WASH and Construction Coordinator

Do you want to fight for equality? Tackling inequality at its roots, together with colleagues, our partner organizations and activists in more than 90 countries? To change the systems behind it, once and for all!

Oxfam Novib stands behind the people who stand up for equality. Together, we fight for a world where everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of religion, ethnicity, sex, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. A world where everyone feels safe; where income gaps are shrinking instead of growing, where climate change is tackled firmly. 

Equality is the common thread in our work, both internally and externally. We recognize that our team of colleagues can become even more diverse, and that only with a diverse team can we gain a broad perspective on the world. Therefore, we want to encourage everyone who is interested to apply. Our aim is to create an environment where colleagues feel welcome and diversity is embraced and celebrated.

Our aim is to build a team that offers a rich variety of perspectives, enabling us to achieve an inclusive and inspiring work environment.

Apply and become part of Oxfam Novib!

Duty station: Oxfam Mogadishu, Hargeisa or Garowe office (depending on the preferred location of the selected candidate). Position involves frequent travel (<50%) to operational areas.

Type of appointment: Fixed term contract

Contract duration: 12 months with possibility of renewal

Work schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week)

Reports to: Humanitarian Program Lead

Type of posting: Single Posting

Salary & Scale: €3830 to 5759, based on Oxfam Novib scale 709. National candidates are invited to apply but will receive a contract based on national terms and conditions.

TEAM PURPOSE: The Humanitarian & Resilience team works with partners and communities before, during, and after crises to enhance resilience to climate and fragility, save lives, and tackle the root causes of conflict and disasters.

JOB PURPOSE: The WASH & Construction Coordinator will provide strategic and technical leadership across Oxfam's WASH and construction programs. This role focuses on both infrastructure (water supply systems, sanitation, buildings, etc.) while providing supervision to public health promotion and community engagement. The WASH & Construction Coordinator collaborates with sectoral leads (e.g., Food and Economic Security, Protection, Gender), Program Managers, local partners, thematic leads (e.g., Gender Justice, Inclusive Governance), and support units (e.g., Business Development, Program Quality, Logistics, Finance) to ensure an integrated humanitarian response and resilience-building that aligns with Oxfam’s country strategy and standards.

Key responsibilities 

Sector Strategy and Program Development

• Lead the development of strategies and context-specific plans for WASH & Construction programming, ensuring alignment with Oxfam’s quality standards and operational context.
• Conduct strategic analyses, integrating field and national assessments, conflict analysis, protection and gender considerations to guide effective program strategies and contribute to advocacy and policy initiatives.
• Design and develop high-quality needs assessment and analyses, project proposals, budgets, and concept notes and internal and external reports.
• Contribute to the broader strategic planning process - contingency planning, preparedness, anticipatory and early action and multi-sector response planning and programme design initiatives by providing technical guidance and support on Protection in the planning and design phase.
• Support cross-departmental integration with food and economic security, Gender, and advocacy teams to ensure cohesive, multisectoral responses.
• Facilitate a balanced focus on both hardware (infrastructure) and software (behaviour change and hygiene promotion and community engagement) components. Collaborate with WASH colleagues in confederation (e.g., OiA, GHT etc.) to incorporate best practices and quality assurance standards.
• Advocate for and develop partnerships with local and international stakeholders, representing Oxfam’s WASH and construction agenda in clusters, consortia, and coordination meetings.
  
  

Technical support, oversight and coordination

• Oversee design, construction, and quality assurance of all WASH infrastructure, ensuring compliance with international standards, Oxfam policies, and applicable national guidelines and other sector-specific guidelines.
• Support teams in the development of Bill of Quantities (BoQs), technical specifications, drawings, and procurement requirements for WASH-related contracts.
• Lead and supervise project management for WASH and construction initiatives, coordinating resources, budgets, and timelines to ensure timely completion.
• Develop technical standard operating procedures and quality benchmarks, guidelines, tools, etc. in close coordination with the Oxfam in Africa/Global WASH Advisers and support team and partners to adopt, implement it.
• Conduct regular site visits to assess progress, review implementation plans, quality, and impact, providing feedback for adjustments and provide technical support as necessary.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government entities, the WASH Cluster, technical working groups, and local partners, representing Oxfam’s WASH & Construction interests in relevant forums.
• Identify and address learning needs for WASH and construction staff and partners, enhancing technical skills and project management capabilities to build a cohesive, effective team focused on quality program delivery.
• Support partners in strengthening their technical and organizational capacities, in line with Oxfam’s localization objectives and the Grand Bargain commitments.
• Contribute to MEAL processes for WASH & Construction programming, including the design of logical frameworks, indicators, and data collection methods to measure program impact effectively.
• Document and share key learnings from WASH & Construction projects with internal teams and external stakeholders, feeding insights back into program improvement and policy advocacy efforts.
• Engage in national and regional advocacy efforts to influence WASH & Construction related policies, contributing to WASH Cluster and other coordination mechanisms.
• Promote Oxfam’s values and visibility by representing the organization in forums, partnerships, and collaborations that support Oxfam’s vision for humanitarian preparedness, resilience, and gender-sensitive and transformative programming.

Who are we looking for?

• Bachelor/Mater degree in public health engineering.
• Minimum 10 years of experience (with bachelor’s degree)/ 7 years’ experience – if has Master level degree) in humanitarian and resilience programming, with at least 2 to 3 years in a leadership role within WASH & Construction, ideally in fragile contexts.
• Skills and experience of using AUTO-CAD, WATERCAD-GEMS and other relevant software.
• Skill and experience of preparing engineering designs and drawings, bill of quantity, material and service specifications and construction plans in-line with international and national applicable standard.
• Strong knowledge of market-based WASH programming and safe programming approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships, foster collaboration, and work effectively within multicultural teams.
• Proven expertise in designing, implementing, and managing multisectoral programs that integrate WASH, FES, gender, protection, and resilience approaches.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills in English and Somali.
• Advanced interpersonal skills, with experience in community engagement, policy advocacy, and representation in external forums.
• Knowledge and understanding of global justice, social change, women’s rights and gender equality and commitment to delivering humanitarian work through feminist principles.
• Commitment to supporting national and local actors, and to changing the power dynamics within the international humanitarian system for greater inclusion, accountability, and impact. Familiarity with the ambitions of the Grand Bargain and Charter for Change.
• Result driven collaboration, networking skills and experience.  
• Skilled user of Windows operating system and MS Office applications.
• Self-Awareness
• Systems Thinking
• Relationship building

Working at Oxfam Novib

• All our work is guided by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.
• At Oxfam Novib, we work according to the Feminist Principles - Oxfam Policy & Practice.
• Oxfam Novib is committed to offering you a motivating work environment at our offices. We offer a one-year contract from start (including a 1-month trial period), with the possibility to extend.

Additional information

• Do you believe that this is the job you are looking for? Then we would love to meet you! Please send your resume and cover letter via our application portal.
• If you have questions regarding the position, please contact InternationalHRBusinessSup@oxfamnovib.nl
• Only applications received before the closing date 31 October 2025 and submitted via our application portal will be considered.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly invited to apply.
• This vacancy is open to both internal and external candidates, with priority given to internal applicants who are qualified or can develop quickly. We encourage growth and opportunities within our organization while warmly welcoming new talent with fresh ideas and expertise!
• Oxfam Novib seeks talented individuals who share our values and commitment to preventing misconduct. We maintain a strict policy against all forms of abuse, exploitation, power abuse, and financial misconduct, which is also integrated into our recruitment process. As part of a job offer, we request valid references, and candidates may undergo integrity screenings, including criminal record and financial background checks.
• Oxfam Novib reserves the right, to its sole discretion, not to make agreements regarding this job opening, make an agreement at a lower level, or make an agreement with an amended job description.