WASH Expert

Base: Kyiv, Ukraine 

Line Manager: WASH Technical Lead

Starting date: January-February 2025

Contract duration: 12 months (4 months' probation period is included), renewable in case of further available funding 

About PIN Ukraine:

People in Need (PIN) has been active in Ukraine since early August 2014. Currently, PIN is one of the major humanitarian actors in Ukraine responding to the recent military escalation, providing humanitarian aid to conflict-affected people across Ukraine. Since 2014, PIN has implemented emergency food and cash assistance, NFI, shelter, protection, livelihoods and WASH interventions supporting 3 million vulnerable IDPs, returnees and host communities in urban and rural areas. Since the escalation in February 2022, PIN has scaled up its response from working in 2 Oblasts to working in 23 of the 24 Oblasts in Ukraine, increasing its number of partners, staff, offices and budgets.

General information about the role of the person: 

Under the overall supervision of the WASH Technical Lead, The WASH Expert coordinates the day-to-day aspects of the WASH programme and ensures the implementation of an effective and efficient WASH programme with a focus on quality day-to-day technical support to the field-based engineers, harmonization of approaches, and compliance with policies and processes in alignment with PIN's strategic objectives. He/she will work closely with the Programme Implementation WASH team to ensure quality implementation – WASH projects include infrastructure and construction related to water supply, sewage systems, and district heating, including renewable and backup energy. 

Main duties and responsibilities: 

Coordination:

• Coordinate between the WASH Technical Lead and the field engineers about the WASH projects and relevant donor and technical obligations and requirements;
• Coordinate between engineers working in different regions, in order to transfer good practices between offices and projects, and assure harmonization of technical approaches;
• Coordinate between WASH Officers/Assistants in different geographical areas, transferring good practices between offices and assuring harmonization of administrative paperwork and procedures;
• Internally coordinate with other departments where needed, like MEAL and procurement.
  

Technical Support:

• Support the engineers to apply the new procedures and adjust implementation according to the WASH Technical Lead guidance, and in coordination with Area Managers and Coordinators;
• Support the efforts to implement innovative projects where varied engineering backgrounds like solarization of WASH systems, renewable energy and civil engineering are required;
• Support the team to apply new concepts and approaches especially those related to stakeholder integration and accountability to affected people.
• Support the team in compliance to donor and internal policies and SOPs and harmonization between areas based on a prepared plan within clear timelines, involving all relevant people and resources;
• Support the team with ensuring need and evidence-based programming.
• Support the team with procurement procedures and get involved in tender evaluation procedures in collaboration with Estimators;
• Support the team to develop and use the improved toolkit for the WASH programme in collaboration with the WASH Technical Lead and other departments (MEAL and Data Management).

Capacity Building and Training:

• Develop and deliver trainings for staff and local partners on WASH response protocols, technical standards, and best practices.
• Build the capacity of local communities and partners to implement and support WASH emergency and recovery approaches.
• Provide technical support and guidance to field teams to ensure the quality and sustainability of WASH interventions.

Communication:

• Communicate updates, challenges, and best practices to relevant stakeholders to facilitate informed decision-making and coordination.
• Conduct field visit to the field offices (up to 50% of the time), to work closely with the WASH Engineers, Officers, and Assistants. Listening to them and transfer communication in both directions with the WASH Technical Lead.
• Meeting donors and communal service provision companies as well WASH partners.

Required background and competences:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Alternative Energy, Mechanical engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in humanitarian WASH response (WASH infrastructure - experience in WASH distributions is not essential)
• Strong technical expertise in WASH design, humanitarian response operations, and understanding of the Ukrainian context.
• Strong technical experience in the following fields will be an advantage: renewable energy, district heating, water/wastewater treatment.
• Experience in project management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, standards, and guidelines related to WASH emergency response.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure in emergencies and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Upper intermediate in English required

PIN OFFERS:

• Competitive salary as per PIN Salary Scale: min. 2 457 - max. 3 001 USD GROSS (+5% after probation period);
• Meaningful and positive working environment in a well-established and growing international humanitarian organization with career development opportunities;
• Reimbursement of travel expenses between offices and areas of intervention;
• Professional development opportunities through various capacity building events, such as trainings;
• 28 days of annual leave + 3 New Year bonus leave
• Health insurance.

Application procedure:

Please send clearly marked CV and Motivation letter in English. Please note, only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Written test and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

Please note that PIN does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process.