Job Title: Environmental Health Officer
Band / Level / Grade: 8B
Department: Environmental Health
Location: Abyan
BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
The IRC responds to people’s acute and longer-term needs with integrated programs that improve health and safety, prioritize children’s education, foster economic wellbeing, and empower communities to regain control over their lives. Our work gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, conflict sensitivity, coordination, and impact.
The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. Since establishing its presence in the South of Yemen, in the Red Sea Coastal city of Aden, the organization has grown from just an implementing small project to handling large scale emergency and relief operations. Following the war which broke out in Yemen in March of 2015 and the humanitarian disaster, which was crafted by the same, IRC launched one an emergency response program in the southern governorates of Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah and Al Dhale, and expanded later in Sana’a and Hodeidah in the North. Currently IRC Yemen is operating in eight governorates in the south and north of Yemen through direct programming and through local partnerships, in Health, WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development, Education, Child Protection, Gender and Women Protection and Empowerment.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) have been working in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for more than forty years. Today, the IRC has more than 2,200 staff working across the region, including in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen to support those affected by some of the world’s most complex and protracted humanitarian crises.
SCOPE OF WORK:
Under the direct supervision of the Environmental Health Manager, the EH Officer position is a junior level management position (Based in Abyan) that involves planning, management and supervising the accurate implementation of the Emergency WASH Response in targeted areas. The position requires the supervision of local contractors and labors, construction of activities outsourced to private contractors as well as the accurate management of the financial, material, and other resources under the program and reporting periodically to supervisors. They will work in close coordination with the community health team to ensure that hygiene promotion activities are coordinated with WASH targets.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Environmental Health Officer, under the direct supervision of the Environmental Health Manager, responsible for assessment of projects, water and sanitation projects, rehabilitating health units and facilities, water supply, preparing bills of quantities and drawings as well as tender documents, Monitoring and supervising project implementation. managing the Environmental Health Assistant. Administratively, responsible for submitting purchase orders “items forecast”, facilitate the project implementation and communicating with supply chain and finance.
WORKING RELATIONS:
The Environmental Health Officer will work under the management of the Environmental Health Manager and be a direct supervisor of the Environmental Health assistances , with coordination with the Environmental Health Manger and communicate with the Supply Chain Department to facilitate project implementation as well as the Finance Department regarding cash payments.
Assists in communicating with local authorities and stakeholders to facilitate the work of the project and the team
Communicates with the Monitoring and Evaluation Department for key tasks
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
- Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.
- Educate/raise awareness among the community and clients about the existing feedback mechanisms and response processes
- With coordination with EH manager, Conduct detail technical assessment to water supply and sanitation facilities to be rehabilitated or constructed; prepare bills of quantities and specifications, and raise items forecast for goods, services or works.
- Prepare weekly and monthly activity plan.
- Assist EH-M to Coordinate with local authority in his intervention areas.
- Develop monitoring tools for contract management in coordination with WASH program manager. Communicates with the Monitoring and Evaluation Department for key tasks
- Supervise the implementation of the rehabilitation and construction works. Water supply
- Reporting to EH-M on EH activities, weekly, quarterly, annual. And when require
- Track and maintain records on construction progress, labor and material utilization, challenges and prepare weekly and monthly progress reports.
- Work with communities and pertinent partners in the rehabilitation or construction of water supply and sanitation facilities.
- Coordinate with community health team for delivery of hygiene promotion services.
- Establish/activate and facilitate the training of water management committee/group to ensure accurate management of WASH facilities.
- Conduct regular water quality testing as the need arises.
- Closely work with Health unit to ensure that the mobile clinics and health facilities have regular access to safe water and sanitation facilities.
- Work with EH-M to Closely follow up and work closely with supply chain unit in timely procurement, selection, and inspection of EH goods and services.
- Collaborate closely with Finance Unit in budget preparation and utilization
- Performs another task as requested by the EH Manager
REQUIREMENTS:
(Qualifications, Skills and Abilities):
A. Education:
- Degree in Civil, Environmental, Architectural, or Hydraulic Engineering.
B. Experience:
- Minimum of 1-2 years practical experience in (WASH) construction or rehabilitation/maintenance of water system schemes preferably emergency water supply interventions.
C. Skills and Abilities:
- oven supervisory skills. Digital literacy in standard software’s (Word, Excel). Knowledge of engineering software’s (AutoCAD) would be an asset.
- Understanding of humanitarian funding and donor requirements
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners.
- Ability to negotiate and manage complex priorities.
- Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural environment.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Problem-solving skills
- Adaptability
D. Proficiencies:
- Active listening and effective communication skills
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Professionalism and strong work ethic.
- Ability to receive and respond to feedback positively.
- Resilience under pressure
- Positive interpersonal skills
- Proven capability to collaborate optimally within a team environment.
Highly organized, close attention to detail, and ability to effectively prioritize tasks in a fluid environment
Professional Standards: 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.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, marital status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.
Commitment to Client Responsiveness: By committing to Client-Centered Programming, at the IRC Yemen, we place the people we serve - our clients - at the center of our programming and services. The IRC Yemen Staff have an important role to play in supporting the implementation of client-responsive programming through raising awareness among the community and clients about the existing feedback mechanisms and how to use them including the response processes, access, and eligibility to services, and contribute to building an institutional culture that prompts staff to listen to clients.