Programme Manager (PM) Infection Prevention & Control (IPC), WASH – Integrated Ebola Response Driven Communities (IERDC)

Position pending funding approval

Location: Bunia, Ituri Province

Position Status: Full-time

Risk Level: x☐ Level 3 ☐Level 2 ☐Level 1

(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.

Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data)

ABOUT MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization, driven by the belief that a better world is possible. In disasters, in hardships, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to bring bold solutions into action – helping people overcome adversity and build stronger communities from within. Today and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been operational in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since August 2007 with a current workforce of approximately 300 national and expatriate employees. As a leading NGO in the DRC working with several local and international partners in 2025, Mercy Corps has reached more than half a million people in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Kasai with integrated programmes ensuring equitable access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in humanitarian and development contexts; economic development and livelihoods to strengthen food security and resilience; as well as institutional capacity-building and social cohesion to foster peace and good governance.

EMERGENCY EBOLA RESPONSE TEAM SUMMARY

Mercy Corps is delivering a timely, appropriate, and high-quality response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), grounded in a holistic, community-centered approach. A significant part of this response is delivered through the Integrated Ebola Response Driven by Communities (IERDC) consortium, led by Mercy Corps in partnership with local and international organizations. This consortium approach combines complementary technical expertise and extends the response's reach across affected health zones. Mercy Corps' Ebola response is organized around the following integrated, mutually reinforcing focus areas that are all vital to stopping the Ebola outbreak and mitigating its secondary effects:

• Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Community Surveillance: builds community trust, counters rumors and misinformation, and strengthens community-based prevention and early reporting.
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): strengthens IPC/WASH infrastructure and hygiene promotion in health facilities and communities.
• Continuity of Services and Livelihoods: sustains access to essential services, livelihoods, functioning markets, and food security for vulnerable households through cash assistance and other targeted support.
• Safeguarding, protection, conflict-sensitivity, conflict analysis and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI): ensure the response is safe, inclusive, and does no harm in line with Mercy Corps' humanitarian principles and locally-led commitment.

In line with Mercy Corps' humanitarian principles and commitment to local partnerships, the team ensures that interventions are delivered at scale, with impact, and in close coordination with the DRC MoH, Ebola response working groups and coordination pillars, communities, other community and international partners, and the broader humanitarian coordination system.

THE POSITION

The IPC/WASH Program Manager leads the day-to-day planning, implementation, and quality delivery of Mercy Corps' Ebola-related WASH and IPC programming in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The IPC/WASH Program Manager works in tandem with the WASH Infrastructure Technical Advisor to translate technical standards and guidance into practical work plans, conduct site supervision, and frontline delivery of IPC/WASH infrastructure and hygiene promotion across health facilities, community spaces, and other high-risk Ebola settings.

The Program Manager is responsible for managing WASH/IPC program staff and activities on a daily basis, overseeing WASH/IPC infrastructure construction and rehabilitation and hygiene promotion at health facility and community levels, as well as ensuring that supplies, procurement, and logistics are coordinated to keep activities on track. The role ensures appropriate systems are in place to track, analyze, and report on results, and that WASH/IPC activities are implemented to Ebola Response standards, with field teams having the practical support they need to deliver technically sound, community-accepted WASH/IPC interventions on schedule.

The IPC/WASH Program Manager is a strong team leader and project manager, able to develop, coach, and mentor field staff on a daily basis. The role manages relationships with local partners, international agency colleagues, local authorities, and donor representatives, contributing to Mercy Corps' objectives through program delivery, innovation, and technical expertise in humanitarian WASH/IPC programming. The Program Manager represents Mercy Corps in relevant humanitarian coordination mechanisms and is an effective communicator, able to work across internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

The IPC/WASH Program Manager works closely with the WASH Infrastructure Technical Advisor, program leadership, MEL, operations, logistics, finance, community structures, local health authorities, the WASH Cluster/Sector, and implementing partners to ensure WASH/IPC activities are delivered effectively, safely, and in line with Mercy Corps and national Ebola response standards.

Essential Responsibilities

IPC/WASH Management, Work Planning, & Implementation

• Develop and manage IPC/WASH work plans that translate technical designs and guidance into practical, scheduled field activities.
• Participate in multi-sectoral needs assessments (MSNA) and other needs assessments across intervention areas, and use findings to determine prioritization of IPC/WASH infrastructure development and hygiene promotion activities with the Ebola response team and WASH Cluster.
• Collaborate with the Ebola Response Team Leader, Technical Advisor, and other stakeholders on program design and implementation planning to foster high-impact, cost-effective activities.
• Contribute field-level insight and lessons learned to Mercy Corps' national Ebola response strategy.
• Support field teams in translating technical guidance into practical implementation plans and daily supervision routines.
• Ensure IPC/WASH activities are implemented on schedule and in line with Ebola response minimum standards.

Infrastructure Construction & Supervision

• Plan and supervise all construction and rehabilitation activities for IPC/WASH infrastructure in health facilities, communities, schools, and other high-risk settings.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor construction progress, assess needs in areas of intervention, and help communities resolve technical problems encountered on the ground.
• Ensure health facilities and community sites have appropriate WASH infrastructure and supplies in place, including safe water storage, hand hygiene facilities, waste segregation systems, functional latrines, and safe drainage.
• Support safe reopening, rehabilitation, or decommissioning of WASH facilities after Ebola-related use, in coordination with health authorities and the IPC/WASH Infrastructure Technical Advisor.
• Provide field-based input into technical designs, bills of quantities, and specifications developed by the Technical Advisor, flagging site-specific constraints, community feedback, and practical construction considerations; coordinate with the IPC/WASH Infrastructure Technical Advisor on contractor outputs to ensure infrastructure is built to specification.
• Research and validate context-specific technical solutions with the Technical Advisor and Ebola Response Team Leader, ensuring proposed WASH/IPC solutions are accepted by communities, health facilities, and other end users prior to or during rollout.

Hygiene Promotion

• Provide technical hygiene promotion content and guidance to the RCCE Program Manager and team, ensuring messaging on handwashing, water treatment, sanitation, and cleaning practices is accurate and technically sound.
• Embed hygiene promotion activities directly within IPC/WASH service delivery points (health facilities, water points, latrines, handwashing stations), working alongside RCCE-led community engagement structures to reinforce hygiene messaging at the point of use.
• Train and support community hygiene promoters, cleaners, and facility staff on practical hygiene and IPC/WASH practices, in coordination with the RCCE Program Manager.
• Monitor and report on the functionality, use, and uptake of WASH infrastructure and hygiene practices at facility and community levels, providing this data to the RCCE Program Manager and Ebola Response Technical Advisor to inform messaging and community engagement adaptations.
• Coordinate hygiene kit distribution approaches that are dignified, needs-based, accountable, and adapted to household and community priorities, in line with RCCE's broader community engagement approach.
• Work with protection and safeguarding colleagues to ensure hygiene promotion and community engagement activities reduce risks of exclusion, stigma, discrimination, and harm.

Supply Chain & Procurement Support

• Forecast, quantify, and submit procurement requests for IPC/WASH supplies and equipment needed for construction, hygiene promotion, and facility operations.
• Work with logistics and procurement teams to ensure timely delivery of WASH materials, hygiene kits, water treatment supplies, handwashing infrastructure, waste management materials, and construction inputs, based on technical specifications provided by the Technical Advisor.
• Conduct quality inspection of WASH supplies and infrastructure materials prior to delivery, installation, or handover, flagging discrepancies with agreed specifications to the Technical Advisor.
• Ensure IPC/WASH activities comply with Mercy Corps procurement, logistics, finance, administration, risk, and compliance procedures.
• Support safe storage, transport, and distribution planning for WASH materials in insecure or hard-to-reach areas.
• Contribute to risk assessments for field movements, contractor activities, distribution events, and facility-based WASH works.

Team Management

• Directly manage IPC/WASH field staff (including WASH Officers and hygiene promotion teams) in day-to-day activities, ensuring clear work planning, task allocation, and follow-through.
• Coach and mentor field staff to build technical and practical skills in IPC/WASH implementation, hygiene promotion, and community engagement.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide regular constructive feedback through 1:1s and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence and cultivate resilience and well-being under challenging conditions.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and technical orientation of IPC/WASH staff and contractors as needed.

Coordination

• Act as the field-level IPC/WASH technical point of contact for team members and partners, facilitating working groups, providing practical guidance, and ensuring consistent quality of implementation.
• Represent Mercy Corps in field-level and provincial IPC/WASH coordination forums, including WASH Cluster/Sector sub-committee meetings, as delegated by the Technical Advisor or program leadership.
• Share relevant project information, progress updates, and field-level insights with the Technical Advisor, program leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Build and maintain constructive working relationships with local health facilities, community leaders, local authorities, and partner field teams.
• Coordinate with other Mercy Corps sector teams (RCCE, health, protection, food security, cash, livelihoods, operations, and security) to ensure IPC/WASH activities are integrated into joint field planning.

PROGRAM QUALITY, MONITORING AND REPORTING

• Establish and maintain a schedule of IPC/WASH program reports, sharing updates with the Ebola Response Team Leader, Technical Advisor, and MEL team.
• Develop and maintain IPC/WASH program reporting templates that standardize and facilitate the collection and aggregation of field-level data across program sites.
• Support real-time monitoring of WASH service availability, functionality, quality, coverage, and use at facility and community levels, using digital data collection and GIS tools where feasible.
• Identify priorities for evaluations and KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices) assessments in coordination with the MEL team, and support their design and field-level oversight.
• Coordinate with field offices and the MEL team to ensure communities are engaged in baseline assessments, program design, and ongoing feedback processes.
• Support implementation of CARM (Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism) at the field level, ensuring communities are informed about IPC/WASH activities, know their rights, and feel comfortable providing feedback, in line with Sphere standards and other relevant accountability frameworks.
• Contribute field-level data, lessons learned, and after-action review input to Mercy Corps' broader MEL and learning processes.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory responsibility

• IPC WASH Ebola Response Team members (such as IPC/WASH Officer)

Reports directly to : Ebola Response Team Leader

Works directly with : Ebola Response Team Leader, IPC/WASH Infrastructure Technical Advisor, Ebola Response Technical Advisor, RCCE Program Manager, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team, Operations and Logistics teams, Finance, Safeguarding team, community structures, local health authorities, the WASH Cluster/Sector, and implementing partners.

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

IPC/WASH Program Management

• Bachelor's degree in WASH/environmental engineering, project management, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience managing WASH/IPC or emergency water and sanitation programs, including field-level implementation and staff supervision.
• Experience implementing NGO WASH strategies at the field or national level.
• Experience working with a range of donors and funders.
• Proven experience responding to and implementing IPC/WASH infrastructure and hygiene promotion within Ebola, cholera, or other disease outbreaks preferred.

TECHNICAL

• Solid working knowledge of WASH infrastructure design and construction, sufficient to supervise construction activities and interpret technical designs, drawings, and bills of quantities (BOQs).
• Ability to provide field-based technical input to specialists on site conditions, construction quality, and practical implementation constraints.
• Familiarity with in-situ water quality analysis and treatment methods, sufficient to verify water safety in the field and flag issues to the Technical Advisor.
• Working knowledge of hygiene promotion content and practices (handwashing, water treatment, sanitation, cleaning), sufficient to ensure messaging and service delivery are technically accurate.
• Understanding of Ebola epidemiological response mechanisms and UN cluster coordination systems.
• Strong training and mentoring skills, with experience building the capacity of field staff, hygiene promoters, and community structures.
• Familiarity with digital data collection tools and GIS mapping for field monitoring, preferred.

WORKING STYLE

• Strong team player, able to take initiative, solve problems, and manage competing priorities independently.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills; able to multitask and stay organized under pressure.
• Demonstrated flexibility and ability to work effectively in variable and insecure environments.
• Availability and willingness to travel frequently in the field, security permitting.
• Previous experience living and working abroad.

LANGUAGES

• Professional French required; English strongly desired.

Success factors

The ability to interact effectively with international and national staff, both in a management and training role. The ability to support programmatic objectives with relevant and timely financial information. Demonstrated ability to multitask, meet deadlines and process information to support evolving programmatic activities. An impeccable professional standard in IPC WASH and reporting, as well as the willingness and ability to enforce Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures. The IPC WASH Manager must be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps and partner agency field offices as well as project sites. The WASH Manager must demonstrate a high degree of flexibility and be prepared to perform a wide range of IPC WASH-related tasks.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The WASH/IPC Program Manager position is based in Bunia, DRC: a city currently located at the epicenter of the 17th Ebola outbreak. This location is insecure. Housing is group accommodation with limited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Team members will have limited access to medical services but access to electricity, water, etc. This position requires 30% of travel by road and plane to field offices in insecure environments.

Given the emergency context, this position requires exceptional work schedules, including evenings and weekends.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Engagement and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together people with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, encouraged to reach their full potential, and motivated to perform at their best.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all qualified employees and applicants, regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

SAFEGUARDING AND ETHICS

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that everyone we come into contact with in the course of our work, whether they are team members, community members, program participants, or others, is treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the UN Secretary-General's and IASC's Core Principles for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and have signed the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Program. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or members of our team. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to behave professionally, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to the policies and values of the Mercy Corps Code of Conduct at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses at the time of hiring and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected])