Construction and WASH Technical Advisor

The Construction and WASH Technical Advisor is the main technical reference for WASH programs and infrastructure within Save the Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The role ensures technical excellence in humanitarian health, education, protection programs, emergency response to Ebola, and development programs focused on sustainable WASH infrastructure for health and education facilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic technical leadership for WASH programs in humanitarian and development portfolios ensuring compliance with Save the Children quality standards, national policies, Sphere standards and global WASH guidance.
• Lead design, implementation and quality assurance of WASH-IPC interventions during public health emergencies including Ebola, cholera, mpox and other epidemics.
• Supervise technical strengthening of WASH services in health facilities including safe and sustainable water supply systems, handwashing infrastructure, medical waste management and incineration solutions, isolation and treatment structures, environmental cleaning and disinfection systems, and inclusive sanitation facilities considering gender and disability.
• Provide technical guidance on hygiene promotion and risk communication related to epidemics in collaboration with Health and Child Protection teams.
• Support schools, Child Friendly Spaces and community infrastructures in implementing WASH and infection prevention measures to ensure service continuity during emergencies.
• Serve as focal point for WASH-IPC integration and promote learning, innovation and evidence-based approaches.
• Lead technical planning, design and supervision of all construction and rehabilitation activities including health facilities, schools, water and sanitation systems, offices, warehouses and child protection structures.
• Ensure all infrastructure interventions comply with national construction regulations, donor requirements, environmental standards, accessibility criteria and climate resilience principles.
• Review, approve and validate engineering plans, technical drawings, specifications, bills of quantities and construction methodologies prior to implementation.
• Establish and monitor quality assurance and quality control systems throughout project construction cycles.
• Lead technical assessments and feasibility studies for infrastructure investments.
• Ensure integration of disaster risk reduction, environmental sustainability and resilience in construction works.
• Strengthen contractor management systems including procurement support, performance monitoring, certification of works and warranty follow-up.
• Promote community participation, accountability and local ownership throughout infrastructure development processes.
• Lead institutionalization of the "Clean Clinic" approach and other quality improvement initiatives linking infrastructure, WASH and health outcomes.
• Lead needs assessments, context analyses and strategic planning processes related to WASH and construction in humanitarian and development contexts.
• Provide technical leadership in proposal development, program design and business development ensuring high-quality evidence-based interventions.
• Develop sector strategies, framework budgets, implementation plans and technical narratives for institutional and private donors.
• Position Save the Children as a reference organization in WASH and infrastructure through active engagement with donors, government institutions, UN agencies and partners.
• Represent Save the Children in the WASH Cluster and coordination mechanisms at national and subnational levels, technical working groups, construction and engineering platforms, and health, education and shelter technical forums requiring infrastructure and WASH expertise.
• Contribute to inter-agency contingency planning, preparedness and emergency response coordination.
• Support evidence generation, advocacy and influence initiatives for children's access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene and quality infrastructure.
• Establish, maintain and monitor technical standards, tools and guidelines applicable to all WASH and construction interventions.
• Conduct regular field visits, technical audits and quality controls to ensure compliance with organizational standards and donor requirements.
• Support procurement and supply chain teams in developing and reviewing technical specifications, tender documents, contracts and supplier evaluations.
• Supervise work control systems, certification processes and final acceptance of works.
• Collaborate with MEAL teams to develop sector indicators, monitoring frameworks and performance measurement systems.
• Lead technical reviews of program reports, evaluations, lessons learned and post-intervention analyses.
• Promote documentation and dissemination of good practices, innovations and lessons within the Country Office and Save the Children movement.
• Ensure timely production and submission of quality technical reports to donors, coordination platforms and government authorities.
• Develop and implement capacity building strategies for Save the Children staff, partners, government authorities and community structures in WASH, construction and infrastructure management.
• Provide mentoring and technical support to WASH engineers, construction agents, project managers and field teams.
• Lead and animate the WASH and Construction Community of Practice within the Country Office to promote technical excellence and intersectoral collaboration.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, performance management and professional development of WASH and construction staff.
• Develop strategic partnerships with relevant ministries, engineering professional associations, academic institutions and technical networks.
• Strengthen organizational capacities for preparedness and response to major health emergencies and humanitarian infrastructure needs.
• Promote innovation, digitalization and continuous improvement of WASH and construction programs.

Requirements

• Diploma in hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, construction, public health or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the WASH sector at a management level in humanitarian or development contexts.
• Excellent knowledge of the WASH sector in the context of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Experience in emergency responses such as Ebola and/or cholera.
• Experience in supervision of works, design and management of construction projects.
• Experience in writing funding proposals to institutional donors for grants exceeding 1 million USD.
• Experience working integrally with health, nutrition, protection and education sectors.
• Fluency in French and English, both written and oral.
• Ability to travel extensively (60-70%) in sometimes precarious contexts.
• Desirable: linguistic skills in French and Swahili.
• Desirable: knowledge and experience of the "Clean Clinic" approach.
• Desirable: proficiency in AutoCAD, ArchiCAD or similar technical drawing software.
• Desirable: in-depth knowledge of Sphere standards, Minimum WASH Requirements and Shelter Cluster guidelines.
• Desirable: experience with major donors (BHA, ECHO, UNHCR, FCDO, European Union).
• Desirable: experience with climate-resilient and climate-smart WASH approaches.

Skills

• Hydraulics Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Construction Project Management
• WASH Sector Experience
• Humanitarian WASH Management
• Emergency Response
• Ebola Response
• Cholera Outbreak Response
• Supervision of Works
• Construction Design
• Funding Proposals
• Multi-Donor Grant Management
• Health Sector Collaboration
• Nutrition Sector Collaboration
• Protection Sector Collaboration
• Education Sector Collaboration
• AutoCAD
• ArchiCAD
• SPHERE standards
• Minimum WASH Requirements
• Shelter Cluster Guidelines
• Climate-resilient WASH
• Climate-Smart WASH

Languages

French, English