SUMMARY: 

The WASH Engineer will play a key role in the development and implementation of the market-based sanitation project under the partnership between iDE and World Vision. This role will focus on designing, testing, and refining sanitation solutions that align with local market dynamics, ensuring technical feasibility, affordability, and sustainability. The successful candidate will collaborate with local masons, private sector actors, project team, and government stakeholders to strengthen sanitation supply chains and improve access to quality sanitation products and services.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Sanitation Product Design & Testing

• Lead the development of toilet designs for field testing and piloting, with a strong emphasis on the substructure and superstructure components, durability, and affordability.
• Ensure designs meet regulatory standards, building codes, project specifications, and user needs.Conduct structural calculations to ensure facilities can withstand anticipated design loads as well as ensuring resilience against environmental hazards including flooding and high winds.
• Oversee product piloting, and collect field feedback to refine and optimize designs.
• Work closely with local masons to provide training on new toilet designs and adapt these for practical implementation, ensuring accessibility and cost-effectiveness.
• Participate in semi-regular calls with WASH engineers across iDE’s global portfolio to share lessons learned and incorporate best practices from other locations, when relevant 

Fieldwork & Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with researchers, designers, and project stakeholders to incorporate insights into product refinement. Work with WASH Manager and global teams to document product refinement. 
• Participate in fieldwork activities to gather first hand feedback from users, ensuring that sanitation solutions are human-centered.
• Provide technical training and support to local masons to enhance their capacity in building improved latrine models.
• Support field team in ensuring proper installation, functionality, and performance of sanitation products.
• Collaborate with supply chain actors, masons, and entrepreneurs to ensure the availability of quality materials and construction techniques.
• Work alongside the IDE team to align technical interventions with broader project objectives.

Linkages with Private Sector & Local Government

• Apply market-based sanitation and market systems approaches to improve the accessibility and affordability of sanitation products and services.
• Facilitate linkages between key supply chain actors, including private sector suppliers, local entrepreneurs, and government stakeholders, to strengthen supply chains and market systems.
• Engage with local authorities to ensure alignment with national sanitation policies and secure support for scaling solutions.
• Support business model development to ensure that sanitation solutions are commercially viable and scalable within the local market.
• Work with the project team and local stakeholders to assess cost structures, material availability, and service delivery models

Project Reporting

• Ensure products align with overall project objectives and timelines.
• Provide regular updates to the WASH Manager and project partners on design progress, testing results, and field insights.
• Document lessons learned, challenges, and opportunities to inform future iterations and scale-up strategies.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education & Professional Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in product development or engineering design including field testing experience, preferably in the WASH sector.
• Strong knowledge of construction materials, techniques, durability, cost considerations, and constraints.
• Proficiency in structural calculations and resilience assessments.

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including local communities, masons, designers, and government officials.
• Experience in iterative design processes incorporating user feedback and field testing insights.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on practical and sustainable solutions.
• Proficiency in project management tools
• High proficiency in Portuguese and English.
• Ability to travel frequently to pilot project sites in Gaza.
• Sensitivity to work in rural contexts and with women, youth, and ethnic groups.
• A high sense of responsible approach to all tasks and ownership of the position.
• Willingness to take on additional areas of responsibility relevant to the role.
• Strong time management skills and can balance multiple responsibilities effectively.
• Ability to thrive in uncertain environments and can manage stress while problem-solving creatively.
• BONUS POINTS:
• Fluency in Changana (local language) to facilitate communication with local masons and community members.

Benefits

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• This position requires flexibility, as project demands and field conditions may shift over time.
• Candidates with experience in participatory approaches, human-centered design, or social enterprise development are encouraged to apply.
• Commitment to iDE’s values of innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability

LOCATION

Based in Gaza Province (Chokwe, Guija, or other) with frequent travel to project site

APPLICATION DEADLINE

April 9, 2025