Water and Sanitation Manager

MSF is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization. We are a non-profit, self-governed worldwide movement of more than 63,000 people.  

We provide emergency medical assistance during armed conflict, natural disasters, outbreaks of deadly diseases and assist those who are excluded from healthcare. MSF delivers care based on need and when we see injustice, we speak out. We are an organization that remains impartial, knowledgeable, and effective, and this is what makes the difference between life and death.  

People are our priority. At Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Artsen zonder Grenzen, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We encourage diverse applicants including individuals of all gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, social and marital status, people with different abilities and all other diversity characteristics and how they work together. 

Water Hygiene and Sanitation Manager 

Water, hygiene and sanitation play a key role in our projects, as water is the source of life, but due to poor sanitation and hygiene, can also spread diseases and cause death. 

Your objective will be to prevent and control diseases transmitted by contaminated water, poor sanitation or hygiene practices both within and beyond the health facilities we run or support. As a WatSan specialist, you will not necessarily be focused solely on the health facilities, but may also be responsible for the water, hygiene and sanitation provisions of entire communities, like in refugee camps. Your job will involve maintaining a safe and reliable water supply, constructing or upgrading sanitary facilities, supporting waste management efforts, implementing vector control measures, and contributing to the promotion of hygiene. You will work closely with the project team (medical and non-medical staff). Your work will include training and supervising locally hired staff. 

This job description provides a framework for the main responsibilities and primary activities of the position, it is not all-encompassing. Therefore, the responsibilities and activities of the position may differ from those described in this job description due to organizational and operational needs. 

Objectives and responsibilities of the position 

As a WatSan Manager in a country program, you will be planning all WatSan activities and: 

• In collaboration with the Project Coordinator and the Medical Team Leader, planning, elaborating and reviewing the annual budget for the WatSan activities in order to identify and give a response to the needs of the project and the targeted population. 

• Monitoring on a day-to-day basis the implementation of the WatSan activities in the project ensuring compliance of MSF standards, protocols and procedures, and reporting to the Project Coordinator and/or WatSan Coordinator/Team Leader on the development of the ongoing programs including the following: 

• Designing, implementing and managing all WatSan interventions in the project. This includes but is not limited to construction and implementation of water supply, excreta disposal, waste management, hygiene, and vector control systems. 

• Conducting routine WatSan assessments in collaboration with project medical teams to identify water, hygiene and sanitation needs at project level and making recommendations for public health activities to the line manager (e.g. Project/Field Coordinator, WatSan Coordinator/Team Leader). 

• Ensuring  WatSan contributions to the development, planning and resources of emergency preparedness and response strategies, in collaboration with the medical and logistical teams. 

• Ensuring availability, proper supply, and appropriate technical specifications of required materials and equipment through planning, organizing and overseeing the inventory of WatSan stock. 

• In collaboration with the Project Coordinator, Medical Team Leader and/or WatSan team leader/Coordinator and the HR Coordinator, participating in the planning and implementation of HR associated processes of the staff in the WatSan team. 

• Providing technical support to the medical team in identifying possible "risk factors" (e.g. behavioral practices, environmental sources of infection, and transmission routes) and offers solutions that contribute to infection control. Leading the integration of WatSan activities in the medical intervention offering project proposals and work plans. 

• Ensuring proper collection and monitoring and analysis of WatSan specific data. Contributing towards reporting and decision making around public health and multidisciplinary data. 

Requirements 

• At least two years of hands-on work experience in the field of water, hygiene, vector control, or sanitation projects in emergency or development contexts. 

• Experience in training, coaching and supervision of staff 

• Good command of at least two languages - English and French/Arabic/French (minimum B2) 

• Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload in high intensity settings.  

• Willingness to work in an unstable and insecure environment 

• Ability to work in an international team 

• Availability of at least 6 months 

Assets 

• Experience in or familiarity with healthcare water supply, excreta disposal, waste management, hygiene, and vector control systems. 

• A degree in public health/environmental engineering is desirable but not a requirement. 

• Diverse experiences across different contexts and cultures are highly desirable. 

• Experience working in an epidemic/outbreak setting (for example, Cholera, Viral Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola, Hepatitis, Diphtheria etc.) 

Information and Application 

If you recognize yourself in this profile and meet the requirements, we welcome you to apply directly via the Apply button on this page and upload the following documents: 

• Your most recent English CV not exceeding 3 pages 

• A cover letter explaining your motivation to work with MSF 

Female candidates who meet the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.  

If you are interested and would like to have additional information, please contact Recruitment, [email protected].