Job Description

Position: WASH Technical Assistants (Emergency) – 2 Positions.

Reports to / Supervision of: WASH Officer

Context: Humanitarian / Emergency

Duty station: Uror, Jonglei state (Field based)

Travel: Field based / High mobility at emergency locations

Project Code: SSFM2644

Duration and type of contract: 5 months – with possibility of extension

Norwegian refugee council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization. Our task is to improve international protection of refugees and internally displaced persons and offer humanitarian assistance regardless of race, nationality or political views.

Our efforts are founded on the principal that all human beings are entitled to a life in peace, liberty, safety, and equality, as this is expressed in the universal declaration of human rights. NRC has been working in South Sudan since 2004. Our core activities include WASH, Education, Shelter & Settlement, Cash and Markets, and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA).

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s core values; Dedication, Innovation, Inclusivity and Accountability. These attitudes and believes shall guide our actions and relationships.

Role and Responsibilities

The WASH Assistant will provide day to day technical guidance and supervision to implement Emergency WASH infrastructure construction and rehabilitation activities being implemented in in Uror County. The WASH Assistant is also responsible for implementation of project activities including provide inputs and support for infrastructure’s design and develop schematic drawings and bill of quantities and inspecting and supervising project participants’ works and NRC’s direct implementation. The role ensures timely access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion activities while adhering to international humanitarian standards. S/he will also work closely with the other Project Officers and assistants in the field to ensure timely delivery of quality WASH programme, and will assist the WASH Officers and WASH and Shelter Coordinator in overall planning and design of (future) projects.

Key Responsibilities

1. Assessments and Data Collection

• Conduct rapid and detailed WASH needs assessments in newly affected or displaced communities.
• Carry out Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) surveys and baseline data collection to inform project design.
• Identify vulnerable groups (women, children, elderly, persons with disabilities) to ensure inclusivity and safe access to WASH facilities.

1. Hardware Implementation & Supervision

• Supervise the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of emergency sanitation facilities (e.g., emergency pit latrines, communal bathing shelters, incinerators, and drainage systems).
• Oversee water supply activities, including water point chlorination and testing, trucking distribution, emergency water treatment devices, and small-scale borehole or handpump repairs, rainwater harvest systems, etc.
• Monitor daily field works executed by contractors, local community workers / Community Hygiene Promoters, or volunteers to ensure high quality and compliance with Bills of Quantities (BoQs).
• Ensure adherence with NRC policies, tools, handbooks, and guidelines.
• Enforce adherence to government standards and global technical benchmarks, such SPHERE Standards for minimum emergency service delivery.
• Ensure that health and safety and child safeguarding monitoring is incorporated into all daily site supervision activities

1. Software / Community Mobilization

• Facilitate community engagement and mobilization for the proper use and maintenance of WASH infrastructure.
• Train and supervise community volunteers, water management committees, and hygiene promoters on participatory methodologies (e.g., PHAST, CHAS, or hygiene awareness campaigns).
• Lead the planning and organizing WASH awareness activities in the targeted Schools, Health and Nutrition Centers.
• Coordinate the distribution of hygiene kits, water purification tablets, and other non-food items (NFIs), including the identification / verification of target beneficiaries for cash.

1. Coordination and Logistics

• Create and maintain a good relationship with the community, implementing partners and construction workers and sub-contractors.
• Assist in Attending WASH Cluster meetings upon request from WASH Officer in the field
• Coordinate material deliveries, tool tracking, and warehouse dispatch with logistics and supply chain teams.
• Verify that incoming construction and relief materials meet required quality standards and specifications.
• Liaison and maintain regular communication with local village elders, community leaders, and local authorities and Government stakeholders at the field level.
• Provide logistical support to teams in the field.
• Provide support as necessary to the logistics team in managing stock levels of tools, equipment, and materials in the field.
• Coordinate the procurement and timely delivery of WASH materials and supplies to affected areas.
• Work with logistics teams to ensure that transportation and storage arrangements for WASH materials are in place.
• Obtain quotations and procure services and materials in field locations with or without the support of field logisticians.
• Manage WASH tools/materials for interventions in the field locations.

1. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Track daily/weekly progress of activities and compile field data into regular weekly and monthly progress reports.
• Maintain updated documentation, beneficiary lists, distribution records, and filing systems at the field office, while sharing them regularly as needed.
• Contribute to the generation of ‘lessons learnt", innovation and research during the project.
• To implement any other tasks assigned to him / her.

Job Requirements / Qualifications

Education

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Public Health, Environmental Health, or a related technical field.

Experience

• Minimum 1 to 2 years of hands-on experience in humanitarian or recovery contexts, specifically working on emergency WASH projects.
• Proven WASH knowledge and experience in community mobilization, training, and working alongside local stakeholders.
• Strong familiarity with local contexts, emergency protocols, water quality testing, and SPHERE minimum standards.

Skills & Competencies

• Good technical drafting or reading skills (ability to understand engineering designs, technical drawings, and BoQs).
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work respectfully with diverse, crisis-affected populations.
• Computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel); familiarity with mapping/design tools (AutoCAD, ArcGIS, GPS) is an added advantage.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure in volatile or challenging operational environments.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) alongside local/national languages of the operational area.
• Experience in integration of WASH and other sectors (such as WASH, Education, Shelter & Settlement, Cash and Markets, and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA, Health, Nutrition,) and effectively engage communities in the implementation process.
• Mainstreaming of gender, disability inclusion and accountability to affected populations in WASH programming.

Context related skills, knowledge and experience (shall be adapted to the specific position):

• Ability to plan and lead.
• Experience in representing NRC and participating in meetings such as Humanitarian coordinations and cluster meetings when delegated.
• Ability to work independently in a result oriented multi-tasking and multi-culture environment and managing conflicts issues.
• Knowledge on prioritization of disadvantaged groups or population (IDPs, marginalized groups, returnees, GBV victims etc.).
• Flexibility and time management.
• Knowledge of the local languages
• Knowledge of the local context (areas of operations).
• Knowledge of good practice standards: SPHEREstandards.
• Proven strategic experience in implementing community WASH projects.

Behavioural competencies (max 6)

These are personal qualities that influence how successful people are in their job. NRC’s Competency Framework states 12 behavioural competencies, and the following are essential for this position:

• Planning and producing results.
• Team spirit and management.
• Empowering others.
• Communicating with respect and impact.
• Team spirit.
• Working in insecure environments.

Performance Management

The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with NRC Performance Management Manual. The following documents will be used for performance reviews:

• The Job Description.
• The individual Work- and Professional Development Plan.
• The Competency Framework.