SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEERING (PHE) OFFICER Job at Oxfam Great Britain, November 2024

About the Job

About us

Oxfam is a global community that believes poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s rights activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers, and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of the international confederation of 21 organizations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development, and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organization.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

OUR WORK IN ETHIOPIA

Since the early 1970s, we have been working to address the underlying causes of poverty and marginalization by focusing on developing sustainable livelihoods, providing water and sanitation, agriculture, climate research, gender, and humanitarian issue.

Job details

DIVISION: Impact	TEAM: WASH
LOCATION: Gambela, Ethiopia	CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed Term
GRADE: D1 National	JOB FAMILY: Programme
SALARY: As per the Oxfam benefit package	HOURS: 37.5 per week
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities Under the strategic guidance of the WASH Coordinator, lead the overall planning, implementation, and coordination of PHE components in Humanitarian Response efforts, ensuring alignment with organizational and sectoral response strategies. Develop and refine strategic approaches to effectively address emerging WASH needs in dynamic humanitarian contexts. Provide advanced professional and technical leadership to PHE Assistants, ensuring that all team members are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality PHE interventions. Facilitate training and capacity-building initiatives to enhance the technical competencies of the WASH team and partners, specifically targeting PHP Assistants and other relevant stakeholders. Oversee, manage, and report on Oxfam’s WASH interventions within the assigned geography, ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and in compliance with organizational and donor requirements. Provide strategic support to the WASH team in the development of project proposals, ensuring they are informed by thorough assessments and reflect the needs of the affected population. Lead the identification and evaluation of WASH response options based on thorough context analysis, scenario planning, and program objectives. Provide expert guidance and support to the WASH team and partners in selecting and implementing the most appropriate response strategies. Collaborate closely with the livelihood team to ensure the effective integration of WASH interventions with cash-for-work (CFW) and other relevant livelihood components. Ensure that planning, implementation, and monitoring of these interventions are coordinated to maximize impact and efficiency. Work in close partnership with PHP Assistants to ensure the integrated planning, implementation, and monitoring of WASH interventions, ensuring that all activities are complementary and mutually reinforcing for greater program impact. Provide mentorship and technical support to PHP Assistants to enhance the quality and effectiveness of public health promotion activities. Ensure the timely and efficient processing of supply requests, providing detailed technical specifications and other necessary information related to PHE interventions. Work in close coordination with the logistics team to guarantee the timely delivery and deployment of PHE materials and resources. Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with partner agencies, local authorities, and community stakeholders. Ensure that participatory approaches are embedded throughout the project cycle, from planning to evaluation, to promote community ownership and sustainability of interventions. Line manage PHE Assistants, providing them with guidance, support, and performance management to ensure that they meet their objectives and contribute effectively to the WASH program. Oversee the work of contractors and partners, ensuring that all contracted work meets the required standards and is completed within agreed timelines. Assist the WASH/PHE teams in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of field and secondary data. Provide evidence-based advice and solutions to the WASH Coordinator, ensuring that program decisions are informed by robust data and analysis. Proactively seek and promote opportunities to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of WASH activities, with a focus on adopting innovative technologies and approaches. Identify and address operational challenges, leveraging expertise to solve complex problems. Ensure that all PHE activities are designed and implemented with a strong focus on gender and protection considerations. Develop and introduce mechanisms that empower women and other vulnerable groups to participate in decision-making processes related to public health engineering. Ensure compliance with organizational policies, donor requirements, and international humanitarian standards in all PHE activities. Identify and mitigate risks associated with PHE interventions, ensuring the safety and well-being of staff, partners, and beneficiaries. Prepare and submit detailed reports on PHE activities, progress, and outcomes, ensuring that documentation is accurate, comprehensive, and submitted in a timely manner. Contribute to the development of knowledge management resources to capture lessons learned and best practices. Undertake additional responsibilities as assigned by the department or organization, contributing to the overall effectiveness and success of Oxfam’s humanitarian response efforts. Remain adaptable and responsive to changing needs and priorities.

About You

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Most importantly, every individual at Oxfam GB needs to be able to:

Live our values of INCLUSION, ACCOUNTABILITY, EMPOWERMENT, SOLIDARITY, COURAGE, AND EQUALITY

Our Values

Equality: We believe everyone has the right to be treated fairly and to have the same rights and opportunities.
Empowerment: We acknowledge and seek to expand people’s agency over their lives and the decisions that impact them.
Solidarity: We join hands, support, and collaborate across boundaries in working towards a just and sustainable world.
Inclusiveness: We embrace diversity and difference and value the perspectives and contributions of all people and communities in their fight against poverty and injustice.
Accountability: We take responsibility for our actions and inaction and hold ourselves accountable to the people we work with and for.
Courage: We speak truth to power and act with conviction on the justice of our causes.
Ensure you commit to our THREE ORGANISATIONAL ATTRIBUTES:

1. Be committed to equal opportunities: demonstrating

sensitivity to culture differences and gender equality.

2. Be willing to learn and apply gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity and inclusion across all aspects of your work.

3. Be committed to undertaking

Oxfam’s safeguarding training and adhering to relevant policies, to ensure all people who come into Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Ensure you actively ADOPT OXFAM’S FEMINIST LEADERSHIP APPROACH and applying the principles and twelve practices in your work. Read more about this here:

For this role, we have selected two of the most relevant feminist Leadership practices for this role (which you can read more about

Self-Awareness
Mutual accountability
Strategic Thinking and Judgment
SKILS, Experience, Knowledge & Competencies

Essential

Degree in a relevant engineering discipline (Civil/Water Resource and Irrigation, Hydraulic Engineering, Environmental Engineering) with a minimum of 5 years of solid, practical experience from a recognized academic institution. Significant and relevant experience in the field of WASH may substitute for formal qualifications.
Proven leadership and demonstrated ability in planning, implementing, and overseeing PHE programs (both in emergency response/recovery and long-term development), particularly within the Gambella Refugee Response in Ethiopia.
Extensive experience working with UN clusters, government authorities, and implementing I/NGO partners, including leadership roles in these collaborations.
Advanced technical skills in designing, drawing, cost estimation, and contract management of PHE interventions, with a preference for experience in the Gambella regional context.
Strong experience in project cycle management, including strategic planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Proven experience in mentoring, capacity building, and providing technical leadership to teams and partners, including demonstrated skills in training facilitation.
In-depth knowledge of and commitment to humanitarian principles, including the NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct and the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards.
Excellent command of the English and Amharic languages (both speaking and writing); proficiency in Amharic is essential.
Comprehensive knowledge of the importance of integrated approaches (PHE/PHP/Livelihood) for effective drought and/or conflict risk management.
Extensive experience working with local partners, including local authorities, and proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.
Advanced diplomacy and negotiation skills with internal and external audiences; demonstrated experience in gender analysis and integrating gender and diversity into programs.
Proven ability to work effectively under pressure, adapting to changing needs and deadlines in dynamic situations.
Exceptional communication and cross-cultural management skills, with the ability to lead diverse teams.
Flexibility and resilience, with the ability to deliver results under pressure and in response to evolving situations.
Proficiency in using relevant software tools, including CAD, WaterCAD, EPANET, Pro-CAD, and related applications, for designing and managing PHE interventions.
Experience in conflict-sensitive programming, with the ability to influence and support colleagues in adhering to financial standards, procedures, and controls.
Preference for candidates with the legal right to work in Ethiopia, particularly those with strong command of Amharic and any of locally spoken language.

Required Skills

AutoCAD or Electrical CAD
AutoCAD or Civil 3D

Desired Skills

AutoCAD or Electrical CAD
AutoCAD or Civil 3D

deadline September 08, 2024.

More Information

Address Ethiopia
Experience Level Senior
Total Years Experience 5-10