Water and Sanitation Construction Engineer

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. Driven by a vision of a better world where all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably, SNV strengthens capacities and catalyses partnerships that transform agri-food, energy, and water systems. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.

With 60 years of experience and a team of approximately 1,600 people, we support our partners in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia, tailoring our approaches to different contexts to achieve large-scale impact and create more equitable lives for all.

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For more information on SNV, please refer to our website: www.snv.org  

Project background 

The Clean Faces, Clean Environment – A Path to Sustaining Trachoma Elimination is a 5-year project funded by the Fred Hollows Foundation. The [project aims to accelerate and sustain the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region. Trachoma remains a leading cause of preventable blindness, primarily linked to poor hygiene and environmental sanitation.

Building on the WASH for Trachoma Elimination (WASHTra I & II) initiatives, the project promotes facial cleanliness, hygiene behaviour, and community-led waste management. It applies SNV’s Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for All (SSH4A) approach and the Behaviour Centred Design (BCD) framework to ensure lasting behavioural change. The project aligns with the national SAFE strategy and the Total Sanitation to End Open Defecation and Urination (TSEDU)–Ethiopia initiative.

The project adopts a five-year phased leadership transition from SNV to the Oromia Health Bureau (OHB): SNV leads and builds capacity (Years 1–3), followed by joint implementation (Year 4), OHB-led activities with SNV support and full OHB leadership with SNV advisory (Year 5). The project aligns with government-led initiatives, including the One WASH National Program, a national campaign aimed at eliminating open defecation by 2030 and one of the Bureau of Health’s key priorities.

The project will be implemented in 49 woredas across six zones of Oromia Regional State: Arsi, East Hararghe, East Shewa, Guji, Jimma, and West Hararghe.

Purpose of the Job

The Water and Sanitation Construction Engineer will lead the technical design, quality assurance, and implementation oversight of water supply and sanitation infrastructure under the project. The Engineer will work closely with local government institutions, communities, and private sector partners to ensure the delivery of climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable WASH services that support trachoma elimination efforts. The Engineer will also serve as a liaison with government water offices, the One WASH National Program (OWNP), and other NGOs engaged in water-related initiatives to enhance coordination and leverage resources.

Technical Design and Implementation

• Lead the rehabilitation and repair of existing water supply systems, sanitation facilities, and handwashing infrastructure in schools, Health facilities and communities in the target woredas.
• In coordination with the procurement team ensure quarterly procurement plan in place, put purchase orders, supervise quality of spare parts and construction materials for WASH infrastructure adherence to SNV and donor procurement procedures.
• Supervise local water technicians, artesian and small and Micro contractors and monitor rehabilitation, repair and maintenance, construction progress, ensuring timely completion and quality of work.
• Provide hands-on technical support to woreda-level engineers and community technicians in design, installation, and maintenance.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the PM and Water sector Lead.

Capacity building and Sustainability

• Strengthen the capacity of WASHCOs, local artisans, and private local service providers to manage and maintain water and sanitation facilities.
• Support the establishment of operation and maintenance systems, including tariff setting, spare parts management, and technical backstopping.
• Promote climate-resilient and inclusive infrastructure options that address the needs of women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
• Integrate water safety planning, source protection, and waste management into community WASH initiatives.

Monitoring, Learning, and Knowledge Sharing and Reporting:

• Coordinate the baseline WASH related data collection with LogAlto app and contribute to the analysis
• Collaborate with the MEL team to assess the effectiveness of the access to clean water and improved sanitation infrastructures initiatives and ensure learning is applied for adaptive management.
• Document capacity-building achievements, best practices, and lessons learned for scaling within the project and beyond.
• Contribute to project reports, learning events, and review meetings with evidence-based insights.

Partnership, coordination and Advocacy:

• Strengthening collaboration with the Regional Water and Energy Development Bureau and One WASH national Program Bureau of Education, Bureau of Health and TSEDU Ethiopia for resource leveraging and Operation and maintenance services are institutionalized.
• Coordinate with national and regional partners, including NGOs, to harmonize training standards and avoid duplication.
• Establish a system for monitoring infrastructure performance and reporting on functionality, accessibility, and sustainability indicators.
• Ensure community contribution, labour, finance and in-kind other form of engagement as key element in ensuring sustainability.

Business Development

• Identify and advice the PM on potential and new opportunities including donors for resource mobilisation or business development which is aligned to SNV sector strategy.
• Provide the business development team with relevant WASH information which could be helpful as an input.
• Actively contribute to the development of Concept Notes and Proposals Development.

Knowledge Management, Learning and Innovation:

• Periodically collect information on good practices more specifically at the kebele, woreda, zone and region to gain institutional knowledge.
• Advice and support the PM in rolling out of evidence and SBCC tools developed.
• Inform WASH knowledge agenda to the PM, in line with direction set by the project/SNV implementation modalities and donor requirement/FHF.
• Support the development of case studies and report to the PM to be disseminated to larger audience/stakeholders including GoE, FHF, SNV global and other NGOs working in the WASH/NTD sector.
• Capture lessons learned, stimulate internal and external knowledge exchange and suggest ways how to translate this into practice and report to the PM.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Water Resource Engineering or a related field.
• At least five years of experience.
• Fluency in local language of the project implementation area and English languages is essential as a working language of SNV.
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills.
• Proven experience in undertaking activities aimed at Social Behaviour Change Communication and Capacity Building of community and government staff and institutions.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and a strong track record in meeting deliverables and donor deadlines.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills.
• Competent and motivated, commercial drive and quality orientation.
• Ability to work independently and under stressful conditions.
• Team player and able and willing to perform tasks to make the project successful.

Competencies:

• Problem analysis
• Coaching
• Focus on quality
• Result orientation
• Persuasiveness

Contract Type: National - Full time

Expected start date:  1st January 2026

Duty Station:  Oromia - Addis Ababa - Ethiopia

Contract Duration: One year, with the possibility of extension based on budget availability and performance.

How to Apply? 
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and a letter of motivation before/on November 24th, 2025. 

Please submit your application only via Smart Recruiters. All information will be kept in the strictest confidentiality. 
If your experience and skills match the position's requirements, we will contact you to advise on the next steps in the recruitment process.

Working at SNV  
SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse environment. Our staff benefit from and contribute to, an internal and global network of experts.

At SNV, inclusivity is at the heart of our ethos. We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and uphold a policy of non-discrimination based on factors such as disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and more.

Vetting
SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for national and internationally determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme.  

SNV is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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