WASH and Construction Officer - Katsina

Job Title:

WASH and Construction Officer.

Team/Programme:

Katsina, Nigeria

Grade:

4

Contract Length:

1 year with the possibility of extension

Child Safeguarding:

Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

Role Purpose:

Save the Children Nigeria is implementing a two-year ECHO-HIP-funded integrated Education in Emergencies (EiE) and Child Protection response project in Yobe and Katsina States, aimed at restoring safe, inclusive, and protective learning environments for crisis-affected girls and boys, including children with disabilities.

The programme combines Accelerated Basic Education for out-of-school and overage learners with Literacy/Numeracy Boost and Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approaches in formal schools to support learning recovery, reduce dropout, and promote reintegration into education. School safety and safeguarding will be strengthened through teacher training, child help desks, and risk-informed programming. In addition, the rehabilitation of classrooms and WASH in Schools infrastructure will improve safety, accessibility, ventilation, and lighting, including disability-friendly features such as ramps to the leaners.

The WASH and Construction Officer will be responsible for the technical oversight of all construction-related activities, including feasibility assessments, design preparation, BoQ development, tender documentation, and procurement support in collaboration with the Supply Chain team. The role will also provide supervision of contractors, conduct regular field monitoring, and ensure compliance with SCI construction standards in close coordination with the Education team, Supply Chain and relevant stakeholders in Katsina and Yobe States.

Scope of Role:

Reports to: Programme Manager – ECHO

Reports: Technical reporting line: WASH and Construction Technical Advisor

Staff reporting to this post: None

Role Dimensions: Field office-based position with at least 40% field visit.

Key Areas of Accountability:

• Conduct needs assessments in selected schools in coordination with Education and CP teams
• Undertake feasibility studies for classrooms, Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS), WASH facilities, and rehabilitation works
• Conduct site verification, including land availability, safety, and hazard assessments
• Prepare architectural/engineering designs, drawings, BoQs, specifications, and cost estimates
• Supervise construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, TLS, latrines, handwashing facilities, and boreholes
• Ensure compliance with SCI construction standards and technical specifications
• Conduct regular site visits and prepare monitoring reports using standardized tools
• Develop and apply construction quality checklists
• Verify completed works and support certification for payment and final handover
• Support Supply Chain in preparation of tender documents and technical evaluations
• Participate in pre-bid meetings and ensure contractor understanding of scope of work
• Review contractor invoices and verify progress before payment certification
• Monitor contractor performance and compliance with contract terms
• Engage School Management Committees and community stakeholders throughout implementation
• Maintain effective communication with communities on project progress and issues
• Coordinate with government counterparts and relevant stakeholders at LGA and state levels
• Prepare periodic technical, progress, and completion reports
• Ensure Child Safeguarding Risk Assessments are conducted for all construction activities
• Ensure compliance with SCI safeguarding, Do No Harm principles, and H&S standards
• Support final inspection and issuance of completion certificates

Capacity Building:

• Build capacity of partners and SCI staff on hygiene promotion and WASH practices
• Support community mobilisation activities integrating hygiene promotion
• Represent SCI in technical coordination forums and interagency working groups as required
• Contribute to communication and learning products where necessary

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Ensure that Save the Children's work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and Government and support Interagency Coordination Sub Working Group, advocating for the specific needs of children. This may involve supporting the coordination of working groups and sub-working groups.
• Under the guidance of the Project Manager, WASH and Construction TA, the Officer will ensure that the ECHO funded project is implemented in selected communities in line with WASH and construction minimum standards.
• Contribute to communications and media work as required.

General:

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Other ad hoc tasks as requested by Line Manager

Behaviours (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering/ Architecture or related field;
• Minimum 3 years of relevant working experience preferably in a humanitarian/recovery context;
• Experience on Construction and WASH related projects specially on design and construction of infrastructures.
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile

Experience and Skills:

• Previous experience with other local and international NGOs
• Training and experience on borehole and VIP latrine construction/rehabilitation
• Community mobilization and advocacy experience
• Computer literacy (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, AutoCAD and Epanet)
• Ability to work in partnership with government and other NGO staff
• Good interpersonal skills
• Independence, adaptability, and flexibility with good workload management, multitasking and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills
• Listening skills.
• Problem analysis and problem-solving.
• Proficient in relevant computer applications.
• Ability to work as part of a team, flexible, adaptable, and patient.
• Ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with mapping field equipment and software
• Experience with emergency water supply systems
• Familiarity with population fluxes and water supply management in the context of emergencies

Additional Job Responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities:

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy

Health and Safety:

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.