Afghanistan PHE Technical Specialist

Afghanaid is seeking a PHE Technical Specialist for its Afghanistan operations. The PHE Specialist will be responsible for leading the Public Health Engineering component of specific WASH projects and initiatives in line with Afghanaid strategy and priorities. The role involves steering and overseeing the design, development and implementation of public health engineering component of WASH projects to ensure compliance with technical standards approved by Government of Afghanistan (Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development/MRRD) and best practice within Afghanistan. The role will be overally in charge of ensuring the availability and sustenance of adequate PHE staff capacity within the organisation and in building their capacity. The post holder will take lead in ensuring the timely and quality delivery of PHE work within the organisation, including providing specific advice and guidance to managers and employees on a variety of PHE related issues. Post holder will be responsible for engaging relevant government authorities and other actors (NGOs, research bodies, UN agencies) on technical, programmatic and knowledge generation aspects of public health engineering.

In particular, candidates should possess vast experience

a) Carrying out the selection, design and construction of water systems, using ground water or surface water, including abstraction, storage, treatment and distribution for new systems or rehabilitation of existing systems.

b) Selecting, designing and implementating appropriate forms of sanitation systems, in consultation with the beneficiaries, which includes excreta disposal, refuse disposal, vector control and drainage

c) Liaising closely with the Public Health Promotion Team throughout the planning, design and implementation stages of the Public Health Engineering Programmes.

d) Assessing emergency needs, taking into account the broader perspective of Public Health Engineering.

e) Strengthening PHE’s water, sanitation and health and hygiene promotion technical capacities within a developing nation. South Asia specific experience is an added advantage.

To be effective in this role, candidates should possess a post-graduation qualification in Civil Engineering/Water Engineering discipline. Experience and/or good understanding of the link between WASH hardware and software, e.g. between watsan infrastructure and community mobilisation & hygiene activities is essential, as is the hands on experience and a well developed understanding of CLTS methodology. Candidates should also have adequate communication skills with fluency in written and verbal English and in Dari (Pashtuwill be an advantage). Demostrated commitment to humanitarian principles and to women's equal opportunity and gender equality is important, as is experience in integrating gender and diversity issues into water and sanitation programmes.

Interested candidates should view the full job profile attached. Applications with detailed CV should reach the Akausa@afghanaid.org.uk by 4th July 2011. Due to the urgency in recruiting for this position, applications will be viewed as they come and interviews may be conducted before the closing date.