Oxfam GB South Sudan Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Promotion Coordinator

International Division, Humanitarian Department LOCATION: South Sudan, Base: Upper Nile
JOB FAMILY: Programme Technical

SALARY: £29,171 - £40,795 net per annum (equivalent £39,175 - £58,649 GBP UK gross for people with UK tax and social security liabilities) + £4,000 net per annum Hard to Work Allowance and other substantial benefits
LEVEL: B2

OXFAM PURPOSE: To work with others to overcome poverty and suffering

TEAM PURPOSE: To act with poor people as a force for change in addressing the causes of poverty, suffering and injustice and alleviating their symptoms

JOB PURPOSE: To coordinate Oxfam’s WASH programme in South Sudan, primarily focused on the humanitarian programme in Upper Nile.

REPORTING LINES: Postholder reports to: Upper Nile Programme Manager + matrix managed by OGB Humanitarian Programme Coordinator BACKGROUND: South Sudan being the newest country in the world has an unstable background marred with insecurity, and a long history of civil wars and inter-tribal conflicts. The country has been classified as a “Fragile State”, and therefore, both the humanitarian, as well as the development needs are tremendous. Conflict in neighbouring Sudan has resulted in an influx or 170,000 refugees into S Sudan in 2012 alone. Oxfam has been responding with WaSH services in 2 refugee camps in Upper Nile State, and will continue to do so in 2013. The context for developing ground water is extremely challenging, combined with seasonal flooding and huge logistical constraints, it is one of the most difficult contexts Oxfam has ever worked in. The WaSH Coordinator needs to be innovative, dynamic with strong problem solving skills and an inspirational leader for the team, There will also be a need to give oversight to WaSH programmes elsewhere in the country to ensure coherence and quality across the programmes. DIMENSIONS: • May matrix manage staff in specialist disciplines, often from a distance, or project manage, including leading a small team in own technical area. • Advises decision-making for specific programme contexts. • Supports and liases with regional advisors in water and sanitation. • Diverse and complex context analysis at the macro and micro level • Impacts directly on programme quality and contributes to the achievement of Oxfam's strategic change objectives • Impacts on external policy and practice of other agencies through participation in international debate in relief and development. • Objectives set with manager, mainly relating to the quality of programme work in specialise area for the project or programme and the implementing team. • Problem-solving and analysis often involves difficult decision-making with no precedent, although difficult decisions taken with manager. • Advice and problem-solving often given over distance with limited information. • Information sources are diverse, ranging from academic research to data collection in programme and non-programme areas and often requires a judgement on credibility and accuracy of the information. • Work patterns are not routine and often high pressure. • Makes complex technical information accessible and usable by non-specialist. • Creates opportunities to develop work within a framework plan. • Knowledge required includes broad understanding of and their relevance to own specialism. • Experience of development and humanitarian work gained in professional work inside and outside Oxfam. • Decisions on programmes, especially if involved in assessment, can be fundamental to whether a programme takes place, and its shape, size and quality. • Short, medium and long term planning is required in the context of changing priorities. • Assists in developing tools and guidelines

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. WASH Leadership and Representation • To have the overall responsibility for the WASH activities in the Oxfam humanitarian programme • To directly manage WASH staff which are in the same geographical area as the central office and/or matrix manage WASH staff in sub-offices. WASH staff in sub office would be lined managed by the PM in that office. • To assist in programme design and to provide technical support to write proposals for both short term and long term WASH programming in South Sudan. • To ensure that all Oxfam GB’s work is to a suitable standard as laid out in the Oxfam minimum requirements document. • To ensure there is regular communication between the PHE and PHP Team Leaders at each sub office where information can be transferred and shared between the different projects. This may mean arranging regular TTL meetings and/or maintaining an active email group. • While acknowledging the post is primarily focused on the humanitarian work it should still given support where possible to support the long term WASH programme in South Sudan • To take a leading role in interagency watsan coordination forums. This may involve being the coordinator of the interagency watsan forum, supporting the UN coordinator and/or arranging trainings for the interagency group as a whole. • Contribute to making any joint watsan strategies with the interagency watsan group. • To formulate an Oxfam WASH strategy for the country/humanitarian programme in collaboration with all the other sectors involved in the Oxfam programme and the programme managers. • To assist in formulating the longer term overall programme plan and strategy as part of the country management team. • Liaise with OI affiliates and give WASH support where appropriate
2. Assessment: • Advise on the need for assessments and participation in initial assessment missions • Comment and advise on assessment reports from the field in order to appraise emergency situations and make new recommendations for Oxfam which are consistent with Oxfam policy
3. Implementation: • To assist in the selection, design and implementation of the most appropriate form of water and sanitation systems, in consultation with the beneficiaries, • To promote the inclusion of cross cutting issues within programming, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, gender, protection and community participation. • Advises on appropriateness and feasibility of programmes, and Oxfam's capacity to implement • To be familiar with and abide by the NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct, SPHERE, the People in Aid Code, Oxfam International procedures and other regulatory codes (e.g., InterAction Field Co-operation Protocol).
4. Human Resources and Capacity Building: • To assist in the in country recruitment, briefing and development of technical and non-technical humanitarian staff • To manage the deployment of recruited WASH staff within the programme areas. • To identify and support / mentor a suitable candidate to hand over too to continue this role. • To identify key learning/development needs of PH engineers working for Oxfam. • To respond to requests from the field for training/support and to proactively target programmes/groups/people where there is a perceived need for strengthening skills. • To develop a training plan in collaboration with country programmes • To monitor the effectiveness and impact of the training programmes • To ensure that all training/programmes take gender issues fully into account. This includes the introduction of mechanisms to enable women to participate in decision making around public health engineering issues.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation: • Advise on monitoring and evaluation of programmes in the field in collaboration with the MEAL Advisor • Assist with monitoring and evaluation of field based programmes • Comment on reviews of programmes and link findings of monitoring and evaluation to production of guidelines. .
6. SKILLS AND COMPETENCE: • A suitable qualification in any discipline relating to Public Health Engineering is the necessary educational background. Experience could substitute for a formal qualification, but not vice versa. • Proven experience of coordinating large water sanitation programmes. • Most importantly, substantial experience in developing countries in appropriate water supplies, sanitation and hygiene promotion. It is desirable that some of this should have been in emergency relief programmes. The post holder should have a good understanding of the public health needs of poor rural and urban communities and of appropriate ways of tackling them. The post holder must be aware of and sensitive to the particular needs of women in this context. • Experience of pumping systems, ground water and drilling issues . • Proven ability to plan and implement training and capacity building of staff • The ability to present concise reports, sometimes at short notice, reflecting the problems and possible solutions for particular situations. • The ability to contribute to donor proposals and reports with accurate technical detail. • Diplomacy and tact in order to work with people at managerial and, on occasions, senior government levels. The post holder should also be at ease in working with local people. • Well developed interpersonal and team skills and proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations. • Ability and willingness to work in a remote location with limited social life or even lack of food diversity. • Good written and spoken English is essential Sympathy with the aims and objectives of Oxfam. • Commitment to humanitarian principles and action and to Oxfam’s equal opportunity and gender policies. Demonstrated experience of integrating gender and diversity issues into water and sanitation programmes. • Ability to lead on technical issues and representation WASH issues both externally and internally

How to apply:

This job description is not incorporated in the employment contract. It is intended as a guide and should not be viewed as an inflexible specification as it may be varied from time to time in the light of strategic developments and following discussion with the post holder.

How to apply To find out more about this role and to apply, visit www.oxfam.org.uk/jobs and quote ref: INT5871.

Closing date for applications: 28 December 2012. Interview date: early January 2013.

OTHER: For a specific job profile please specify:DURATION 1 year