How to apply for Water and Sanitation Manager

About MSF - Holland

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a unique humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical care in the world's most challenging contexts, often in active conflict zones or disaster areas. Working here means directly saving lives and being part of a principled, independent movement that prioritizes medical ethics over political agendas.

About the role

As Water and Sanitation Manager, you will design and oversee critical water supply, sanitation, and hygiene systems that prevent waterborne diseases in MSF projects. Your work directly impacts patient survival and community health, integrating closely with medical teams to ensure safe environments in emergencies.

A typical day

Your day might start with a field visit to a water point to check chlorination levels, followed by a meeting with medical teams to address a diarrhea outbreak. Afternoon could involve training local staff on waste management protocols, and evening is spent reporting and planning for the next day's activities, often under basic living conditions.

Who MSF - Holland is looking for

• A seasoned professional with at least two years of hands-on WatSan experience in emergency or development settings, including designing water supply systems and managing excreta disposal.
• A proven trainer and supervisor who has developed local staff capacity in low-resource, insecure environments.
• Fluent in English and French or Arabic (B2 minimum), enabling effective communication with diverse teams and communities.
• Resilient and adaptable, comfortable working in unstable contexts with limited resources and high stress.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific examples of WatSan projects you've led in emergency contexts, including metrics like population served or disease reduction.
• Demonstrate your supervisory experience by detailing how you trained local staff and managed teams in remote or insecure locations.
• Emphasize your language proficiency: if you speak French or Arabic, provide concrete instances where you used these languages in professional settings.
• Tailor your CV to show experience with MSF's core activities: waterborne disease control, waste management, and hygiene promotion.
• Include a brief statement on how you handle stress and insecurity, referencing past experiences in volatile environments.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Express alignment with MSF's humanitarian principles and your motivation to work in emergency medical contexts.", 'Provide concrete examples of designing and implementing WatSan systems that reduced waterborne diseases.', 'Showcase your ability to train and empower local staff, emphasizing sustainability and capacity building.', 'Mention your adaptability to remote and insecure settings, with examples of coping strategies.']

Research before applying

• Read MSF's latest field reports and case studies on WatSan interventions in conflict zones (e.g., Yemen, South Sudan).
• Understand MSF's 'Charter' and 'Principles' (independence, impartiality, neutrality) and how they apply to WatSan work.
• Familiarize yourself with MSF's emergency response protocols and the role of the WatSan Manager in the field coordination team.
• Review the specific challenges of water and sanitation in remote or insecure settings, such as in MSF's projects in Syria or Democratic Republic of Congo.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Describe a time you designed a water supply system in a resource-limited setting. What challenges did you face?
• How do you conduct a rapid WatSan assessment in an emergency? Walk us through your process.
• Tell us about a time you trained local staff with limited technical background. How did you ensure knowledge transfer?
• How do you prioritize tasks when multiple emergencies arise simultaneously?
• Discuss your experience with vector control in a humanitarian context. What methods have you used?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Avoid generic statements about 'helping people' without linking to specific WatSan skills or experiences.
• Do not downplay the importance of language proficiency; if you lack French or Arabic, consider whether you meet the requirement.
• Never omit your experience in training and supervision; MSF emphasizes local capacity building, so highlight this explicitly.