WASH and Shelter Manager -Dollo Ado, Ethiopia

What we’re looking for:

NRC Ethiopia is seeking an experienced and results-driven WASH & Shelter Manager to join our team in the Melkedida Field Office. This is a unique opportunity for a dedicated humanitarian professional to lead and strengthen NRC’s WASH and Shelter portfolio, ensuring that crisis-affected populations receive timely, high-quality, and sustainable assistance that addresses their most urgent needs.

You will provide strategic, operational, and technical leadership across the full project cycle, from needs assessments and response design to proposal development, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. You will oversee project teams, ensure sound financial and budget management, drive programme quality, and provide technical guidance to ensure interventions are delivered safely, effectively, and in line with NRC standards and donor requirements.

Working closely with local authorities, humanitarian partners, communities, and coordination platforms, you will play a key role in strengthening accountability, community participation, and the integration of protection, gender, age, disability inclusion, environmental sustainability, and disaster risk reduction across all interventions. You will also contribute to resource mobilization, programme development, and strategic planning to ensure NRC remains responsive to evolving humanitarian needs.

As the WASH & Shelter Manager, you will lead the planning, implementation, and monitoring of WASH and Shelter activities across NRC’s areas of operation, ensuring that programmes are needs-driven, evidence-based, and achieve measurable results. The role includes conducting and overseeing sector assessments, developing concept notes and project proposals, managing project budgets, supervising and building the capacity of staff, providing technical oversight, and representing NRC with donors, partners, and coordination bodies to enhance programme impact and reach.

Please note: This opportunity is open to Ethiopian nationals only.

Please download a more detailed JOB DESCRIPTION for more specific and generic duties and responsibilities. 

What you will bring:

• Minimum 7 years’ experience working in a relevant senior-level project implementation role preferably within a humanitarian/recovery context.
• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Supply and Sanitation Engineering, Construction Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Experience of working in complex and volatile contexts
• Experience in Shelter and WASH programming in refugee context
• Experience in donor engagement
• Fluency in English both written and spoken.
• Contextual understanding and knowledge of WASH and Shelter and Settlement/Housing sector and stakeholders in Ethiopia
• Familiarity with WASH and Shelter and Settlement Sector Standards across various contexts and respective target groups
• Strong communication skills ensuring good relations and smooth operations with stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented and strong analytical skills
• Strong and proven project management skills.

What we offer:

• Duty station: Melkedida, Ethiopia.
• Contract: 12 months.
• Travel: Up to 80%.
• Salary/benefits: grade 8 on NRC’s Resident salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions.
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity Market Place.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you have any questions about this role, please email: ho.recruitment@nrc.no with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.