WASH Associate (WASH Construction and Operation Engineer)

Since 2012, UNICEF Jordan Country Office has been playing an integral part of the humanitarian response for Syrian refugees in Jordan. As Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector lead, UNICEF is leading the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene promotion assistance to the refugees in Azraq and Rukban, among other refugee camps, as well as in host communities, including schools and other institutions. Azraq Refugee camp is among the main locations where UNICEF is providing humanitarian WASH assistance which hosts more than 40,000 refugees.

In Azraq refugee camp, UNICEF is providing water at a daily average of 2,400,000 liters, through an internal system composed of two boreholes and a distribution system composed of main pipelines, storage locations and communal distribution points. At the moment, UNICEF is conducting interventions to expand the water network to reach plot level connections. In addition to water supply, UNICEF is also managing wastewater services which collects a daily amount of 700 to 900 m3 through desludging trucks which collect wastewater from the septic tanks of the communal WASH units. 

In the Rukban area, UNICEF is providing Water Supply, Hygiene Promotion, and Solid Waste Management services. The water supply infrastructure in Rukban consists of a Borehole and water treatment system and two pumping stations, along with a pipeline connecting the production and storage sites, and pipelines that go across the border to the Rukban settlement where water is distributed through distribution points.

To monitor and manage the construction and operation of the water and wastewater networks, UNICEF has a team of Officers and engineers covering the interventions in Azraq and Rukban who follow up with the contractors and relevant partners on the operation on a daily basis. The team’s role includes monitoring of the water supply schedule, addressing the community feedbacks, and coordinating with all stakeholders on the construction and operation of water and wastewater networks.  The WASH Associate who will be recruited for this post will work with this team to maintain the networks, follow up on construction, and to monitor the water supply, and follow up on all daily O&M issues for both Azraq and Rukban.

Under the Supervision of the WASH Officer,  WASH Operation Engineer is expected to fulfill the following tasks and responsibilities : 

• Track and monitor the water supply schedule by making sure that water amounts are available and supply is according to the camps (Azraq and Rukban) standards and agreed shares. 

• Work closely with the WASH team in the Azraq/Rukban to address all daily complaints on water supply and wastewater networks. 

• Act as focal point for all boreholes in the camps and coordinating with the contractor to ensure that water supply from the wells doesn’t have any issues and as per the standards. 

• Responsible for tracking the maintenance and inventory of all parts and fittings in the boreholes inside Azraq and Rukban including keeping records, data sheets, maintenance reports, and log reports.  

• Follow up on any WASH construction works and needs in the camps in coordination with the contractors and partners. 

• Prepare weekly and monthly reports on the water share, supply cycles, and develop tracking records for that.  

• Work with the contractor on monitoring leaks, water losses and blockages in the networks by having daily and weekly track records and log sheets.  

• Follow up and monitor the daily water balance sheet which indicates the daily demand, daily  supply, and daily defect. 

• Manage and follow up with UNHCR and the contractor on all relocation, new shelters,  and new connections cases and ensuring delivery of service to refugees. 

• Attend all operational and WASH meetings and contribute to the monitoring of water supply and wastewater management inside the camps. 

• Follow up on the weekly and monthly O&M reports which the contractor submits and ensure accuracy and value of reporting.

• Follow up with MOH on quality testing for the supplied water to the community and develop tracking sheets for all quality monitoring records. 

• Work with the contractor and partners on solving all hotline complaints and making sure that all issues on ground are addressed effectively. 

• Conduct weekly inspect visits to the boreholes and pump station to follow up on the conditions of parts and elements. Report any O&M issues directly to the contractor. 

• Contribute to improvement of asset management of the network and providing all needed data, information, specifications, drawings, to the asset management officer. 

• Coordinate with official and security agency in the camps.

Functional competencies:

• Technical competency
• Drive for results 
• Analytical 
• Reliable and able to work under pressure
• Capable of working in a multi-national/cultural environment
• Excellent communications skills
• Strong organizing ability
• Flexibility
• Ability to learn 
• Initiative 

• Bachelor degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering

• Minimum 4 yrs of relevant experience to the position. 

• Experience in refugee camps context is an asset. 

• Experience in managing and operating water and wastewater networks is an asset 

• Any training course in the construction of water and wastewater networks is an asset 

• Computer skills ( Word, Excel, PowerPoint …etc) 

• Knowledge of construction and WASH projects.

1. Contract type: ICA
2. Contract level: Local ICA Support, level 6
3. Contract duration: 8 months subject to extension

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.