Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Officer - Caracas, Venezuela/National Position

**APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS IN SPANISH OR ENGLISH ARE WELCOMED/SE ACEPTAN SOLICITUDES EN ESPAÑOL O INGLÉS

About Mercy Corps**

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program

Mercy Corps has been operating in Venezuela since 2018 implementing humanitarian and development programs, with special emphasis on water, sanitation and hygiene, health, protection, food security, and nutrition, and plays a key role in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information relevant to the humanitarian community in the country. The team is expanding its programs and its team at the country level, and is therefore hiring a Senior WASH Officer to assist with all WASH-related activities.

The Position 
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Officer is responsible for supporting the WASH-related activities in the implemented in the assigned State of the country. The WASH Officer will directly report to the Senior Field Officer yet has a dotted line of support to the Senior WASH Officer. The Officer also supports coordination with local partners on WASH related topics, . This position includes overall management of daily activities and management of staff, ensuring appropriate systems and support mechanisms are in place to track, analyze and report on results as well as engagement with senior management on the strategic direction of the country program start up and the emergency response programming. Training in Mercy Corps systems and procedures will be provided.

**Essential Job Responsibilities
**
STRATEGY & VISION

• Supports the response strategic planning process and provide regular updates.
• Support activities to secure resources for programs.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Provide input on future programming and program adaptation.
• Provide frequent updates and reports that contribute to the development of technical updates and designs for future programming.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Support partners to ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Support partners to ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Oversees the deployment, implementation and closure of WASH related activities .
• Promote Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Help develop and implement needs assessment and data compilation in WASH related activities.
• Provide technical support to the field teams and mentor assist program staff in the field with monitoring WASH activities, including rehabilitation/renovation of water and sanitation systems, solid waste management, excreta disposal, hygiene promotion and emergency water supply.
• Communicate project work plans to the Senior Field Officer and Senior WASH Officer.
• Ensure documentation and filing of project activities in compliance with Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Work with other field technical staff and the Senior Field Officer to manage collaborative partnerships and ensure timely delivery of activities.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Participate in local working groups, meetings, or events, as appropriate.
• Implement procurement plans based on project cycle for WASH and infrastructure work.
• Support MEL staff on the compilation of data for reporting purposes.

TEAM CULTURE

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
• Ensure strong communication and relationships with partners

SECURITY

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

Supervisory Responsibility
None

Accountability 
Reports Directly To: Senior Field Officer with a dotted line to the Sr. WASH Officer
Works Directly With: other response team members in the local office, technical team in the field office, operations and logistics team in the field.
Collaborates With: additional field and headquarters-based support departments as needed

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

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

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

• BA/S or equivalent in relevant field required;
• 1 - 3 years of field experience in relief or development programs.
• Capacity building and field management experience.
• Proven skills in financial and grants management; prior experience with emergency response grant management for both private and institutional donors desired.
• Knowledge of SPHERE and other humanitarian programming standards is desirable.
• Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required;
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

Success Factors 
They will be capable of multitasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building. The WASH Officer will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Caracas, Venezuela and will require occasional travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services.

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

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

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 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 and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies andvalues at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.