WASH Assistant - Tana River at Save the Children in Tana River, Kenya

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    WASH Assistant - Tana River

    Save the ChildrenTana River, Kenya

    Posted

    16 hours ago

    Apply by

    8 Oct

    Full Time
    On Site
    Mid
    Charity, NGO & Non-Profit
    Engineering & Technology

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    Job Description

    The WASH Assistant will support the WASH Officer in implementing quality WASH programmes, including WASH constructions, NFI distribution, hygiene promotion, and upscaling WASH'em services in Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, and Tana River. The role is oriented towards emergency response and El Niño preparedness, with a focus on integrating WASH with nutrition, food security, health, education, and child protection.

    Key Responsibilities

    • Assist the WASH Officer in follow-up and evaluation of activities related to the construction of WASH infrastructures in the communities, such as: Supervision of construction or rehabilitation of WASH facilities animal troughs, tank platforms, elevated tower tanks, reticulation systems, borehole equipping & solarization.
    • Hold project sites meeting with the contractors, community representatives to provide feedback on the projects.
    • Planning, organizing and follow up of Hygiene promotion for community including leading in distribution of WASH NFI to target communities: items include Jerricans, Buckets, Soap, PUR, Aquatabs etc.
    • Assist the WASH Officer in maintaining WASH documentation and support in documenting success stories from the communities served.
    • Assist the WASH Officer in the general supervision of contractors, ensuring the safety of construction sites and community participation.
    • Assist the WASH Officer in validating the progress and quality of work of the contractors and make the connection with the administration and logistics to ensure their payments.
    • Assist the WASH Officer in planning for field logistics for project monitoring and supervision.
    • Assist the WASH Officer in verifying that WASH infrastructure construction and rehabilitation works done by contractor are carried out according to quality standards established by Save the Children through quality checklists.
    • Plan and be responsible for the weekly reporting of data in order to follow up the standard project and strategic indicators number of beneficiaries, number and type of activities completed.
    • Writing daily report to WASH Officer, and verbal reports whenever necessary.
    • Support the WASH Officer in ensuring that construction works is integrated with hygiene promotion and community participation component, to ensure sustainability of the infrastructure built.
    • Coordinate WASH construction activities with other sectors of Save the Children, to integrate activities in the same geographical area and for the same beneficiaries.
    • Ensure the integration of gender, child protection, HIV, environment and other crosscutting issues to the design, implementation and development of WASH construction activities, and ensure that activities consider the needs of specific groups and individuals, especially children, the elderly and disabled.
    • 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.
    • 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.

    Required Qualifications

    • A degree or diploma in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Public Health and sanitation.
    • Professional experience of 2 years minimum in the field of WASH infrastructure construction in humanitarian or development context.
    • Experience of project management, implementing integrated Health and WASH projects within agreed timescales and budget limitations.
    • Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability in an emergency integrated Health and WASH context.
    • Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation.
    • Some experience of representation and ability to represent Save the Children effectively in external forums.
    • Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of the Save the Children's mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.
    • Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports.
    • Excellent communication skills.
    • Strong influencing skills.
    • Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
    • A high level of written and spoken English.
    • The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
    • Ability to speak and communicate in English/Kiswahili/Somali.
    • The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
    • The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

    Job Details

    Estimated Salary Range

    KES 40,000 – 60,000 / monthBased on Kenyan market rates for similar roles

    Job Function

    Engineering & Technology

    Minimum Experience

    2 years

    Education Level

    Bachelor’s Degree

    Area of Study

    Engineering

    Field of Study

    Civil Engineering

    Languages

    English, Kiswahili, Somali

    Additional Information

    How to Apply: Visit the application link provided on this page to submit your application for the WASH Assistant - Tana River role at Save the Children.

    Prove You Can Supervise WASH Construction in Arid Lands

    This role is about keeping boreholes, troughs, and reticulation systems moving while hygiene promotion and NFI distribution run alongside. Hiring managers will screen for field-ready engineers who can document quality, manage contractors, and work with communities in Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, or Tana River.

    1. Map your WASH construction experience to the exact assets: On your CV, list the specific infrastructure you have supervised: animal troughs, tank platforms, elevated tower tanks, reticulation systems, borehole equipping, or solarization. For each, note the location, contract value if known, and your role in quality checks. This shows you understand the technical scope, not just general construction.

    2. Show you can work with contractors and communities: The posting mentions site meetings with contractors and community representatives. Prepare examples where you gave feedback, resolved disputes, or ensured community participation. Interviewers often ask how you handled a contractor who fell behind on quality; have a clear story about using checklists and escalation.

    3. Bring proof of hygiene promotion and NFI distribution: You will lead distribution of jerricans, buckets, soap, PUR, and Aquatabs. Describe a time you organized a distribution, tracked beneficiaries, and linked it to hygiene messaging. Mention how you ensured women, children, and disabled people were included.

    4. Demonstrate monitoring and reporting discipline: Weekly data reporting on beneficiaries and activities is core. Be ready to talk about tools you have used, how you validated numbers, and how you wrote daily reports. If you have success stories documented, bring one that shows impact.

    5. Prepare for integration questions: Save the Children integrates WASH with nutrition, health, education, and child protection. Think of an example where you coordinated with another sector to avoid duplication or improve outcomes. This shows you can work beyond silos.

    6. Address the emergency context directly: The role is oriented to El Niño preparedness and emergency response. Show you understand the pressures: rapid assessments, insecure environments, and flexible logistics. If you have worked in arid or semi-arid lands, highlight how you adapted to water scarcity and long distances.

    7. Prove language and cultural sensitivity: English and Kiswahili are required, and Somali is an added advantage. If you speak Somali, state it clearly. Also prepare to discuss how you navigate cultural sensitivities, especially around gender and child protection in conservative communities.

    8. Align with Save the Children values: The posting stresses accountability, ambition, and child focus. In your application, use the STAR method to show how you managed resources efficiently or held a team accountable. Mention any experience with child safeguarding or equal opportunities policies.

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    Tags

    WASH
    construction
    hygiene promotion
    NGO
    emergency response