WASH Senior Project Officer

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty

About Oxfam

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of the international confederation Oxfam.

Our Team

The Oxfam team in Lebanon implements integrated humanitarian, development and policy interventions in line with Oxfam’s country strategy for Lebanon as relevant to the Bekaa and north Lebanon areas, including protection & governance; cash safety net/social protection and economic development/livelihoods; WASH/water governance, with a focus on partnerships with local actors. The humanitarian pillar of our work ensures that marginalised women and men, particularly refugees from Syria, are able to have safe access to WASH, attain their rights to life, security, protection and assistance, and that they are enabled to support their own basic needs, develop their livelihoods, all in a manner that respects and maintains their dignity

Job Purpose

To provide support to implement the Madad WaSH project (H2ALL consortium) that aims to contribute to effective, sustainable and multi-level water governance in crisis-affected Lebanon, through empowering local and regional authorities and demonstrating a cost effective system for water service provision by empowering governing authorities, promoting sustainable water services and providing an enabling environment that promotes improved living conditions to vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian refugee communities. The Project officer is expected to support the Project Manager in all project activities (which already started in June 2018), and work closely with partner organisations to deliver solar water pumping systems, and will carry out effective monitoring of activities, learning, and knowledge management.

Core Details

Location:

Zahle, Lebanon

Internal Grade:

D1

Division

International Division, Humanitarian Department

Job Family:

Programme

Contract type:

Full-time – Till end of September 2020

This role reports to:

Project Manager, with matrix management by the Humanitarian Programme Coordinator.

Staff reporting to this post:

None.

Annual budget          for the post:

None.

Key relationships/interactions:

The post is expected to work closely with the Senior Communications and Advocacy officer, and receive support from the MEAL, finance, logistics and HR/Admin teams in executing the role.

Screening checks:

All successful candidates will be screened through Refinitiv World-Check One to comply with counter terrorism and financial sanctions regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Project Implementation and Monitoring

• Together with the Project Manager, develop project work plans, budget plans, spending plans, MEAL plans, and procurement plans;
• Under the supervision of the Project Manager, implement the project in collaboration with other Oxfam colleagues (WaSH, MEAL, and policy teams), consortium members, partner institutions and contracted parties;
• Support the preparation of project mid-term and final reports for the donor in collaboration with programme teams, technical coordinators, Funding Coordinator, and support teams;
• In collaboration with the MEAL team, implement monitoring and evaluation activities, and the preparation of associated reports;
• Together with the Project Manager, ensure healthy and effective relationships with government institutions including the municipality and cooperating organizations through regular contacts, visits, and fulfilment of project requirements
• Ensure effective working relationships with contractors and service providers;
• Under the supervision of the Project manager, and in collaboration with the partner organisations, prepare the terms of reference and tender documents for engineering works, particularly solar water pumping, and participate in tender evaluations;
• Provide site supervision and quality compliance, in collaboration with partner organisations, for all engineering works;
• Support in the preparation of capacity building activities and events for local stakeholders;
• Ensure effective communication, verbally and in writing, on all project activities and progress to the Project Manager on a regular basis, and to the WaSH Advisor when requested;
• In the absence of the Project Manager, may be requested to manage the project.

Budget & Financial Management

• Participate in financial review meetings to plan and monitor the budget, and procurement and spending plans to ensure funds are spent within the timeframe acceptable to Oxfam and the donor and ensuring rules and regulations of Oxfam/ donor are adhered to;
• Under the supervision of the Project Manager, ensure that donor contractual requirements are fulfilled, including by partners, throughout the entire project period;
• Support procurement processes, with support from Logistics, in line with programme spending and procurement planning.

External Representation and Consortium Coordination

• Attend relevant Consortium meetings, as requested by the Project Manager;
• Attend BWE monthly coordination meetings, as requested by the Project Manager;
• Represent the project to external stakeholders, primarily, partners, municipalities and BWE at a technical level;

Your commitment to Oxfam

• Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women's rights
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles

Person specification

How this will be assessed?[1]

Note to candidates: Shortlisted candidates will be assessed on our organisational values and attributes at the interview stage. The successful candidate(s) will be expected to adhere to our code of conduct. We encourage candidates to read and understand our code of conduct here.

Shortlisting

Interview

Technical test

Key Organisational Attributes

x

Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.

Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.

Commitment to undertake Oxfam’s safeguarding training and adherence of relevant policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible

Organisational Values

x

Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions

Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen

Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences

Oxfam Leadership Competencies

Self-awareness

X

Listening

X

Relationship Building

X

Essential - Experience, Knowledge, Qualifications & Competencies

A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline in engineering or equivalent experience

x

x

A minimum of 3 years progressive experience in engineering – specifically in humanitarian/development programmes funded by different donors in the WaSH sector

x

x

Excellent understanding and knowledge of WaSH in general, and renewable energy (solar) in particular

x

x

Experience in WaSH projects

x

x

Diplomacy, tact and negotiation skills.

x

Good interpersonal and communication skills

x

x

Proven ability to work independently as required

x

Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts.

x

Good written and spoken English and Arabic

x

x

Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

x

Sympathy with the aims and Objectives of Oxfam

x

Desirable

Master’s degree in relevant area (e.g. Engineering, development studies)

X

Experience in solar technologies

X

X

Good knowledge of implementing monitoring systems to track the effectiveness of programmes

X

X

Good knowledge in and an ability to build cooperative, professional relationships with local stakeholders and peer organisations.

X

Experience in implementing projects involving local stakeholders and partners

X

X

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

[1] Whilst we make every effort to indicate how the candidates will be assessed against a criterion, this is subject to change and may be influenced by the quality of applications.