Chief WASH, P-4, FT, #011313, Ouagadougou -Burkina-Faso
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights as a calling.
Job Purpose
The Chief of WASH reports to the Deputy Representative and provides strategic leadership, overall management, and technical direction for the WASH programme. This role is responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, and reporting across all stages of the programme, from strategic formulation to the delivery of agreed outcomes and outputs in both humanitarian and development settings. The position involves leading and managing the WASH team, ensuring effective coordination with government counterparts, UN agencies, and partners, and promoting integrated, cross-sectoral approaches with Health, Nutrition, Education, and Child Protection. The Chief of WASH is accountable for achieving results in line with approved plans and budgets, adhering to results-based management principles, UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, Core Commitments for Children, and organizational standards for quality, accountability, and risk management, with a focus on equity, access in insecure areas, emergency preparedness, and climate resilience.
Responsibilities
The Chief of WASH provides managerial leadership and strategic direction for the WASH programme, overseeing its development and planning phases. Key responsibilities include effective programme management, monitoring progress, and ensuring the delivery of results in alignment with UNICEF's goals and standards. The role involves providing crucial advisory services and technical support to stakeholders, fostering advocacy efforts, and building strong partnerships with government bodies, UN agencies, and other relevant organizations. A significant aspect of the role is ensuring robust humanitarian WASH preparedness and response capabilities, including coordination during emergencies. Furthermore, the Chief of WASH is expected to drive innovation within the WASH sector, facilitate knowledge management, and support capacity building initiatives for staff and partners. This includes promoting integrated approaches with other sectors like Health, Nutrition, Education, and Child Protection, and ensuring that all WASH activities uphold human rights, gender equality, equity, and climate resilience, particularly in development and humanitarian contexts.
Work Experience
A minimum of eight years of professional experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required, including at least one year of deployment in a developing country. Proven ability to effectively lead a team to deliver results is essential. Additionally, at least one year of work experience in humanitarian situations, including one three-month mission deployment with a UN agency, government, or INGO, is required.
Skills
Rural water supply (low- and middle-income countries), Rural sanitation (low- and middle-income countries, CATS principles), Urban sanitation (low- and middle-income countries), Handwashing with soap, WASH-in-Schools and Health Centres, Menstrual hygiene management, National government WASH policies, plans and strategies, Humanitarian WASH preparedness, response, and recovery, Humanitarian WASH coordination, Programme/project management, Capacity development, Monitoring and evaluation