The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in over 40 countries to provide appropriate assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, people on the move, and vulnerable local populations/host communities. DRC is currently seeking a highly qualified WASI Officer based in Santa Barbara, Zulia State, Venezuela.
About the job:
DRC is managing its operations in Venezuela, under the direction of the country office in Caracas and four field offices located in the states of Sucre, Apure, La Guaira, and Zulia. DRC Venezuela is implementing activities such as protection monitoring, legal assistance, individual protection assistance for people with disabilities, information sessions for proof of identity (PoC), prevention of human trafficking, rehabilitation of health infrastructure, and food security.
GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION:
Under the supervision of the Base Manager, and with technical support from the SWI (Shelter, WASH & Infrastructure) Specialist, the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Officer will be directly involved in and responsible for the daily implementation of WASH activities in the intervention areas, in accordance with applicable humanitarian standards and national regulations. They will ensure the timely and high-quality execution of humanitarian assistance activities, including needs assessments, distribution of supplies, hygiene promotion, community strengthening, and improvements to WASH infrastructure. Furthermore, they will support coordination with authorities, community leaders, and other humanitarian actors to guarantee an integrated, protection-focused response aligned with applicable humanitarian standards.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead needs assessments related to water, sanitation and hygiene in host communities, institutions and other sites of interest in the areas of interest, as directed by the Base Manager and under the technical management of the SWI specialist and the MEAL team.
- Assist in the identification and selection of communities, beneficiaries or intervention centers in coordination with local authorities and in conjunction with the Protection, Economic Recovery and Disaster Preparedness teams.
- Plan and coordinate the execution of WASH activities at the intervention sites, ensuring the participation and support of related local authorities and entities, local partners, communities, other teams within DRC and other interested parties, ensuring sustainability strategies for the actions.
- Provide technical and strategic guidance for the design, planning and implementation of WASH activities, as well as for the management of resources associated with the response to natural phenomena, including events related to El Niño and floods, in host communities / institutions.
- Plan in conjunction with local DRC partners the execution of WASH program activities, ensuring capacity building and capacity transfer to partners, with guidance from the Base Manager and the SWI Specialist, following the guidelines of each project.
- Ensure that vulnerable and/or at-risk communities and groups, including women, participate in each stage of the water, sanitation and hygiene project cycle.
- To serve as a liaison with other relevant actors/NGOs and representatives of stakeholders and community leaders for collaborative efforts, including participation in local coordination meetings of thematic groups on water, sanitation and hygiene.
- Carry out the procedures to obtain the necessary permits from the authorities and entities required for the execution of works and other activities in the intervention sites, in conjunction with the Base Manager and with the technical support of the SWI Specialist.
- Participate in coordination spaces within DRC with teams from other programmatic sectors such as Economic Recovery, Protection and Disaster Preparedness, to ensure integrated implementation with adequate planning of activities.
- Ensure that all relevant stakeholders have information about the background, program, objectives, areas of work, program duration, and activities in the field of the organization.
- Monitor and prepare weekly, monthly, and quarterly all purchase plans for goods and services needed for the water, sanitation, and hygiene program.
- To effectively manage the physical and financial execution of WASH projects using the appropriate tools to ensure that they are delivered on time, within budget, and meeting the expected quality and other technical requirements.
- Develop information and communication materials related to hygiene/sanitation and awareness-raising for people with specific needs (PDE), internally displaced persons and host communities in the selected areas, in accordance with the culture and practices of the population.
- Prepare the work plan for hygiene promotion and capacity building activities in consultation with the Base Manager and the SWI Specialist.
- Facilitate all training/campaigns on water, sanitation and hygiene in the field through the use of a participatory and behavior change-oriented approach.
- Plan, execute and document the distribution of WASH kit and supply deliveries at the intervention sites, ensuring the quality, traceability and accountability of the process.
- Prepare timely technical specifications and requirements for acquisitions and contracts for review and approval by the WASH Specialist, and submit purchase requests for goods and services to the Support team. This includes kit contents, technical specifications, quantity estimates, base budgets, and other technical documents for WASH infrastructure interventions.
- Supervise rehabilitation or construction works of WASH infrastructure, ensuring the technical quality of the works carried out and verifying compliance with technical standards.
- Properly document the financial execution of infrastructure works and maintain the contract administration documentation for the works.
- Ensure the collection of beneficiary data, document success stories and other information required for reporting on the activities and indicators of each project, and provide input for progress or final reports that are sent to donors or other stakeholders.
- Document the results and lessons learned from the implementation of the water, sanitation and hygiene program, considering feedback from communities and other DRC technical teams and stakeholders.
- Contribute to contingency planning for preparedness and a possible emergency response in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene, if necessary.
- Perform any other relevant tasks as requested by line managers and the water, sanitation, and hygiene team.
EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL SKILLS:
- 2 years of experience in the field of WASH and in the implementation of humanitarian projects.
- Solid understanding of basic training in water, sanitation and hygiene programming, participatory promotion methods, community mobilization and network building.
- Good handling of rules, standards and practices on construction and/or rehabilitation works of essential basic water, sanitation and hygiene systems in institutions or communities, including water systems, excreta disposal systems, waste management, among others.
- Knowledge of proper waste management and sanitation practices, household water treatment methods, and other hygiene practices to avoid public health risks.
- Experience in implementing training activities, promoting hygiene and forming committees on issues related to water, sanitation and hygiene.
- Degree in Public Health Engineering/Civil Engineering/Mechanical Engineering/Architecture or other equivalent professional with experience in WASH.
- Computer skills and statistical data management.
- Effective and timely implementation of all interventions described in the product and any other programmatic activity related to water, sanitation and hygiene.
- Work experience and knowledge of the local destination.
- Ability to adapt to changing situations as needed.
- Ability to work well under pressure and in adverse conditions.
Desirable
- Master’s degree or specialization in Public Health Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture or a directly related field;
- Calm and diplomatic character;
- With knowledge of protection aspects;
- Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines;
- Ability to create a good team and working environment with local implementing partners;
- English proficiency;
- Knowledge of the Venezuelan legal framework and international law.
EDUCATION:
- Degree in Public Health Engineering/Civil Engineering/Mechanical Engineering/Architecture or other equivalent professional with experience in WASH.
LANGUAGES:
- Fluency in Spanish; proficiency in English is an advantage.
We offer:
- The opportunity to belong to one of the best NGOs worldwide.
- Access to over 1,000 free online training courses and certificates.
- Contract duration: subject to budget availability.
- Salary: Band I.
- HCM insurance fully covered by the organization.
DRC Core Competencies:
- Achieving excellence : focusing on achieving results and ensuring efficient processes.
- Collaboration: involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
- Taking the initiative : taking ownership and initiative while seeking innovation.
- Communicate: listen and speak effectively and honestly.
- Demonstration of integrity
How to apply
Application process: All applicants must upload a cover letter (max. 1 page) and an updated CV ( max. 2 pages, no supporting documents ) in Spanish to the DRC job platform. Applications submitted by email will not be considered.
Application deadline : Sunday, November 15th at 11:59 pm Local Time. Please note that applications will be reviewed continuously and interviews will be scheduled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. DRC reserves the right to close the vacancy before the deadline once a suitable candidate is identified.