Project Manager, USAID-funded Marburg Virus Disease WASH Response

Job Title: Project Manager, USAID-funded Marburg Virus Disease WASH Response

Duration: 6-month contract, with possible extension

Monthly Basic Salary: 2,050,000 RWF with a completion bonus of 4,000,000 RWF at the end of the service.

Hiring Organization: Water For People

Reports to: Chief of Party, USAID-funded Isoko y’Ubuzima Project

Supervisory Duties: Infection Prevention and Control Specialist and Engineers

Duty of station: Kigali

Organizational Context:

Water For People is an international non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services with a vision of a world where every person has access to reliable and safe water and sanitation services.

With a shared passion for our mission, our values guide how we act and interact based on five core pillars:

• Collective Transformation:We believe in the power of collective
• Environmental Stewardship:We are committed to being responsible stewards of the environment.
• Integrity:We act honestly and transparently to inspire trust.
• Courage:We encourage brave exploration of new ideas and informed risk-taking.
• Amplify all Voices:By putting people first, celebrating diversity, and pursuing justice, we prioritize our shared humanity.

Please visit https://www.waterforpeople.org/to learn more about who we are and what we do.

Isoko y’Ubuzima is a 5-year USAID-funded project implemented from July 2021 through July 2026 by a consortium led by Water For People to improve WASH service delivery. Other members of the consortium are IRC, Vitens Evides International (VEI), CARE International, and African Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE). The overall goal of Isoko y’Ubuzima is to improve access to sustainable water and sanitation services.

Under the USAID-funded Isoko y’Ubuzima project, Water For People may receive funds to implement targeted WASH intervention in response to Rwanda’s Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak. The $1 million project will focus on enhancing WASH infrastructure and promoting hygiene in healthcare facilities and public places to reduce MVD transmission.

Position Objective:

Under the responsibility of the Chief of Party, the Project Manager will oversee the implementation of the WASH MVD response activities funded by USAID, ensuring the timely and effective execution of WASH assessments, infrastructure projects, and social and behavior change (SBC) initiatives.

This role will require strong project management skills, collaboration with field staff, and compliance with USAID requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Coordination

• Develop and maintain detailed project work plans in line with the six-month response plan.
• Coordinate the assessment of WASH infrastructure and hygiene practices in health centers and public places across the targeted districts.
• Work closely with the Isoko y’Ubuzima senior management team to ensure that construction, rehabilitation, and supply activities are delivered on schedule.
• Identify and monitor risks, constraints, or escalating issues, and inform the hierarchy accordingly.
• Represent the Isoko y’Ubuzima project externally and collaborate/coordinate with the Ministry of Health, local authorities, counterparts, partners, and stakeholders.

Infrastructure Development

• Oversee the construction of new handwashing facilities and the rehabilitation of existing facilities in health facilities and public places like markets, bus stations, and border posts to strengthen infection prevention and control.
• Coordinate with contractors and Isoko y’Ubuzima engineers to ensure that infrastructure meets quality and accessibility standards, including facilities for people with disabilities.
• Facilitate the development of operation and maintenance manuals for handwashing stations and sanitation facilities to increase their use and sustainability.

SBC Activities

• Work with CARE to design and implement hygiene SBC activities in targeted sites.
• Ensure the production and dissemination of educational materials that promote hygiene and sanitation to prevent MVD transmission.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

• Work with the Isoko y’Ubuzima MEL Manager to establish and maintain a project monitoring plan, tracking progress against objectives, including facility functionality, hygiene practices, and community engagement metrics.
• Conduct regular data quality assessments and report results to USAID every month.
• Document lessons learned and best practices to inform future WASH interventions and share insights with partners and stakeholders.
• Prepare narrative programmatic reports for the donor on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.

Financial and Administrative Oversight

• Supervise the IPC Specialist and engineers working on this emergency project.
• Manage the project’s budget, ensuring proper allocation across infrastructure, training, and community engagement activities.
• Work with the Finance Manager to prepare financial reports and ensure expenditures align with USAID guidelines and Water For People policies.
• Track and manage risks, providing timely updates to the Chief of Party.

Qualifications:

• Education:Bachelor’s degree in project management, Civil Engineering, Environmental Health, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.

• Experience:Minimum of five years in project management, with at least three in WASH or public health sectors; experience with USAID-funded projects is an advantage.

Skills and Competencies Desired:

• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with WASH infrastructure construction/rehabilitation and hygiene SBC.
• Experience in infection prevention and control during virus outbreak responses.
• Familiarity with data-driven project management and monitoring techniques.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with fluency in English and Kinyarwanda.
• Knowledge of the Rwandan administrative framework.
• Sound ethical principles, integrity, and transparency of the due process

Employment Conditions:

• This employment is conditioned upon Water For People’s receipt of funds from USAID.
• The position will be based in Kigali, Rwanda, with frequent travel to targeted districts, including Gasabo, Kicukiro, Nyarugenge, Kamonyi, Gatsibo, and Nyagatare.
• Six-month contract, with potential for extension based on funding, need, and performance.
• Compliance with USAID and Water For People standards and policies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Water For People is committed to protecting children encountered during our work and by our employees, preventing sexual abuse and exploitation of all individuals with a particular focus on women and children and other marginalized communities in the performance of our work, preventing human trafficking in the performance of our work and in our supply chain and to having a drug-free workplace. During the recruitment processes, additional documentation will be requested to comply with our policies and in accordance with the legal requirements in your country of residency, this includes a background check. If you apply for employment, we want you to be aware of our recruitment, selection, and hiring processes including important policies regarding employee conduct.

Water For People is an equal opportunity employer who is committed to creating a culture of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. Water for People strives to create and maintain alevel of diversity that reflects the communities we serve. Achieving this regardless of race, ethnicity, ancestry, tribal affiliation, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, veteran status, disability,socioeconomic class, educational attainment, Parental status, genetic information, political affiliation or other social identities is critical to our ability to have a world where every person has access to reliable and safe water and sanitation services.

Our commitment ensures that we:  

• Have a different array of thinking that comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling us to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.
• Strive for a culture of inclusion and belonging by treating each other with dignity, respect, and appreciation enabling us to feel welcome, supported, and valued.
• Effectively connect, communicate, and build long-lasting relationships with stakeholders within our diverse communities.
• Have a diversity of thought, perspectives, backgrounds, identities, and talents that will support our mission to develop high-quality drinking water and sanitation services that are available to Everyone Forever.

Safeguarding

Water for People is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees, volunteers and partners to share the same commitment. We believe every employee, stakeholder and every member of the communities we work with has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, discrimination, intimidation and exploitation – regardless of age, race, religion, and gender, status as an individual with a disability or ethnic origin. Water for People holds a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation, discrimination, exploitation, abuse and harassment. Violations to stated policies will be subject to corrective action up to and including termination of contract.

Note: Women are encouraged to apply.

If interested click this link to apply .

 Deadline for application is 6^th December 2024