Mali: Senior WASH Manager

Apr 5, 2022 | International Rescue Committee
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IRC opened the national program in Mali in 2012. Our programs range from humanitarian assistance to early recovery activities, focusing on child protection, education, economic well-being, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, governance. We work both in the north, the center and the south of Mali. Conflict and drought have caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in Mali and neighboring countries. The security situation in the north remains fragile. Nonetheless, the needs of internally displaced persons and conflict-affected host communities are vast and the issue of humanitarian access is an ongoing process.

IRC works in northern and central Mali to provide essential WASH, education, economic well-being, protection and health programs in the most remote areas. The position is designed to help improve the capacities and strengthen the resources of populations to prevent and mitigate crises, manage change and build autonomy and resilience.

Job overview

The Senior Manager of the WASH program is the person responsible for implementing the water access program for the populations of the Menaka region. The senior manager will ensure the effective implementation of the work plan of the various actions as well as the monitoring of the partnership with the identified partner organization.

He / she will lead the implementation of the program, strengthen the capacity of staff in the sustainable construction of water access works for the populations, supervise and monitor the team's activities and ensure that financial and logistical controls are implemented in accordance with IRC protocols and in accordance with the agreement signed with the Funder. 

This position, which will be based in Ménaka, will report to the Ménaka Field Coordinator but will have functional links with the Wash Coordinator and the Governance and Rights Coordinator.  

Responsibilities

Project implementation:

• Provides strategic and operational leadership in all phases and aspects of the program management cycle.
• Leads the effective implementation of the project and consortium communication, enabling clear communication and reporting between IRC, consortium partners and external stakeholders, including the donor.
• Supervises the community meetings that will take place in the field for the launch of the project and the definition of its implementation modalities in order that the activities conform to local realities; they respect the technical quality required; promote peace and gender equality.
• Supervises the evaluations of the intrinsic technical aspects (to be piloted during the start-up phase of the project by ensuring that the geographical locations of the water points that will be rehabilitated or built will best guarantee that these infrastructures of access to water will benefit the entire community at each site and that it will be supplemented by the establishment of effective committees to tackle public health issues. 
• Organize the realization of geophysical studies on the sites where new water points will be built and organize the diagnostics of the water points on the sites where the rehabilitations will be made.
• Ensures the production of the tender dossier for the rehabilitation / construction of water points on the project.
• Participate in the work of the procurement commission for the examination of the offers that will be received and the identification of service providers to whom the work will be carried out.
• Support the team as well as the program partners in the development of training materials for the program responding to technical and contextualized aspects in favor of the different approaches to be promoted: community-based water supply infrastructure, community-based approaches based on public health such as PHAST and CHAST;
• Ensures in collaboration with relevant partners and IRC staff, that program results are delivered in accordance with donor contractual requirements and that all activities and deliverables are completed within schedule and of the agreed budget.
• In collaboration with relevant partners and the IRC team, defined the program implementation strategy and support the design of appropriate project management tools (i.e. SoPs, technical guidance notes, the matrix and the monitoring and evaluation plan, etc.);
• Provide technical supervision and support for program activities, including activities implemented by partners.
• Ensures that the program has and employs appropriate protocols, policies and guidelines;
• Support the development of an adequate monitoring and evaluation system and ensure regular monitoring of program-related data monitoring.
• During field visits, ensure that all program activities comply with best practices, are demonstrable and that the gender aspect and conflict prevention / management is taken into account;
• Actively participate in the meetings and activities of the Menaka WASH working group (Menaka regional WASH sub-cluster)
• Keeps the relevance of the project in relation to trends within the WASH working group working in Ménaka and adapt the activities of the program if necessary;
• Ensures in collaboration with the finance and operations departments of the country program, that the program's financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistical needs are aligned with IRC policy.
• Ensures that women and girls are given priority in each program result area in order to improve gender mainstreaming and reduce the gender gap.
• Actively research and support excellent collaboration with other IRC Mali programs (health, ERD, protection, education), and support gender mainstreaming in IRC program)

Project cycle management and quality assurance

• In collaboration with the WASH Coordinator, ensures that the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all program activities are carried out in accordance with IRC standards and meet the objectives and objectives of the communities funder's targets and compliance requirements;
• Responsible for project management, oversees the implementation, monitoring and effective control of the work, expenditure, expenditure, M&E and procurement plans of IRC and partners, by organizing, between others, joint and regular monitoring and review meetings, assessing progress and proactively identifying challenges and solutions to achieve program results.
• Control the use of the budget and ensure the good financial management and the use of funds;
• Actively contributes to the development and review of program approaches, making concrete recommendations for changes in the activities, approaches and areas of action of partners, as appropriate;
• Creates a continuous learning environment, encouraging innovation and self-critical analysis, capitalizing on lessons learned to inform programmatic and strategic decisions and contribute to the knowledge base of sectors covered by the program (WASH and Governance).
• Ensure that the results of conflict and security assessments are permanently integrated into the design and implementation of the project, in collaboration with the Governance coordinator;
• Ensures the effective implementation of the customer feedback mechanism and participatory programming.

Grant tracking and reporting

• Develop and maintain effective and efficient monitoring, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes.
• Ensures regular monitoring of activities in the field.
• Monitors and consolidates information gathered from weekly reports and staff activity.
• Ensures the quality of the activity reports produced by the program teams, the quality of the indicators and the quality of IRC's achievements in accordance with the requirements of the funder
• Prepare report to donor for formal and informal updates.
• Ensure accurate and high quality annual and semi-annual reports;
• Ensures the preparation of monthly activity reports intended for IRC coordination and actively contribute to the production of any other program reports for donors;

Partner management

• Actively supports the Grant in the selection process of the local partner NGO that will be in charge of the implementation of hygiene promotion activities as well as its monitoring according to IRC internal procedures
• Works in close partnership with the local partner NGO which will be responsible for implementing hygiene promotion activities and provides it with regular technical support in accordance with partnership agreements.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with implementing partners.
• Ensures regular monitoring of the performance of the local NGO partner for hygiene promotion activities.
• Ensures the involvement of the Regional Directorate of Hydraulics at all stages of project implementation.

Manage operational and security requirements

• Develops, supports the implementation of work plans, expenditure and monitoring and evaluation plans for grants.
• Ensures that project assets are properly recorded and used for the intended purposes;
• Coordinates with program and operational staff to ensure operational systems are in place and compliant with grant requirements to support project activities including logistics, procurement, security and human resources;
• Ensure that the schedule for all outings of its teams in the field is sent to the security department at least one week in advance.
• In close collaboration with the Field Coordinator, systematically and proactively monitors / evaluates the safety of field teams, promptly report problems or incidents to IRC management and liaise with other external parties as needs and adequately to maintain / improve the security environment.
• Responsible for the overall achievement of the program objectives by ensuring that gender aspects are taken into account.

Coordination & Representation

• Develop and actively maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, United Nations agencies, international and local NGOs, government departments.
• Regularly attend meetings of the WASH sub-groups / cluster at Ménaka level in order to better define IRC's priorities in the field.
• Under the express authorization of the Head of Mission, if necessary, interact with the media at the local level of Ménaka and respond to their requests concerning WASH programming.

Team management

• Supported by the Ménaka base field Coordinator and the WASH Coordinator, he / she recruits and supervises program staff.
• Creates a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect and empowerment of staff to assume responsibilities;
• Manages and evaluates the performance of project staff ensuring that each staff member has SMART performance goals
• Ensure that all staff respect and strictly adhere to IRC Way, that these obligations are regularly updated so that staff understand its principles and commit to them
• Identify the training / capacity building needs of team members in technical areas related to the program and Develop and implement a permanent training / capacity building plan for staff to help ensure better implementation of the WASH program.
• Ensure that monthly work plans and time sheets are completed and submitted.
• In collaboration with the members of his team, develop and monitor the execution of the leave schedule of the members of his team.

Job requirements

• • Master or equivalent in Hydraulics, Hydrogeology, Geophysics or other related diplomas.
• • At least 5 years of experience in the direct implementation of water access programs.
• • Demonstrated experience in supervising and managing program teams and supporting the management of multi-million dollar budgets / portfolios in a context of conflict and complex dynamics
• • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact professionally with project stakeholders, in-country collaborators and staff at all levels of the organization.
• • Previous experiences in supervision of geophysical studies
• • Previous experiences in drilling construction works for access to water.
• • Previous experiences in the realization of mini drinking water supply
• • Good experience in sizing solar pumping system
• • Knowledge and understanding of SPHERE standards
• • Previous experience in the supervision and management of a multidisciplinary team in an intercultural context
• • Previous experience in the production of tender documents for construction work and water point rehabilitation
• • Previous experience in participating in the work of procurement commissions.
• • Demonstrated experience in capacity building and mentoring of national staff
• • Demonstrated experience in grant management and proposal writing
• • Previous experience of working in a fragile security environment
• • Previous experience working with and for rural communities.
• • Strong MS Office skills including Word, Excel and Power Point.
• • Good computer skills in programs such as: Arc GIS, Auto CAD, Epanet or any other hydraulic system sizing software.
• • Able to apply skills and knowledge including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to third parties
• • Personal qualities: team leader, flexible, network creator, able to handle pressure well
• • Fluency in French is required, English language proficiency is an asset

This is an unaccompanied post. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.