MSF Ubuntu is looking for a Watsan Mobile Support Specialist (MSS)
Do your skills and experience not precisely match the requirements? At MSF EA, we strive to create a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace, recognising the need to increase access to professional opportunities for historically underrepresented groups. If you're interested in this position but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the selection criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the ideal candidate for this or other positions.
Firmly committed to safeguarding patients, community members, staff, and all those in contact with the organisation from all forms of abuse, including sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH), we will take all necessary steps, through rigorous vetting processes, to ensure that confirmed perpetrators of abuse do not join the organization.
For this position, contact level with patients and children is categorized as Low risk and will be monitored with this in regard.
Introduction
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organisation that provides assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, and natural or human-made disasters and excluded from healthcare. We provide this assistance without discrimination, irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.
About MSF Ubuntu
MSF Ubuntu is the newest Operational Directorate of Médecins Sans Frontières, grounded in the philosophy of Ubuntu – “I am because we are”. With a strong emphasis on interdependence, interoperability, and locally grounded action, MSF Ubuntu aims to strengthen medical humanitarian response by placing communities at the centre of decision-making.
Rationale/Objective for Position
The Watsan MSS is the technical focal point for Water Supply, Hygiene, Sanitation and Vector Control (WHS and VC) within the Med-Ops Cell. S/he provides 1st and 2nd line (remote and/or in person) technical support to MSF Ubuntu country programs within their Med-Ops Cell, covering both operational implementation of activities and the strategic definition of Watsan approaches and priorities across the portfolio, in line with the Logistics & Watsan Strategy.
The role supports country programme staff in the design, planning, implementation and review of Watsan interventions, ensuring that programme proposals are technically sound, context-appropriate, and aligned with MSF protocols, standards and procedures, the MSF Ubuntu Strategic Plan, including Med-Ops programming priorities, and the Logistics & Watsan Strategy 2026–2028.
The Watsan MSS contributes to capacity building of country programme staff through the application and transfer of technical know-how, to strengthen programme quality, support country programs in optimal working conditions and maximize the impact of MSF Ubuntu's projects.
This position will be hierarchically accountable to the Cell Logistics & Supply Advisor and functionally accountable to the Watsan Technical Coordinator and Deputy Med-Ops Cell Manager (Med) – joint functional line.
Tasks & Responsibilities
- Following up the Watsan activities in her/his portfolio countries within the Med-Ops cell.
- Reporting systematically on progress in implementing the MSF Ubuntu Logistics & Watsan Strategy 2026–2028, the application of related policies and performance against Watsan KPIs, to inform strategic and operational decisions.
- Ensuring understanding and alignment of the Watsan interventions with MSF Ubuntu priorities and standards, as per MSF Ubuntu’s Strategic Plan, including the “Logistics/Watsan Basics” minimum standard.
- Supporting and guiding the definition and the revision of the Watsan strategy for the country programs, in line with the MSF Ubuntu Logistics & Watsan Strategy 2026–2028 and medical priorities and advising on current and future medical and logistics operations when pertinent.
- Carrying out a functional evaluation of the Watsan set-up, assessing the applicable technical installations, systems, structures, equipment and HR set-up, the compliance with procedures, policies and guidelines, within the framework of MSF standards to identify the main areas for improvement.
- Assessing and validating local suppliers and local (sub-)contractors for quality of materials, systems, installations, parts etc. to ensure compliance with MSF quality standards.
- Developing and initiating the implementation of the improvement plan based on the recommendations arising from the functional evaluation.
- Assisting the logistics team with the design and installation of new (complex) systems and/or with the implementation of (new) protocols, tools etc.
- Monitoring and supervising established and ongoing work, systems and installations in the field of expertise and providing technical advice and solutions when necessary.
- Assisting the logistics team in their HR tasks such as recruitment & selection of technical staff, briefing and debriefing of focal persons and logisticians.
- Identifying training needs and contributing to the definition of training content for WHS and VC.
- Facilitating team training and providing on-the-job training on technical basics related to area of specialization according to MSF standards to enable effective implementation of relevant methodologies, systems and tools and ensure best practice is delivered.
- Upon request of the Watsan Technical Coordinator and in coordination with the Cell Logistics & Supply Advisor and Deputy Med-Ops Cell Manager, develop new policies, tools, protocols and SOPs related to his/her area of expertise (with a local, regional or even global approach).
- Drafting reports and action plans following field visits to capture experiences and “lessons learnt”.
- Contributing to the research and development of programme tools, practices, guidelines and policies based on insights gained in the job.
- Proposing and testing/piloting innovative solutions to overcome recurrent problems and technical challenges.
- Developing and maintaining knowledge of practices and approaches within the area of expertise and sharing this knowledge with others to enhance operational effectiveness.
- Carrying out field visits to the portfolio countries as needed or requested by the programme teams.
- Close collaboration with the IPC MIO advisor in relevant areas related to WASH and IPC, in line with MSF policies and standards.
- Participating in the Med-Ops Cell Health Programme Support Team (HSTP) meetings on a regular basis, ensuring a strong link and collaboration between medical and logistics strategies and priorities.
- Supporting emergency/outbreak WASH response primarily within their Med-Ops Cell portfolio; extending support to other Cells only upon request from the Head of Logistics or activation of the MSF Ubuntu Emergency Response Strategy.
- Ensuring WASH facilities and services are designed for privacy, gender-appropriateness, accessibility and safe usage, and are aligned with MSF Ubuntu's safeguarding and community-accountability approach .
- Mapping and engaging local WASH actors — public, community-based and private — in the portfolio, and contributing to targeted WASH partnerships for operational delivery where these strengthen or complement existing local systems .
- Acting as the Med-Ops Cell focal point and technical reference for Watsan, ensuring coherent, timely and context-appropriate technical guidance to country programmes across the portfolio.
- Reviewing and advising on country programme proposals, intervention designs and operational plans related to Watsan, to ensure technical quality, feasibility, relevance and alignment with MSF Ubuntu priorities, standards and strategies.
- Contributing to strategic discussions and decision-making within the Med-Ops Cell on Watsan priorities, approaches and operational orientations for the portfolio countries.
Qualifications
Education
- Essential: Degree in civil engineering, environmental sciences, environmental health, public health engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
- Desirable: Postgraduate qualification in water and sanitation, public health, or humanitarian studies.
- Essential: Sphere Watsan standards; water treatment and quality testing; excreta and wastewater management; healthcare waste management; community Watsan methodologies; vector control principles.
- Desirable: MSF Watsan protocols and tools; GIS and EPANET.
Experience
- Essential: Minimum 2 years of NGO Watsan field experience; community and HCF Watsan, outbreak response; adult training facilitation; ability to work in remote and insecure settings.
- Desirable: MSF Watsan experience; EASTEN and southern Africa Experience in Watsan interventions or infrastructure design in climate-vulnerable or climate-affected contexts.
Languages
- Essential: English (fluent written and spoken).
- Desirable: French.
Competencies
- Commitment to MSF Principles
- Results and Quality Orientation
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Flexibility
- Intercultural Sensitivity
Conditions and Benefits:
- The role requires regular travel to countries of operation and MSF Ubuntu hubs.
- Travel at short notice may be required during emergencies, assessments or critical incidents.
- The post-holder may be required to work extended or irregular hours during crises.
- The role requires high levels of discretion, resilience, political judgement and emotional intelligence.
- The position will operate in a growing Operational Directorate and will require adaptability as MSF Ubuntu’s structures, systems and portfolio evolve.
- Job Location: This position will be based in one of the countries within its portfolio (to be confirmed). For the initial two years, the duty station is expected to be in Harare (Zimbabwe), Johannesburg (South Africa), or Nairobi (Kenya)....