Water and Sanitation Advisor

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent, medical, emergency relief organisation that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and to offer medical care to victims of disasters, wars and epidemics. Working together with local staff, we give direct support to the population. MSF also appeals to those in power, including governments and international organisations, and speaks out about the abuses we encounter in the course of our work. The Dutch organisation ‘Artsen zonder Grenzen’ (MSF-Holland) is a member of the international organisation ‘Médecins Sans Frontières’.

 

MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in 25 countries. On a yearly basis MSF-Holland deploys approximately 900 international staff and employs 6,100 national staff. At headquarters in Amsterdam, around 180 employees offer their support to the projects.

 

With immediate effect we are looking for a:

 

Water and Sanitation Advisor (100%)

based in Amsterdam

 

The Public Health Department (PHD) of the Operations Centre Amsterdam (OCA) supports the overall purpose of MSF, providing medical and public health leadership for the organisation. The department is responsible for providing strategic direction and integrated advice on medical and public health issues to the field (projects or country management teams) and headquarters (operational managers in Amsterdam or Berlin). The department is made up of a group of generalist Health Advisors (based in Amsterdam and Berlin), working directly with operations managers and the field), a Water and Sanitation Unit and a group of specialists (HIV/AIDS, TB, nutrition etc.) so as to provide expert support in a range of fields.

 

 

The Water and Sanitation Advisor plays a critical role in translating appropriate water and sanitation strategies into field operations. This is done by proactively interacting with operation management, involving the PHD at head quarter level and involving the mission at field level, to trigger discussions over WatSan policies and implementation of activities. 

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: • S/he provides technical and strategic support to assigned project countries and coaches WatSan field staff.
• S/he actively monitors quality of programmes through reports, (de) briefings, field visits and communication with the field.
• S/he contributes to the development of relevant tools (guidelines and technical support documents), design and implementation of operational research and vision documents.
• S/he gives expert advice and technical support to colleagues across departments
• S/he develops and facilitates staff trainings.
• S/he participates in representing the WatSan Unit internally and the organisation externally from a Water and Sanitation perspective.
•  S/he initiates action in emergencies as WatSan Field Co-ordinator, as necessary.
 

PROFILE• Higher vocational education in Water and Sanitation, preferably Public Health Engineering or Environmental Health;
• Minimum 3 years field experience with MSF or other relief organisation in co-ordinator position in the field of WatSan;
• Flexibility to travel and support projects (up to 40% of the job will be spent on project visits);
• Ability to provide emergency support to field programmes for up to 6 weeks at short notice (i.e. 48 hrs) and work “hands-on”;
• Knowledge of the humanitarian world; affinity with the principles and objectives of MSF’s work;
• Strong coaching skills with adequate training experience to teach at internal and external courses.
• Fluency (written and spoken) in English and preferably French; other languages are an added value; Dutch is not essential;
• Sense of humour, good team-player, flexible, ability to work independently and under pressure.

WE ARE OFFERING A full-time appointment for one year with the option for renewal (we ask a commitment for period of at least three years). A gross salary in scale 6 of a minimum of € 2,598 and a maximum of € 3,712 per month, based on relevant work experience. A challenging position in an international environment. A premium free pension and 30 days’ holiday. 

 

 

INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

Further information can be obtained from Jeff Fesselet  (Coordinator Water and Sanitation Unit) on phone +31 20 520 8770.
If you are interested in this position, please send your Cover letter together with your Curriculum Vitaebefore 16 June 2014 (may be extended until position filled) to Jaline Wijkhuizen (Personnel Advisor):officejobs@amsterdam.msf.org mentioning ‘your name and ‘Water and Sanitation Advisor’. Could you also let us know where you came across our posting of this vacancy.