Job Summary:

The Senior Project Officer – WASH will coordinate WASH related activities at the County level. He/she will facilitate the achievement of Nawiri project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all WASH activities and providing technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Organize and lead the implementation of WASH activities at the county level as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding implementing partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders including county government officials and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact.
• Represent CRS in WASH sectoral meetings with the government and other development agencies in the County.
• Supervise and perform ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures.
• Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Support and coordinate capacity building and technical support activities to ensure assigned project activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards.
• Coordinate provision of any logistical and administrative support to staff and implementing partners.

Qualifications

Personal Skills 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

Required/Desired Foreign Language: Excellent verbal and written communication in English

Travel Required: 80% movement within the project sites in the county.

Key Working Relationships: 

• Supervisory: None
• Internal: Head of office, other Nawiri staff at County level, Local implementing partners
• External:  County and National Government officials, program consultants and contractors, PREG members.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering/Water Engineering/ Agricultural Engineering/Environmental Engineering/Environmental Health/Public Health from recognized university.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of WASH, food security, nutrition and/or livelihoods related activities.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in using Engineering CAD Software, EPANET, Civil 3D and other computer applications such as Arc GIS, word, excel, access, PowerPoint, etc.
• Demonstrable skills in project planning and design, drafting, calculation, Bill of Quantities preparation, and technical writing.
• Registered with a relevant professional body.
• Experience working in Northern Kenya or other ASAL counties.
• Experience working in USAID funded projects is an added advantage.
• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.