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Job Description and Requirements
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps, with an established emergency response program in Syria, manages its North Syria programming remotely from Amman, Jordan. The North Syria program provides WASH and Shelter, FSL and Cash, and Social Cohesion supports to Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs) and Syrians affected by the war.
Specifically, the Mercy Corps WASH and Shelter interventions are driven by a twofold strategy : (1) Emergency lifesaving interventions in IDPs settlements to IDPs living in camps, informal settlements, multi-occupancy buildings and unfinished buildings, including water provision through water trucking; desludging services, solid waste management, hygiene promotion, (2) Shelter rehabilitation and WASH infrastructure rehabilitation in the communities including water network, sewage, water points construction and rehabilitation.
The WASH and Shelter programs are implemented through direct implementation (contractual work) and local partner NGOs.
General Position Summary
The WASH & Shelter Program Coordinator works under the supervision of WASH & Shelter Program Manager (PM) for NWS. S/he will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high quality WASH & Shelter interventions in NWS, which include:
WASH: water supply, water networks maintenance (including infrastructure-, hygiene promotion and other WASH emergency services such as solid waste management and desludging; and
Emergency and recovery shelter.
The WASH & Shelter Program Coordinator will supervise the WASH & Shelter team based in Amman, as well as our field team based in Dana, and will also lead on our indirect activities. The position therefore requires excellent remote management, communication and partnership skills.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Planning, implementation, and monitoring
In coordination with the field teams, lead field activities related to WASH Emergency Response, reconstruction / rehabilitation of shelter and water and sanitation facilities undertaken by Mercy Corps in program target areas.
Work closely with the Project Manager and other relevant staff to design and plan Shelter and WASH emergency and infrastructure programs and activities.
Ensure that project activities are well coordinated and implemented in an integral manner so as to ensure effective and efficient utilization of physical and human resource during implementation. Coordination is both internal (with Mercy Corps’ teams and departments) and external (partner organizations, Clusters’ members, etc.).
Regularly review the field progress reports to ensure accuracy and consistency in reporting.
Preparation of monthly progress reports and project completion reports on relevant WASH and Shelter activities undertaken, and provide relevant inputs to donors reports reflecting the project’s technical component
Any other reasonable task as may be assigned by his/her direct Supervisor/Senior Management
Supervise data compilation and treatment.
Technical support:
Maintain accepted technical standards for all Mercy Corps WASH and Shelter different activities and ensure that project staff/engineers, suppliers and contractors understand, accept and adhere to these standards.
Review and validate of the technical specifications, engineering designs and work schedules to ensure consistency with the most appropriate methods and standards of WASH and Shelter cluster, Water operators, and national codes.
Review of the bill of quantities and bill of materials of the activities to ensure the estimated costs are reasonable and comparable to the market rates
Provide technical inputs to contribute to the design and development of new programs and proposals.
Carry out remote technical audits and activity monitoring for open sites and implemented activities.
Provide technical support to the WASH and Shelter field teams.
Identify and supervise technical resources needed to complete the assigned scope of work.
Ensure timely and technically appropriate responses to issues that may arise during implementation of WASH programming and seek innovative and robust solutions to those issues.
Ensure WASH & Shelter assessments are conducted in new areas to feed into the growth of the WASH & Shelter portfolio and respond to unmet needs.
Lead on the development of tools, SOPs for the WASH & Shelter program.
Ensure that achievements and best practices are captured and disseminated including the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting activity adjustments.
Contract Management
Ensure that all MC infrastructure works (WASH and Shelter) have set out procedures, BoQs/dimensional drawings, and site supervision procedures as required.
Ensure work done is conducted against agreed quality standards, and ensure the project stays within assigned schedule and cost targets.
Oversight of Emergency WASH services contract (water trucking, desludging, garbage removal, water tanks…)
In coordination with procurement department and program field teams, manage procurement and delivery of project input materials, supplies and labor as far as construction work is concerned.
Contribute to the bidding processes and tender documents technical evaluation to ensure competitive bidding and conformity with the procurement procedures.
Partnership Management
Help design project frameworks/objectives with local partners and ensure that the projects funded all meet set criteria and standards and align with the larger MC award(s).
Develop and maintain systems and protocols to ensure coordinated and effective communication between Mercy Corps team members and the partner organization(s). Alert the Program Manager of these on a regular basis and offer possible solutions.
Closely follow the implementation of partner activities from the design phase through to implementation and close out.
Ensure that the team properly maintains project files for each partner, all trackers are up-to-date, and project related deliverables are completed in a timely manner.
Coordinate Subaward administrative follow-up.
Program Quality and Accountability:
Leading the coordination with PaQ department in designing, planning, monitoring and reviewing reports and tools in regard to WASH & Shelter activities.
Participate in the development of technical and innovation tools related to WASH and Shelter projects (Monitoring tools, Technical requirements for TPMs and relevant tools) in direct relation with the Program requirements
Capacity development (field team and partners):
Train the field staff technically based on the projects requirements.
Provide technical support to the WASH and Shelter field teams
Regularly conduct training sessions for field engineers and community facilitators/WASH committees, in the use of the various technical templates including bill of quantities, bill of materials, and technical reporting templates etc.
Administration and Operational Management of Project Implementation
Finance:
Forecast monthly cash requirements of the project and submit to PM.
Following up on program expenditures in ensuring that the payments are raised as per the internal policies, within budget and on-time.
Operations & Procurement:
Contribute to the development of Procurement plans.
Contribute and taking the lead in establishing accurate and precise Purchase requests forms, Master Agreement Requests, Tender Initiation Requests in a timely manner, included detailed scope of work.
Contribute to quality control plan definition and application in coordination with Operation teams
Contribute to procurement committees to finalize suppliers’ selection.
Administration/HR:
Participate in the recruitment of technical staff (development of organigrams, ToRs, elaborating the tests and reviewing them; interviews etc.)
Ensure that project field staff understand and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities
Follow-up the work plans the project field staff in cooperation with Field Team.
Contribute to a positive working environment and good team dynamics.
Ensure capacity building among staff in relevant sector.
Safety & Security:
Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
Ensure continuous coordination with the security department to make sure that the activities are implemented with secure access and obtaining needed approvals.
Reporting
Provide regular and timely updates on progress and challenges to Program Manager and other team members.
Contribute to drafting of project progress reports, ensuring the quality and accuracy of technical information provided.
SNFI, CCCM and shelter Cluster reporting (plan, capacity, 4Ws reports)
Coordination and representation
Coordination of activities with other sectors and departments of MC in order to ensure rational use of resources and optimum integration.
Active participation and contribution to Clusters (WASH and Shelter/NFI).
Active Coordination with other WASH and Shelter actors
Other
Adherence to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals.
Ensure compliance with donor regulations and procedures, including compliance with MC’s internal policies and guidelines.
Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge and Experience
University degree from a recognized university in Engineering (Civil or Mechanical or Architectural Engineering).
At least five years’ experience in working in WASH and Shelter projects.
Demonstrable 1 year experience in working on WASH and shelter construction projects.
Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.
Strong organizational skills.
Reporting skills, and computer skills are required.
Exceptional knowledge of AutoCAD software.
Success Factors
Strong multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization and problem solving skills are necessary.
Accuracy and attention to details are necessary.
Demonstrated ability to work quickly, accurately, meet deadlines, and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.
Ability to manage and coordinate with different members/levels of a team.
Ability to work in remote project environment.
Strong communication, people management and partnership skills.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we encounter through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
