ThaiNGO

Location: Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand

Application deadline: 24 March 2017

Duration of Assignment: Untill 31 December 2017 with posibility of extension depending on funding and program needs

Background/IRC Summary:  

Background/IRC Summary:  The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and currently provides assistance to displaced persons in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Mae Hong Son provinces.

Job Overview/Summary:

IRC provides primary health care and environmental health services in several refugee camps in Thailand. IRC and community-based partner organizations provide preventive and curative health care services in the camps, including primary health care, reproductive health, neonatal care and health education. As a critical component of disease prevention the IRC ensures access to safe water improved sanitation and hygiene promotion Environmental health (EH) activities include maintenance of water supply infrastructure and chlorination systems, support to the maintenance of household sanitation including latrine desludging and replacement, solid waste disposal services, drainage works, vector control, hygiene promotion, provision of WASH services in health facilities to ensure quality of care.

Under the overall guidance of the Health Coordinator, and under the direct supervision of the Environmental Health (EH) Manager, the Environmental Health Officer is responsible for implementing environmental health / WASH activities in the Tak refugee camps.

Major Responsibilities:

• Conduct and support camp-based EH activities and coach camp-based EH staff / camp-based water committee in provision of continual on the job technical support.
• Work with EH team by supporting the EH Manager in the development of the IRC-EH annual workplan.
• Adhere to and implement programming in accordance with global standards as defined by IRC technical units, SPHERE, UN organizations, WHO and other expert entities in the water and sanitation (WASH) arena.
• Monitor EH / WASH activities.
• Control and maintain water quality by installation completion of new chlorination system on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Develop manuals for training on chlorination for water testing and chlorination procedures, etc.
• Ensure that randomization and sampling methods are correctly applied in the periodic EH surveys, and monthly random sampling of water quality tests.
• Assist the Environmental Health Manager in designing and supervising construction of appropriate water supply networks, reservoirs, and chlorination systems, source upgrades, washing areas, latrines and waste management facilities serving refugee households, schools and health facilities. This includes the development of technical specifications to meet local and international standards for WASH in these settings.
• Assist the Environmental Health Manager in procurement of materials supplies and completing documentation as necessary in transporting them to the camps.
• Ensure the Sewage Treatment Unit is properly operated.
• Responsible for the effective and appropriate utilization of EH materials and supplies. Ensure the assets of EH office in the camps are being utilized well and kept in good conditions.
• Work closely with the IRC community health team in the implementation of the IRC community health and hygiene activities and promotion campaigns as necessary.
• Coordinate community participation in water and waste management; maximize community acceptance of responsibility.
• Work closely with the IRC community health team on household and community activities regarding: use and maintenance of latrines, waste/wastewater disposal, and water supply, and in coordination with the health team, outbreak control.
• Provide technical and operational assistance to the Environmental Health Manager on the improvement of water and sanitation in special situation, such as during disease outbreaks.
• Assist in ensuring development, documentation, and implementation of written protocols and standard operating procedures for water, sanitation and waste management activities.
• Assist in collecting and updating program data leading to completion of reports in a timely manner, both internally and for donor reports.
• Conduct training, refresher training and in-service training and orient camp-based water committee, EH camp-based assistants, community-based organizations and other staff as necessary.

Job Requirements:

Education: Degree or diploma in Environmental Health or Sanitation, Water Engineering, Civil Engineering, Hydrology.

Work Experience: Minimum 2 years working experience in water supply, water resource management, sanitation and hygiene in a refugee setting.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Strong technical background in environmental health. Construction and design skills are an advantage.
• Experience in environmental health / WASH services delivery and ability to develop WASH activities from a community development approach; experience in monitoring and supervision of WASH / EH activities.
• Experience in working with multicultural staff and ability to work with sizeable multi-cultural team delivering assistance involving a wide array of program stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Computer literate.
• Professional demeanours.
• Experience in implementation of communicable disease outbreaks investigations and response is an advantage.

Language Skills:  Fluency in English. Burmese, Thai, or Karen is a plus

Working Environment: The position will be based in the IRC office in Mae Sot, with extensive travel to the temporary shelters.

HOW TO APPLY: Application letter and most recent CV in English stating qualifications and experience should be submitted to the IRC Human Resources Department at Thailand.HR@rescue.org

All applications will be treated confidentially and not returned. The IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or physical or mental disability. The IRC is an equal opportunity employer.