WASH Engineer

Afghanaid is a British international NGO (www.afghanaid.org.uk) that has been working in Afghanistan since 1983. Headquartered in Kabul, Afghanaid implements projects directly in 8 provinces and through partners in a further number of provinces and maintains a marketing and fundraising office in London. Afghanaid works in some of the most remote areas of the country and through a range of programme interventions supports development of basic services, such as water and sanitation, access roads, education facilities and other community infrastructure; strengthens livelihoods through improved natural resource management, agricultural and small enterprise development, and improved access to markets; and provides humanitarian assistance in times of emergencies. Gender mainstreaming, local governance and community development are integrated into all of Afghanaid’s work. The results achieved have earned Afghanaid the respect and recognition of stakeholders as an effective and collaborative charity.

Job profile

The WASH Engineer is responsible for the technical work on latrine construction in the Integrated Emergency Sanitation, Hygiene and Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance project for vulnerable households in Sang-e-Takht District, Daykundi Province. He/she will survey sites, prepare designs and bills of quantities, supervises contractors and labour on site, and certifies completed works against the approved designs and quality standards. The engineer works closely with the Social Organisers and communities, and reports to the Project Coordinator.

Responsibilities:

• Visit each proposed site and carry out site and soil surveys, checking ground conditions, groundwater, flood risk and distance from water sources.
• Prepare latrine designs and drawings using local materials and in line with WASH Cluster standards, including privacy, lighting, doors and locks and handwashing points.
• Prepare designs for disability-accessible latrines, with ramps, handrails, wider doors and raised seats, after consulting persons with disabilities and their caregivers.
• Agree latrine locations with households and clusters, including women, so that facilities are safe, private and easy to reach.
• Prepare bills of quantities and cost estimates, and check that supplier quotations match market rates.
• Support the logistics team to select suppliers, check the quality of materials on delivery and keep material stock records at site.
• Supervise skilled labour and community workers on site and give practical technical instructions so that works follow the approved design.
• Inspect works at each construction stage and on completion, fill in inspection checklists and issue completion certificates before payments are made.
• Keep the construction schedule and report delays, material shortages and weather or access problems to the Project Coordinator straight away.
• Work with the Social Organisers and community committees to settle disagreements over siting, access and labour, and refer unresolved cases to the Project Coordinator.
• Train user groups on correct use, cleaning, minor repairs and maintenance, and hand over completed latrines with a maintenance plan.
• Correct defects found during inspection and post-construction monitoring, and support the M&E Officer during follow-up visits.
• Follow Afghanaid's safeguarding, PSEA and code of conduct requirements on site, and make sure communities know how to use the complaints channels.
• Keep site records, photographs and material logs, and submit weekly and monthly progress reports to the Project Coordinator.
• Contribute to identifying Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) risks, mitigation measures, compliance, and reporting concerns in line with organisational policies and donor requirements.
• Undertake any other duties as and when required by the line manager and/or overview manager.

Education & Professional Qualification

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from a well-recognized University.

Work Experience

4-year experience of working in WASH sector/INGO development programme.Professional Skills, Competencies, Values, and Attitudes

Afghanaid seeks dependable professionals with strong initiative, judgement and adaptability as well as excellent skills in communication, presentation, facilitation, interpersonal relations, decision-making, conflict management, and reporting.

Specifically, the holder of this position should also demonstrate the following:

Please create your portal account and submit your application by filling in the Afghanaid standard job application form by no later than 4:00 PM (Kabul Time) on Saturday, 14 November 2026. Your cover letter and CV should be in PDF format.  Your cover letter should be no more than 1 standard A4 page in length and explain how you meet the essential and desirable position requirements and why you feel you would be a suitable candidate for this role. Your CV should be no more than 4 pages and include 3 professional references including your current employer.

Afghanaid has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Afghanaid is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. We invite qualified candidates to apply for the position through the Afghanaid HR portal. Please click on the link below to complete your application.

Link for the Afghanaid HR portal: https://afghanaid.odoo.com/jobs

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to every application. If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the deadline, then you have not been successful in shortlisting.

Note: Priority will be given to candidates from the local area. Local candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.