Senior Specialist, Climate Health & WASH

About this role

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview The Senior Specialist for Climate Health and WASH is the organization’s focal point for Climate Resilient WASH (CR-WASH) and Climate Sensitive Infectious Disease Prevention within the Crisis Response, Recovery and Development (CRRD) department. The Senior Specialist works under the leadership of the Environment & Climate Health Global Practice Lead (GPL), to drive progress through leadership of strategic projects, delivering on global strategic priorities, and ensuring the scope, quality and relevance of organizational technical standards. In line with IRC Strategy 100, the Senior Specialists leads delivery of the CR-WASH and water security components of the Health Outcome Strategy, and co-delivers the Infectious Disease Prevention & Control (IDPC) Impact at Scale priority. The Senior Specialist covers a global portfolio including WASH service continuity in the face of climate shocks, water-related disease prevention, WASH in Healthcare facilities, anticipatory action and the water-energy nexus.  The Senior Specialist collaborate closely with other Global Specialists, Global Practice Leads, Regional Practice Leads and Health Technical Advisors (TA) to promote technical best practice in CRRD programming.  S/he supports high impact strategic business development, strategic and technical relationship management, and technical advocacy at the global level.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic and Technical Delivery (50% LOE) • Lead a complex portfolio of strategic projects across CR-WASH, water security, and the water-energy nexus, including anticipatory action and forecast-based response for CR-WASH, WASH systems and finance, and energy access for water and health facilities in fragile and conflict affected settings (FCAS).

• Drive technical delivery of the IDPC Impact at Scale priority, with a focus on CR-WASH and water-related disease dimensions, including strategy refinement, country prioritization and road map planning, in collaboration with the GPL and others.

• Provide intensive remote and in-country technical support to Technical Advisors, Regional Practice Leads and Country Program teams, including development of implementation tools and technical guidance and delivery of specialized capacity strengthening, technical advice and coaching for staff and partners for strategic projects.

• Identify and shape research opportunities in CR-WASH/IDPC, including cost-effectiveness and life-cycle costing, and lead implementation when needed, in collaboration with the GPL, Airbel Impact Lab, and others

• Collaborate with the Emergency Unit on technical quality strengthening for WASH in Emergencies, review technical guidelines for acute emergency contexts, including cholera outbreak, and technical backstopping as needed, in close partnership with the Emergency WASH Coordinator and others

• Monitor progress on technical program implementation, including budgets and expenditures, and drive course corrections as needed for strategic projects.

• Collaborate effectively on shared priorities within the Health Unit and with other Technical Units and Global Practice Areas, including the Climate Resilience Global Practice Area, the Anticipatory Action team, and the Economic Recovery & Development, Protection and Education Technical Units.

• Support partner and donor engagement for strategic projects as needed.

• Under the guidance of the GPL, contribute to global strategy and delivery planning for CR-WASH/IDPC as needed.

Technical Quality Strengthening and Organizational Learning (25% LOE) • Lead finalization and roll out of the CR-WASH core indicators and Climate Resilient WASH MEAL package and lead ongoing revision of CR-WASH technical guidance and standards as evidence and field practice evolves.

• Convene and sustain a CR-WASH community of practice for peer exchange across countries and regionals, surfacing field learning and research to inform technical guidance and incorporate into global best practices

• Synthesis lessons, strengthen technical guidance and capacity and support strategic work on Anticipatory Action for CR-WASH/IDPC, in close coordination with the Anticipatory Action team.

• Contribute to the development of the Environment & Climate Health technical competency framework and assessment to identify capacity gaps, inform capacity strengthening priorities, and support staff development.

• Synthesize, adapt, and disseminate relevant technical standards, methodologies, and implementation tools for CR-WASH/IDPC, drawing on evidenced-based best practices and reflecting IRC programming.

• Provide technical inputs to MEAL tools and methodologies when needed, and support data interpretation and use, including support to regional TAs to analyze relevant technical and program data as needed.

• Proactively disseminate lessons learned across countries and regions for select strategic projects, ensuring these inform program design and implementation of country-led projects.

• Contribute to shaping, refining and delivering the Environment & Climate Health Learning Agenda.

External Influence, Relationships and Representation (10% LOE) • Collaborate with policymakers, implementing partners, humanitarian respo

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