Environmental Health/WASH Coordinator

The Environmental Health/WASH Coordinator leads the technical oversight and delivery of environmental health and WASH programming for the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The role involves managing WASH teams, ensuring program quality and alignment with emergency standards, and coordinating with partners and stakeholders to strengthen community access to safe WASH services.

Responsibilities

• Lead ongoing implementation of IRC's EH/WASH strategy for the Ebola response, including scale-up plans, staffing, resource requirements, and geographic prioritization.
• Ensure WASH programming aligns with IRC's Emergency Response Framework, national response priorities, and global technical standards.
• Contribute to business development through proposal development, technical design, and donor engagement.
• Build safeguarding risk analysis and relevant risk mitigation measures into project design and implementation.
• Champion a culture of effective and respectful partnerships and promote partner-led programming.
• Ensure partnership considerations are embedded throughout the emergency response plan with active local partner engagement.
• Manage staffing and capacity-building of the WASH team, ensuring adequate field coverage and succession planning.
• Ensure WASH interventions follow core emergency approaches and standards, contextualized for complex outbreak and insecurity.
• Oversee program management including work plans, procurement, expense tracking, MEAL, and reporting.
• Coordinate with the wider DRC country program to align Ebola response WASH activities with the country's longer-term WASH strategy.
• Support the EVD Response Program Team Lead on program strategy updates and business development.
• Contribute to Partner Capacity Analysis and development of partner support plans.
• Review and provide feedback on partner technical tools, reports, and data; collaborate on adaptations or improvements.
• Directly manage, coach, and support the professional development of WASH Managers, Officers, Assistants, and Hygienists.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and capacity-building of national WASH staff including induction and technical training.
• Foster a collaborative, safe, and accountable culture across a dispersed, multi-site team.
• Maintain professional relationships that support strong team spirit and effective performance.
• Work with the Health Coordinator to ensure IRC's EVD response activities are delivered on time and to a high technical standard.
• Promote inclusive delivery aligned to IMPACT standards.
• Ensure new triage/isolation structures are constructed on time and to technical standards.
• Ensure correct handling, storage, and use of chlorine (HTH) at supported facilities.
• Ensure WASH rehabilitation and upgrades are completed on time and in line with grant agreements.
• Update and develop program protocols based on current guidance and evidence.
• Act as WASH lead on the IRC IPC Rapid Response Team.
• Oversee strict infection prevention, control, and waste management protocols at all supported facilities.
• Monitor implementation of EH/WASH programs against work plans, performance targets, and budgets.
• Represent IRC at key coordination forums at national and zonal levels as required.
• Proactively monitor and assess team safety and security, promptly reporting concerns or incidents.
• Undertake other duties as assigned by the supervisor to support IRC programs.
• Represent IRC and coordinate with focal points to ensure active engagement in key response coordination fora including WASH and IPC working groups.
• Maintain working relationships with UN and NGO partners on WASH activities to strengthen coordination, information sharing, and referrals.
• Support internal coordination and information sharing across IRC's response including with Health, Protection, RCCE, and Safeguarding focal points.

Requirements

• Postgraduate qualification in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Environmental Sciences, or Public Health; relevant experience may substitute for formal qualification.
• 5-8 years of experience leading/managing WASH programs with INGOs in emergency and outbreak contexts.
• Experience with institutional donors, including ECHO, US funding sources, SIDA, CDCS, FCDO, GAC, and GFFO.
• Fluency in French and English.
• Previous experience in Ebola outbreak contexts.
• Strong understanding of environmental health issues in emergencies and knowledge of emergency standards (Sphere).
• Strong leadership, management, planning, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to live and work in stressful and insecure environments.
• Strong initiative and ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure, with sound, timely decision-making.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and relevant engineering CAD software.
• Knowledge and/or experience in conflict management, protection, or a related field.
• Strong professional approach and team-building skills.
• Highly desired: prior work in an isolation center, highly contagious area, or Biosafety Level 4 area; experience with viral hemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Lassa, Marburg, etc.); and knowledge of infection prevention and control.
• Experience in Ebola and cholera emergencies and emergency WASH programming in DRC is desirable.
• Knowledge and practical experience of WASH IPC in DRC health care facilities, including coordination with relevant DRC line ministries is desirable.

Skills

• WASH Programme Management
• Emergency WASH Response
• Environmental Health
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Ebola Response
• Emergency Standards Sphere
• Donor Relations
• Conflict Management
• Protection
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Engineering CAD Software
• Leadership in Emergencies
• Programme Planning
• Analytical Skills
• Team Building
• Decision Making
• Coordination with Health Ministries
• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Experience
• WASH IPC in Health Facilities

Languages

English, French