Job Description
Job title
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Adviser
Job band
SAME
Ref
Department
Technical & Advisory
Division
International
Reporting to
Head of Unit (Health/WASH)
Location
UK Office
Duration
Permanent
Last updated
October 2015
Scale and Scope
Direct
Indirect/overall
Budgetary
-
-
Staffing
-
Advisory support to field
Assets
Technical equipment required for
surge and response capacity (in
support of Head of Emergencies)
Specialist equipment
requirements in the Regions
Accountability &
Decision Making
> Accountable for the delivery of quality technical and advisory
services to support effectiveness and good practice in BRC
supported RCM activities.
> Accountable for ensuring that all advice is compliant with
legislation, regulations, internal and external policies,
standards and good practice.
> Enable Country Managers and Heads of Region to ensure that
BRC supported programmes are implemented in line with all
relevant technical standards.
> Deliver advice, within assigned thematic area, to disaster
management and long-term programmes of partner national
societies.
> Maintain an awareness of the role and technical capacities of
partner national societies in relation to assigned thematic area.
> Support recruitment to the British Red Cross register of
thematic experts and deployment of these experts to other
components of the Movement.
Reach & Impact
BRC Job Description WASH Technical Adviser ( November 2015 )
1
Context
The British Red Cross (BRC) helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We
are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and
individual emergencies. We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for
and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help
them to recover and move on with their lives.
We are part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (RCM), the world’s
largest independent humanitarian network and are committed to, and bound by, its
fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service,
unity and universality.
The Technical & Advisory department provides integrated management of the provision of
thematic technical and advisory specialist services. The department will work in partnership
not only externally with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, but also internally
within a matrix relationship with the regional staff of the BRC Programmes & Partnerships
department, including advisory staff located within the regional programme teams.
The position will play a key role in the development and delivery of water, sanitation and
hygiene programming within the International Division. The post holder will be responsible
for providing timely and high quality technical advice and support to UK and overseas
based teams in the delivery of appropriate interventions. They will be tasked to follow up on
key programme activities where appropriate. Additionally they will be responsible for
continuing to develop BRC approaches and capacity in the delivery of water and sanitation
programming in relief, recovery and preparedness contexts and for continuing to build and
maintain BRC relationships with water and sanitation practitioners within the Movement and
in the broader humanitarian sector.
Overall Purpose of the Post
>
To support the development and implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene
programmes in relief, recovery and resilience contexts, providing key technical and
management advice and ensuring the application of sectorial good practice and learning
from past programmes.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Thematic Technical & Advisory Services
1. Provide technical support to the programme and partnerships teams, National Societies
and IFRC on BRC supported WASH programmes throughout the project cycle
(capacity review, identification, assessment, analysis, design, planning,
implementation, monitoring & evaluation towards accountability to beneficiaries and
consideration of gender and diversity).
2. Provide timely and clear technical advice in line with international and internal
standards and good practice, including any environmental considerations,. This work
includes also appointment of contractors or suppliers in relation to BRC WASH
BRC Job Description Technical Adviser (WASH) ( November 2015)
2
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
programming, in terms of appropriateness of specifications, contractor/supplier capacity
and contractual models.
Coordinate with other advisors and Global surge teams as required to support the
implementation of a resilience approach integrated across technical sectors and
provide peer support and advice to field based water, sanitation and hygiene staff as
required.
Support and strengthen the technical capacity of Partner National Societies across all
stages of the programme cycle to enable them to deliver effective and relevant WASH
projects, including assessment of capacity and recommendations on implementation
methodologies.
In conjunction with field teams ensure appropriate systems are in place to monitor
programme implementation against planned timeframes and objectives. Work with field
teams to identify blockages and delays where required. Undertake regular monitoring
and technical support visits to BRC water, sanitation and hygiene programmes
ensuring timely feedback to all stakeholders.
Support relationships with IFRC, Geneva based water, sanitation and hygiene
department both during emergency and non-emergency periods, remain informed of
key developments and make recommendations on BRC support.
Ensure learning from BRC WASH programmes and Emergency Response Unit Mass
Sanitation Module deployments is captured and applied to further develop BRC water,
sanitation and hygiene approaches in relief, recovery and development programmes.
Provide technical support in the development and deployment of the Emergency
Response Unit Mass Sanitation Module, . including development of equipment and
training and remote support during deployments (or ensuring alternative support is
available).
Work together with colleagues from the International HR team on staffing and
maintenance of the BRC WASH rosters and registers. This includes drafting of terms of
reference, participation in the selection process, identifying training and capacity
building objectives and opportunities for key roster and register personnel and regular
review and audit of the register.
Internal & External Relations
10. Supporting BRC input into the WASH forum and wider water and sanitation sector fora,
including representing the BRC as required and ensuring active participation in the
WASH community of practice. Keep abreast of innovations and developments within
the sector and support the dissemination of such across the organisation.
11. Coordinate with IFRC (and potentially ICRC) WatSan teams during emergency and
non-emergency periods, remain informed of key developments and make
recommendations on BRC support to the Movement.
12. Contributing towards the continued development of IFRC global response tools such as
FACT and ERUs.
13. Keep abreast of innovations and developments within the sector and support the
dissemination of such across the organisation.
Other
14. Uphold the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and
work within the Society’s equal opportunities policy.
15. Be prepared to undertake international on call duties as required.
BRC Job Description Technical Adviser (WASH) ( November 2015)
3
Person Specification
Job Title: Water & Sanitation Adviser
Education/
training
>
>
>
>
Experience
>
>
>
>
Knowledge/
technical skills
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Competencies
Special
Circumstances
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Ref:
Band: SAME
** Postgraduate degree or equivalent professional qualification in
a subject of close relevance to WASH such as Water/Sanitation or
Civil Engineering
Degree or Diploma in Public Health or in Community/Social
Development field
Further qualifications in a field related to water, sanitation, hygiene
promotion or quality assurance
** Considerable experience of working overseas in an operational
capacity in WASH within a humanitarian organisation.
**Extensive experience in emergency response, recovery and
development, including developing and providing remote support
to WASH programmes.
** Experience in establishing assessment, monitoring and quality
assurance systems for WASH programmes, including
incorporating cross-cutting themes - such as gender,
environmental impact, disabilities and accountability to
beneficiaries
Experience in staff selection and capacity development
Experience in building partnerships and working through partner
organisations
Experience working with institutional and high-profile donors
**Strong technical base in WASH
**Awareness of the role and function of technical support services
in delivering humanitarian assistance and building community’s
resilience
**Relevant humanitarian codes, standards and tools.
**Monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment
Budget management and proposal development
Communication, influencing and negotiation skills
Languages other than English would be an advantage, particularly
French and/or Arabic
Working in Partnerships*
Embracing and leading constructive change*
Communicating and influencing*
Personal impact and self-management*
Problem solving*
Leading and engaging*
Developing yourself and others*
Cultural awareness and sensitivity*.
> ** Regular travel to Country Programmes and other locations
overseas is expected with the ability to travel for up to 90 days per
year (mainly for short periods of up to two weeks)
> ** Operating in a physically demanding working environment will
be required
BRC Job Description Technical Adviser (WASH) ( November 2015)
4
> **Willingness to work out of office hours when necessary.
> **Willing to work in situations of political insecurity.
**Minimum short-listing criteria. N.B. All disabled candidates who meet these criteria must
be short-listed for interview in line with our commitment under the two- tick symbol scheme.
BRC Job Description Technical Adviser (WASH) ( November 2015)
5