WASH Officer

Positive Action for Development (PAD) is an indigenous, non-governmental, non-profit, secular, and legally registered Ethiopian Civil Society Organization (Registration No. 2330). PAD is committed to promoting a just, compassionate, and inclusive society where all people can thrive. Guided by the values of optimism, integrity, kindness, excellence, and impactful action, PAD works to provide effective humanitarian and development support to communities in need.

Positive Action for Development (PAD) is seeking a qualified and experienced professional to join its team as a WASH Officer for an EHF-funded project based in Afar Region

Under the supervision of the Project Coordinator, the WASH Officer will be responsible for planning, designing, implementing, and monitoring both WASH hardware and software interventions to ensure quality, sustainability, and timely delivery of project outcomes.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

WASH Planning, Assessment and Design

• Develop Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs) and procurement plans in line with project timelines, budgets, and donor requirements.
• Conduct rapid needs assessments, technical assessments, site surveys, and feasibility studies.
• Plan, design, and implement WASH interventions based on identified needs and technical standards.
• Prepare BOQs, cost estimates, technical specifications, drawings, and design documents.
• Design water supply systems, pipeline extensions, water points, springs, hand-dug wells, sanitation facilities, and other WASH infrastructure.
• Conduct technical assessments and designs for solar-powered water supply systems.

Construction and Contract Management

• Prepare tender documents, technical specifications, and procurement requests for WASH construction works.
• Participate in technical and financial bid evaluations and contractor selection processes.
• Supervise construction and rehabilitation works to ensure compliance with approved designs, BOQs, specifications, quality standards, timelines, and safety requirements.
• Manage and monitor WASH construction contracts and contractor performance.
• Verify measurements, work progress, material quality, and completed works.
• Prepare, review, and verify interim and final payment certificates.
• Identify construction challenges and provide timely technical solutions.
• Support testing, commissioning, completion, and handover of WASH facilities.

Solar-Powered Water Supply and Electromechanical Systems

• Design and supervise solar-powered water supply systems.
• Supervise installation, testing, commissioning, and handover of solar water systems.
• Monitor pumps, solar panels, controllers, electrical components, storage tanks, and related electromechanical systems.
• Support preventive and corrective maintenance planning.
• Provide technical guidance to water-system operators on operation and maintenance.

Hygiene, Sanitation and WASH Software Activities

• Coordinate hygiene and sanitation promotion activities with health workers and community structures.
• Support the development and dissemination of appropriate IEC materials.
• Facilitate community hygiene promotion and environmental cleaning campaigns.
• Support sanitation improvement and safe hygiene practices at household and community levels.
• Integrate gender, protection, disability inclusion, accountability, and other cross-cutting considerations into WASH programming.

Capacity Building and Community Engagement

• Lead and facilitate training for WASH committees, water-system operators, community structures, and relevant government counterparts.
• Strengthen the capacity of local WASH structures for sustainable operation and maintenance.
• Facilitate community consultations and participation throughout the project cycle.
• Support beneficiary identification, registration, verification, and community feedback processes.
• Promote community ownership and sustainable management of WASH facilities.

Coordination and Representation

• Maintain close coordination with woreda and zonal water offices, health offices, local authorities, and other relevant government institutions.
• Coordinate WASH implementation with humanitarian and development partners.
• Participate in regional, zonal, and woreda WASH Cluster/coordination meetings.
• Represent PAD in relevant technical and coordination forums as assigned.
• Ensure harmonization of WASH interventions with government plans, cluster standards, and donor requirements.

Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation

• Monitor progress against approved work plans, indicators, budgets, and implementation schedules.
• Conduct regular field monitoring and technical quality assurance.
• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly WASH progress reports.
• Document achievements, challenges, lessons learned, recommendations, and follow-up actions.
• Maintain complete technical documentation, including assessment reports, designs, BOQs, site reports, measurement sheets, payment certificates, completion certificates, and handover documents.
• Support collection and management of project data using KoboToolbox and other digital platforms.

Quality Assurance, Accountability and Compliance

• Ensure that all WASH interventions comply with approved technical designs, national standards, donor requirements, and organizational procedures.
• Ensure appropriate occupational health and safety measures at construction sites.
• Monitor the quality and appropriate use of construction materials and resources.
• Promote value for money and cost-effective implementation.
• Ensure WASH interventions are inclusive, sustainable, environmentally responsible, and responsive to community needs.
• Identify implementation risks and take appropriate corrective actions.

Procurement and Resource Management

• Develop WASH-related procurement plans and technical procurement requirements.
• Prepare specifications and quantities for WASH materials, equipment, and services.
• Support procurement processes and technical evaluations.
• Monitor utilization of WASH resources against approved budgets.
• Support timely procurement and delivery of materials to project sites.

Qualifications: 

• BSc/MSc Degree in Water Supply, Hydraulic Engineering, Water and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, or other related water fields.

Experience:

•  Minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience, including at least three (3) years in INGOs/NNGOs within the WASH sector.
• Proven experience in planning, designing, and implementing new water supply construction/rehabilitation, solar water pumping systems, sanitation infrastructure, and hygiene promotion activities, particularly in emergency and crisis-affected settings.

Skills Required:

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Fluency in local language (Afaraf), both written and verbal.
• Previous experience working in complex and volatile contexts.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Team-management and leadership skills.
• Handling insecure environments.
• Managing resources to optimize results.
• Innovation, flexibility, and a solution-oriented approach

Computer-Aided Design and Software Skills

• Proficient in WaterCAD or WaterGEMS.
• Strong skills in AutoCAD design.
• Good working experience with QGIS/ArcGIS.
• Experience using Kobo and other mobile data collection tools.

Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

• Experience coordinating with woreda and zonal WASH offices, local facilities, and implementing partners to ensure harmonized service delivery.

• Ability to represent the organization in WASH cluster meetings, planning sessions, and joint field assessments.

Adaptability and Professionalism

• Flexible and solution-oriented, with the ability to adapt to changing project contexts, such as supply chain disruptions or emergency response needs.
• Maintains professional ethics, client confidentiality, and organizational values in all aspects of work.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in demanding humanitarian settings, including conflict-affected, resource-constrained, and remote areas.

Other:

• Willingness to travel to and work in remote and hard-to-reach locations.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-sectoral emergency response setting, demonstrating flexibility, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity while collaborating with diverse teams and community stakeholders.
• Commitment to upholding humanitarian values and the organization’s mission.

Competencies

• Action facilitations
• Communications
• Ethics & Values
• Teamwork
• Behavioral Flexibility
• Client Orientation
• Initiative
• Interpersonal Relations
• Reasonable Judgment

Duty Station: Erbeti and Bidu Woreda, Zone 2, Afar Region.

Number Required: 1 (One)

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply

Equal Employment Opportunity

PAD promotes fairness, equity, and diversity in the workplace. We welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, or other personal status.

Hiring decisions are made solely based on skills, experience, and suitability for the role.
PAD is committed to creating a respectful and inclusive environment where all staff can thrive, contribute meaningfully, and grow professionally.

Zero Tolerance for Misconduct

PAD maintains zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, exploitation, or misuse of power. All staff, volunteers, and partners are expected to follow PAD’s policies and uphold our values at all times.
All successful candidates will undergo background checks and must adhere to PAD’s code of conduct and safeguarding principles.

Recruitment Flexibility

PAD reserves the right to:

• Recruit more than the required candidates from this announcement.
• Keep qualified applicants in our database for future similar roles.

Important Notice on Recruitment Fraud

If you encounter any misconduct, fraud, or corruption related to PAD’s recruitment process or operations, please report immediately via:

• Email: safeguarding@padethiopia.org
• Link: https://one-pad.org/guest_new/public_add_issue
• Toll Free Hotline: 9135

PAD treats all reports confidentially and takes them seriously, ensuring appropriate action is taken.