Specific experience of designing and managing DFID, and ECHO, and/or USAID projects
- Specific experience of working in consortia projects.
Required Behaviors
Understanding contexts and application of humanitarian principles:
- Able to assess and analyze key issues in the humanitarian and development situations and formulate actions around them.
- Actively engage in disaster coordination mechanisms and interagency cooperation
- Lead on the development of an organizational response based on an understanding of the contexts
Achieving results effectively:
- Ensures beneficiary and partner feedback is incorporated into program design, planning and learning
- Demonstrates flexibility to adapt plans and make decisions in rapidly changing environments
- Actively manages risk and takes action to reduce risk
- Makes changes to improve performance as a result of information received
- Documents lessons learned and applies them to future projects
Maintaining and developing collaborative relationships:
- Develops strategies for teams to work across traditional boundaries, working in diverse environments
- Establishes clear objectives with teams and individuals and monitors progress and performance
- Fosters collaborative, transparent and accountable relationships through partners
- Uses negotiation and conflict resolution skills to support positive outcomes
Operating safely and securely:
- Demonstrates an understanding of wider UN/NGO security coordination and how the organization can benefit from, and contribute to, those mechanisms
- Undertakes effective risk assessments and develops contingency plans
- Takes appropriate, coordinated and consistent action to handle situations of personal risk and risk for others
- Reduces vulnerability by complying with safety and security protocols set by the organization
Managing yourself in a pressured and changing environment:
- Helps team members to practice stress management through prioritization of workloads and modelling of appropriate self care
- Remains focused on the objectives and goals in a rapidly changing environment
- Able to identify, and act on, low levels of resilience in others
Leadership: Action; Thinking; Self; Inspiring; Developing Others:
- Builds own awareness of the bigger global picture by using a broad range of sources to gather data
- Demonstrates managerial courage by confronting difficult situations and seeking resolution, and stating willingness to champion ideas
- Actively contributes to a team environment where team members feel able to contribute, champion or challenge decisions
- Takes responsibility for own development, and actively takes steps to better understand and address own strengths and weaknesses
- Openly talks about doing things differently, pushing the boundaries and ways of working
- Gives constructive feedback to enhance capabilities and responsibilities of team members for the purpose of his/her development
- Works to ensure that the workplace is inclusive and the talents of individuals are harnessed to achieve business success
Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries, including the United States. We aim to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives by improving their health, education and economic opportunities. In times of acute crisis, we mobilize rapid assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters. Each year, we and our partners reach millions of children in communities around the world. Our dedicated and diverse staff work hard to improve the well-being of children everywhere.
Save the Children provides an attractive benefits package including competitive salaries, a matching retirement plan, health and welfare benefits, life insurance, an employee assistance program, generous time off and much more. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.
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