DEADLINE: 31/03/2025

Principal Engineer – WASH

Full-time

International Lifeline Fund is hiring a Principal Engineer – WASH, an exceptional leader and manager of unquestioned operational and technical excellence, intellectual breadth, strategic thinking, and practical experience with the non-profit, government, and/or business sectors. S/he will serve as the Uganda WASH Principal Engineer reporting to the Deputy Country Director – Programs and the COO and will also work closely with Lifeline partners, including international funders, government authorities, corporate partners, social entrepreneurs and stakeholders to ensure alignment across activities. The Principal Engineer for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Programs will provide strategic leadership, technical expertise, and program oversight to ensure sustainable WASH services and infrastructure. This role involves designing, implementing, and optimizing WASH systems while establishing effective O&M programs to improve service reliability and resilience. The ideal candidate will work closely with internal teams, government agencies, donors, and communities to develop innovative solutions for water supply, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Reports to: Deputy Country Director (and COO)

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership & Strategy

Develop and implement WASH and O&M strategies aligned with national and global best practices.
Provide technical expertise in the design, construction, and maintenance of water supply, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure.
Oversee the development of O&M strategies, and service delivery models.
Ensure sustainability by integrating cost recovery mechanisms and community participation into program designs.

Program Development & Implementation

Guide design and oversight construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of water supply and sanitation facilities.
Develop and standardize O&M procedures for WASH infrastructure, including preventive maintenance schedules.
Support the integration of digital tools (GIS, remote sensing, IoT) for monitoring WASH systems and O&M activities.

Capacity Building & Stakeholder Engagement

Provide technical training and capacity-building programs for field engineers, local authorities, and community operators.
Work closely with government agencies, NGOs, donors, and private sector partners to enhance service delivery and sustainability.
Represent the organization in technical working groups, conferences, and policy discussions on WASH and O&M best practices.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

Establish performance indicators and monitoring frameworks to track WASH and O&M effectiveness.
Conduct regular evaluations, audits, and assessments to improve service quality and efficiency.
Develop technical reports, policy briefs, and funding proposals to support program expansion and sustainability.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Management, or a related field.
Experience: 10+ years of experience in WASH program management, infrastructure development, and O&M planning, preferably in humanitarian or development contexts.

Technical Skills:

Expertise in water supply, sanitation systems, and hygiene promotion.
Strong knowledge of asset management, O&M frameworks, and service delivery models.
Proficiency in engineering software (AutoCAD, EPANET, GIS, etc.) and digital monitoring tools.

Leadership & Communication:

Proven experience in leading multidisciplinary teams and managing large-scale projects.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Excellent communication skills and ability to engage diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in humanitarian, emergency response, or developing country settings.
Knowledge of financing mechanisms for WASH infrastructure and O&M sustainability.
Certification in asset management, water treatment, or relevant technical training.

Work Environment & Travel Requirements

Office-based with regular field visits to project sites.
Frequent travel to remote and rural locations may be required.

How to Apply:

Please send an email to hr@lifelinefund.org attach the following documents:

A cover letter clearly explaining your interest in, and how your experience and abilities makes you suited for, the position.
A copy of your resume.

About International Lifeline Fund

Industry: Engineering

Location: Lira

International Lifeline Fund’s (Lifeline) mission is to improve the quality of life of the underprivileged by exponentially expanding access to clean water and energy solutions. Lifeline’s vision is to see a world a world in which no one suffers for lack of access to clean water and energy. Since our humble beginnings in post-conflict Northern Uganda in 2008, our WASH program has focused on delivering sustainable access to clean water and sanitation solutions in partnership with the communities we serve. Our program focuses on specific districts in the Lango sub region, providing infrastructure while developing professional operation and maintenance services, and innovative technological and business solutions. We are at a tipping point, with >65% year-on-year growth in 2020-2021, and (through deep partnerships in technology, governance, academia, business, etc.) we are poised to grow 250-400% by 2026.