The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) Program Coordinator will be the strategic and technical point of contact in Guatemala, responsible for overseeing the implementation and management of the program “Access to sustainable public water, sanitation and urban solid waste services in Lake Petén Itzá – Spain’s Action in the TEI Petén”, ensuring its alignment with international standards, regional priorities and institutional objectives.
The WaSH Program Coordinator will be responsible for strengthening the organization’s strategic positioning, overseeing the technical quality of interventions, fostering partnerships and resource mobilization, developing capacity in local teams and partners, and promoting innovation and knowledge management.
He will also lead the standardization of technical approaches, the coordination between governance and operations, and the institutional representation of ACH at the technical level.
All of this is achieved through a cross-cutting approach that incorporates humanitarian principles, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and community participation, to maximize the impact on the region’s most vulnerable populations, including migrants and those on the move.
The main activities you will perform are the following:
Objective 1: Lead the supervision and implementation of the program
Main tasks:
- Ensure regulatory compliance in administrative, financial, and contracting processes, optimizing resources and ensuring the quality of products and services through effective coordination with internal teams.
- Oversee the implementation of all program components, monitoring compliance with the work plan and impact indicators, and develop ongoing training and technical assistance programs for municipalities and other related local stakeholders.
- Identify and manage public and private financing opportunities to ensure the sustainability of interventions in the area.
- Actively participate in technical forums, regional ThinkTECs, and proposal units related to WaSH.
- Ensure the alignment of country activities, indicators, and strategies with the organization’s global and technical frameworks.
Objective 2: Ensure the quality and impact of WaSH programs through integrated program management
Main tasks:
- Responsible for the review, design, and harmonization of protocols for water, sanitation, and waste management projects, ensuring compliance with the criteria of the Human Right to Water: availability, accessibility, quality, acceptability, and affordability.
- Maintain close ties and coordination with the entire technical and administrative structure, so that the collaborative work of all teams results in a comprehensive vision of the project’s strategies and goals.
- Coordinate needs analysis, emergency responses, and risk planning in intervention areas.
- Monitor budgets and expenses, ensuring consistency between technical and administrative planning.
- Document and share lessons learned, case studies, and best practices to improve project visibility and quality.
- Lead the national standardization of protocols and technical designs in water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Objective 3: Integration of a climate resilience and sustainable governance approach into water and sanitation resource management within the framework of the Petén Program
Main tasks:
- Design robust monitoring systems in coordination with MEAL teams, promoting an evidence-based approach focused on gender, environment, diversity, and climate resilience.
- Identify natural hazards and design technical adaptation and mitigation measures, integrating climate resilience into Water and Sanitation infrastructure and services to strengthen their long-term sustainability.
- Represent the organization at external meetings and lead technical committees and inter-institutional working groups.
- Promote synergies between public and private actors, empowering technical teams and fostering strategic collaborations.
- Maintain a transparent flow of information between internal teams, strategic partners, and participating communities.
- Implement transparent accountability systems to build trust and citizen engagement.
- Lead the integration between water resources governance and the technical operation of the service, promoting institutional coherence and sustainability.
Objective 4: Ensure the management of the Petén base
Main tasks:
- Ensure the effective implementation of the project in the territory and its representation, positioning, and networking at the local level.
- Ensure the management of the base’s resources: management of the technical and administrative team, financial and logistical supervision.
- Ensure risk management at the grassroots level, including security management through compliance with security protocols, risk monitoring, and ongoing communication with the capital, local authorities, and key stakeholders.
- Ensure institutional representation before the Petén authorities
Does this description fit you?
Formación:
- University degree related to: Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Health, Water.
- Required specialized training: Master’s degree in Water and Sanitation and/or one of the following areas: rural development, humanitarian aid, international development cooperation.
- High knowledge of the humanitarian and international cooperation environment
Specific technical knowledge:
- Knowledge of human rights and gender approaches.
- Planning knowledge: formulation, execution and evaluation of economic and social projects
- Experience related to sanitation system design, water resource management, water quality and treatment, and hygiene promotion.
- Good understanding of key technical standards (SPHERE, HAP, IASC, safe and inclusive programming, gender mainstreaming, IHL, humanitarian principles, etc.) with the ability to integrate them into programming.
Previous experience:
- Minimum 5 years of experience managing funds, projects, and programs financed by international donors (BHA, USAID, ECHO, AECID, among others), preferably in the area of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, budget control, and reporting.
- Experience in launching and expanding new programs.
Knowledge of the humanitarian sector:
- Understanding the rights-based approach, particularly in relation to water, sanitation, and development dynamics.
- Knowledge of and respect for the Humanitarian Principles. Commitment to sustainability and participatory governance in the management of public services.
Action Against Hunger Knowledge:
- Desirable
Languages:
- Spokesperson skills; Spanish and English required
Office automation and systems:
- Advanced handling of specific computer tools and packages: Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
Mobility (national/international):
- National mobility to the intervention territories.
Commitment to Gender Equality:
- Previous experience and training in issues related to promoting gender equality or personal commitment to gender equality is required.
PQR system management:
- Knowledge, ownership, and rigor of the Anti-Bribery, Corruption, and Abuse of Power Policy; High rigor in monitoring the Questions, Complaints, and Response System.
Our compensation package:
Fixed-term contract
Legal benefits
Pleasant environment
Training appropriate to the position
The opportunity to belong to an organization with an international/national track record.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To apply, you must attach your CV and letter of interest with salary expectations, criminal and police records in a single PDF file.
Only applications that meet the established requirements and those legally authorized to work in Guatemala will be considered.
The deadline for applications has been extended to August 8, 2025.
We reserve the right to close the call early if the vacancy is filled before the established deadline during the selection process.
How to apply
Please submit your application via the following link:
Action Against Hunger – Work with Us