Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

The Role:

In 2024, Zambia faced the worst mid-season dry spell in over 100 years, marred by the lowest mid-season rainfall in 40 years, exacerbated by an El Niño phenomenon, severely impacted the crisis-hit population in Southern Africa. Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique are the countries most affected by the drought, with three of them declaring national disasters due to the resulting food, water and protection needs. According to government, UN, IFRC, and SADC appeals an estimated 29 million people (7.6M Zimbabwe; 9.9M Zambia; 9M Malawi; 3.3M Mozambique) urgently need lifesaving humanitarian assistance. The coverage of existing efforts is insufficient, leaving unprecedented, vast unmet need. In Zambia, Gwembe, Namwala and Sinazongwe District, Southern Province, and Kalabo, Kaoma and Mongu Districts, Western Province are some of the districts severely affected. Oxfam’s experiences and assessments in these locations highlight the eroded coping capacity of affected communities, particularly around access to food and water. This has resulted in significant protection risks for communities already grappling with the compounded effects of recent cyclones, flooding and disease outbreaks including cholera.

Oxfam in Zambia has received funding from the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to support vulnerable households with emergency food assistance (Cash) and other WASH interventions in Gwembe, Sinazongwe and Namwala Districts in Southern province, and Kaoma, Kalabo and Mongu Districts in Western province of Zambia. The interventions will be implemented for a period of 18 months (January 2025- June 2026). To effectively implement the identified activities, Oxfam is seeking to recruit a Public Health Technician-WASH to support the implementation of activities in the mentioned districts.

The Public Health Technician- WASH will ensure that all projects are designed and executed in full adherence to health, safety, and environmental guidelines while incorporating sustainable, community-driven solutions. This involves proactively identifying challenges and implementing technical solutions to improve long-term resilience, functionality, and health outcomes for the communities served.

What we are looking for:

• Diploma in Civil / Environmental / Agricultural or related field.
• Minimum three years project management / coordination experience in water and sanitation, including rural water schemes.
• Experience in the design and implementation of water infrastructure works, in the development of tender dossiers and in the practical supervision of construction / installation work.
• Familiarity with the drilling of boreholes, and the installation of hand pumps, motorized pumps, and solar powered systems.
• Experience working in challenging, poor environments where land and water resources are communally owned.
• Experience of integrating engineering / environmental protection measures with socio economic considerations. Ability to engage proactively with project communities to ensure their full participation, with an emphasis on ensuring the participation of women in the design, implementation, and management of activities.
• Strong management, project planning, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Competent & with experience in engineering drawings using AutoCad, familiarity with GPS / GIS, use of MS Office programs and database management.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively and fluent in spoken and written English, spoken and written.

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to work as part of a team and adopt a consensus-based approach to working where possible.
• Creative and innovative.
• Willing to travel.

Key Attributes:

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

An ideal candidate for the role will also be / have:

• Visiting sites to inspect technical works, reassess needs, conduct troubleshooting, and propose appropriate remedial works.
• Identify and supervise the technical resources needed to complete the assigned scope of work. Review the quality of work done and ensure the project stays within the assigned schedule and cost targets.
• Developing bills of quantities and drawings for the project scope.
• Coordinating with government stakeholders in the implementation of project works.
• Informing and alerting the line manager about any expected changes in activities (quality, quantity, time, cost, safety incidents, etc.)
• With guidance from the humanitarian manager, establish systems and controls for daily site checks and documentation.
• Ensure that health and safety monitoring is incorporated into all daily site supervision activities.
• Collate information from partners and assist the HPM in drafting reports.
• Ensure that all activities and sub-activities take gender issues into full account.
•  Conduct capacity-building for volunteers in case tracking, transmission route interventions, and key WASH tools such as CLTS and PHAST methodologies.
• Developing activity plans and bills of quantities for technical support related to WASH activities.
• Create and execute monthly and quarterly plans of action, providing weekly and monthly updates to the humanitarian Program Manager.
• Ensuring compliance with all Oxfam, donor, and government policies, procedures, and guidelines related to project implementation.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders (KZF/WFC) to support volunteers in household chlorination and reporting to ensure accuracy and timely submission.
• In partnership with the Ministry of Health, conduct periodic water quality monitoring at both community and household levels.
• Monitor project schedules and deadlines for deliverables.
• Participating in all epidemic preparedness, control, and response interventions.
• Working with key stakeholders (KZF/WFC) to generate and submit monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and final qualitative and quantitative reports to donors on time.
• Collaborating with key stakeholders (WFC/KZF) to ensure that key trainings meet the required standards to facilitate knowledge transfer and reinforcement of desired behaviors and practices related to WASH.
• Assisting in the design of WASH infrastructure (latrines, ablution blocks, water supply schemes, and borehole rehabilitation).

We offer:

We offer a competitive salary and a range of additional benefits to staff including flexible working options, generous pension scheme, annual leave, additional leave allowances, company sick pay, life assurance and a range of other benefits. 

From the day you join Oxfam we invite you to stretch and learn in your role. Our wide range of Learning & Development opportunities includes in-house courses, e-learning modules, on-the job learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and much more. 

You can read more about all Oxfam has to offer here.

Flex Fam: 

We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you. 

How to apply:

As part of your online application, please upload your up-to-date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. 

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.