Peace & Conflict – Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) officer, re-advertised.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps, with an established WASH & Shelter program in Syria, manages its North West Syria (NWS) programming remotely from Amman, Jordan. The NWS program provides Emergency, WASH, Shelter, Livelihoods and Protection supports to internally displaced populations and Syrians affected by the war. The Emergency programs are implemented through direct implementation (contractual work) and local and/or partner NGOs.

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps Syria is driven by the belief that profound partnership with Syrian communities is fundamental to the transition from survival to productivity and self-reliance. Catalyzing Community Resilience in Northern Syria (CCRNS) Program presents a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Food Security and Livelihood (FSL) program using Mercy Corps’ CATALYSE approach (Communities Acting Together to Advance Linkages Yielding Social Engagement) , which puts communities at the center of program development and implementation, and supports the creation of an enabling environment and opportunities that deliver long-term benefits, for those we work with.

The (CCRNS) Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Program Officer’s role, under the supervision of the Peace and Conflict / Social Cohesion Program Manager, is to support the management of Mercy Corps Northwest Catalyzing Community Resilience in Northern Syria (CCRNS) Program activities, providing (WASH) assistance to conflict-affected communities, focusing specifically on Northwest Syria program working remotely from Amman in partnership with Syrian Organizations inside Syria. The position holder will work closely with the broader (CCRNS) project team, Peace and Conflict / Social Cohesion Program Manager and Mercy Corps Partners to ensure smooth, efficient, and effective implementation of the program. The (CCRNS) WASH Officer will be responsible for assisting with the implementation of (WASH) activities, in addition to monitoring, capacity development, analysis and reporting. The (CCRNS) program (WASH) Officer will have strong engagement with all aspects of the program cycle, including assessment, planning, project design, implementation, monitoring, capacity building of local NGO and CSO partners, reporting, and evaluation of the program and preparing periodic reports. The position also involves understanding how the collection of projects fits within Mercy Corps’ grant and Mercy Corps wider strategy, with support and guidance from the Program Manager and considering new opportunities for programming.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Sub grants implementation

• (CCRNS) program Focal point in supporting partners to design and set up of (WASH) subawards/projects
• Ensure that the partners projects targets are met accordingly to the implementation work plan. This includes being responsible for the quality of the periodical reports, updates and grants tracking system by ensuring that subawards records are kept up to date
• Closely follow the implementation of partner (CCRNS) program activities from the design phase through to implementation and close out
• Contribute to the development of transparent calls for applications, with a specific focus on the WASH sector.
• Support the launch of these calls by reaching into existing Syrian civil society networks, collaborating with other MC teams in the region, and coordinating with other INGOs operating in Syria, and working with Syrian civil society networks.
• Participate in internal partner selection processes and review committees when relevant, including contributing to the development of technical selection criteria.
• Support potential WASH partners in project design and proposal development, contributing to program quality and ensuring soundness of technical approaches.
• Work closely with selected WASH partners to develop M&E plans, work plans, and other relevant programming documents that will guide project implementation.
• Serve as the Project’s primary focal point with WASH partners during sub-project revisions and negotiation processes and throughout the sub-grant lifecycle.
• Review sub-grantee narrative reports to ensure implementation is on track and collaborate closely with Partnership Finance Officers and M&E team to track alignment of partners’ activities with expenditures and reporting.
• Follow up with partners on any issues that emerge from the reports, and work with them to realign or revise project strategies and plans as necessary.
• Organize and participate in the facilitation of meetings/workshops/trainings to help increase the capacity of staff and implementing partners in planning and implementation of food security and livelihood component under (CCRNS) program.
• Maintain sub-grant project files for each partner, and track submission of narrative reports and other deliverables.
• Ensure proper maintenance of project files for the partner(s), keep all trackers up-to-date, and ensure project related deliverables are completed in a timely manner.
• Ensure timely preparation partner payment packages.
• Ensure compliance with donor regulations.
• Assist in the completion of monthly projections and other requested documents.
• Contribute to drafting and reviewing accurate reports (monthly, quarterly and final).

Coordination and Communication

• Contribute to the development of the overall project strategy, specifically in terms of humanitarian needs, WASH emergency priorities, and geographic location for partner projects.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders – including NGOs, clusters, UN agencies, community-based organizations.
• Ensure that information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate.
• Work closely with the MEL Coordinator to aggregate and analyze data provided by partners to both influence programmatic decision making and contribute to reports to the donor and/ or MC stakeholders at HQ or in the region.

Technical needs assessment and project development

• Revision of BoQs, specifications and drawings shared by partners for WASH infrastructure projects.
• Support and monitor the development of WASH projects with partners.
• Ensure adequate documentation of daily activities, including schedules, lesson plans and attendance records for activities are received from partner organizations.
• Support the partner to develop and supervise health, safety, and environmental aspect during the implementation phase.
• Follow up with the daily records and all work activities, information, instructions, issues, according to the partner’s report and as instructed by the WASH & Shelter Program Manager.
• Follow up with implementing partners to ensure that all the finance requests, procurement requests, activity and finance reports are made on time.
• Coordinate regular meetings with partners
• Identify challenges emerging in coordination with other functions (Finance, Procurement, Admin and Security) and partners and introduce corrective measures where appropriate (focus on individual problem solving);
• Take timely action to prevent potential delays and/or cost overruns that can be avoided closely with partners and under the supervision of the WASH & Shelter Program Manager.
• Help design project technically with local partners, and ensure that the projects funded all meet set criteria and standards and align with the signed contracts.
• Develop and maintain systems to ensure coordinated and effective communication between Mercy Corps team members and the partner organization(s). Alert the Program Manager of these on a regular basis and offer possible solutions.
• Closely follow the implementation of partner activities from the design phase through to implementation and close out.
• Ensure that the team properly maintains project files for each partner, all trackers are up-to-date, and project related deliverables are completed in a timely manner.
• Coordinate Subaward administrative follow-up closely with the Program Manager.

Other

• Adherence to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

SECURITY

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

Accountability

Reports Directly to: Peace and Conflict / Social Cohesion Program Manager based in Amman

Works Directly with: Amman finance team, Amman operation teams, Compliance team.

All Mercy Corps departments and staff as well as staff from partner(s) organizations

Knowledge and Experience

• University degree from a recognized university in Engineering. (Civil or Mechanical or Architectural Engineering).
• At least 2-3 years’ experience in working in WASH construction/rehabilitation projects.
• At least 2 years of experience working in a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on humanitarian assistance, relief or development work required
• Basic understanding of structures and processes of NGOs – including sub-grant mechanisms- required;
• Demonstrated capacity to collaborate closely with a broad range of stakeholders in different geographic locations; experience with remote management or monitoring a plus
• Familiarity with the AutoCAD and MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required
• Excellent oral and written Arabic and English.
• Knowledge of humanitarian standards and codes, including SPHERE, HAP is an asset

Success Factors

1. Strong multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization skills are necessary.
2. Accuracy and attention to details are necessary.
3. A demonstrated ability to work quickly, accurately, meet deadlines, and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.
4. Ability to manage and coordinate with different members/levels of a team.
5. Ability to work in Remote project environment.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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