Humanitarian WASH Technical Advisor

Youth Impact Labs East Africa; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading humanitarian organization in South Africa seeks a Humanitarian WASH Technical Advisor to provide strategic and technical leadership in emergency Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions. The role includes ensuring high-quality implementation of programs, technical alignment with global standards, and representation in national WASH forums. The ideal candidate will have a BSc in Hydraulic Engineering and 8-10 years of relevant experience, including in humanitarian contexts. This is a full-time position based in KwaZulu-Natal.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in WASH engineering and managing WASH projects.
• Proven experience in humanitarian or emergency contexts.
• Experience with USAID/BHA requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of emergency WASH responses.
• Ensure compliance with national and international WASH standards.
• Provide technical guidance on humanitarian WASH interventions.

Skills

Strong project management

Excellent interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Budgeting skills

Education

BSc degree in Hydraulic and/or Water Resources Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

EPANET

Job description

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, for the future.

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in the four outcome areas: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use.

Currently, we operate in eight regional states – Afar, Sidama, Tigray, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good.

General Position Summary

Under the guidance of the Humanitarian Team Leader, the Humanitarian WASH Advisor/Engineer will provide strategic and technical leadership for Mercy Corps Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions in humanitarian settings. The role ensures high‑quality and timely implementation of emergency WASH programs, supports proposal development, and ensures technical alignment with global standards (e.g., SPHERE, WHO, UNICEF, and WASH Cluster guidelines). S/he will ensure quality WASH programming by leading, monitoring and evaluating technical aspects of WASH activities in all regions where WASH interventions are managed. S/he will ensure that all WASH activities are done holistically coordinated with other Mercy Corps projects/programs and other stakeholders. In addition, he/she will represent Mercy Corps in WASH cluster and related coordination forums at national level; and establish strong linkage with government, UN agencies, and other key stakeholders.

Position Title

Humanitarian WASH Technical Advisor

Location

Addis Ababa

Position Status

Full-time

Salary Level

Based on the organization scale

Current Team Member

New

Safeguarding Risk Level

3

Essential Job Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of emergency WASH responses.
• Provide technical guidance on the Mercy Corps Ethiopia Program's humanitarian WASH interventions.
• Define appropriate SOPs, guidelines, and tools for the WASH activities of Mercy Corps in consultation with other field experts and in line with relevant government, Sphere, and WHO guidelines.
• Whenever necessary (highly technical activities) prepare design documents, bill of quantities, and organize a competitive bidding process with the procurement team to select the most qualified and cost‑effective contractor.
• Develop and review technical specifications, BoQs, drawings, contract documents, and construction methodologies, and lead the bid evaluation and related contract administration components of the project.
• Ensure climate‑resilient and sustainable WASH solutions in humanitarian interventions.
• Carry out regular monitoring visits in conjunction with other staff, ensuring that project objectives are met within the stated timeframes.
• Maintain oversight of the procurement of supplies ordered for the emergency WASH project, supporting the WASH and logistics staff in the coordination and quality control of WASH supplies.
• Ensure all emergency WASH activities are implemented in accordance with the Mercy Corps, donor and government guidelines and policies.
• Ensure application of best practices in the WASH interventions. Ensure a coherent, community‑based and engages the private sectors including contractors and suppliers to emergency WASH services.
• Document and disseminate success stories and lessons learned to donors and regional and national level stakeholders.
• Guide WASH Coordinators and Specialists and support in Emergency WASH needs assessments to prioritize community priority needs in the program designing process.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Work closely with the other emergency technical Advisors at the Country Office to ensure synergy among sectors and support timely implementation.

Program Development & Fundraising

• Contribute to proposal writing and technical annexes for WASH interventions.
• Identify innovative approaches for new funding opportunities for emergency WASH programs.
• Lead technical assessments for new project design.

Quality Assurance

• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Conduct WASH needs assessments, feasibility studies, and risk analyses in crisis‑affected areas.
• Ensure compliance with national and international WASH standards and donor requirements.
• Monitor construction and rehabilitation work to ensure quality and safety.
• Work closely with the MEL team to design appropriate indicators and data collection systems for WASH programs.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Capacity Building & Coordination

• Provide mentorship and on‑the‑job technical training to field engineers and WASH staff.
• Support local partners and government stakeholders with capacity strengthening in emergency WASH engineering.
• Represent the organization in WASH Cluster and technical working group meetings.
• Collaborate with logistics, procurement, and finance teams to ensure technical compliance in contracting and material selection.

Team Management

• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on one and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Supervisory Responsibility

WASH Coordinators or Specialists

Reports Directly To: Humanitarian Team Lead

Works With: Mainly with WASH, Health, Nutrition Advisors and Managers and another Humanitarian team in MC Country Office and all MC Humanitarian Operation Offices.

Knowledge and Experience

• BSc degree in Hydraulic and/or Water Resources Engineering, or related field.
• At least 8–10 years of experience in WASH engineering, designing and managing WASH projects including infrastructure development, including 5+ years in humanitarian or emergency contexts.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing WASH programs in displacement, conflict, drought, disease outbreaks, or flooding settings.
• Familiarity with USAID/BHA requirements.
• Advanced knowledge of solar‑powered water systems and sanitation technologies.
• Proven experience in the INGO sector is an advantage.
• Excellent team and interpersonal relationship skills, especially in a cross‑cultural setting, are required.
• Organized, reliable, and good communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and teamwork capability.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong project management, budgeting, and reporting skills.
• Technical proficiency in AutoCAD, EPANET, or similar engineering software.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in cross‑cultural settings.
• Ability to work independently under pressure and in insecure environments.
• Proficiency in English (required); local languages are an asset.

Desirable

• Prior WASH Cluster or coordination experience.
• Experience in integrating WASH with Health, Nutrition, Protection, or GBV programming.
• Knowledge of climate‑smart WASH technologies and anticipatory action approaches.

Success Factors

• Willingness to travel to project sites whenever necessary.
• Flexibility and accommodation in challenging conditions.
• Hard‑working, honest, dedicated, ability to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels – with colleagues, government and military officials, community leaders and community members.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience working closely with community volunteers and local authorities.
• Commitment to teamwork and gender equality.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in designing, monitoring, and evaluating our field projects.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Merit Based Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal‑opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek solid backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can collectively become stronger and have a sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where merit based equal employment opportunities are available to all.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary‑General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How To Apply

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents. Applications will not be returned and will be retained for future recruitment efforts. To ensure fairness to all applicants’ inquiries is not permitted.

Only candidates that are shortlisted will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

Deadline For All Applications

13 July 2025 / 4:00 PM