MOBILE SUPPORT TECHNICIAN WATSAN - OPERATION CELL 4 (LATAM)

Do your skills and experience not precisely match the requirements? MSF-OCBA is an organization committed to promoting diversity and equity by providing equal access to professional opportunities. We understand that women, people of colour, indigenous individuals, members of the LGTB+ community, and other underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply for employment if they don't meet all the requirements. At MSF-OCBA, we strive to create a diverse, inclusive, and genuine workplace. Therefore, if you're interested in this position but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the selection criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the ideal candidate for this or other positions.

MAIN PURPOSES 

Provide 1st and 2nd line technical support (remote and in-person) to MSF OCBA portfolio across Water Supply, Hygiene, Sanitation and Vector Control domains, with an emphasis on community-based and led Watsan approaches, in order to ensure quality Watsan interventions that contribute to the reduction of disease transmission and protect the health of populations assisted by MSF. 

JOB OVERVIEW 

The MST Watsan is a homebased position with a minimum of 50% field deployment across portfolio countries. The role supports MSF OCBA portfolio across Water Supply, Hygiene, Sanitation and Vector Control domains, with a primary focus on Cell 4's Latin America portfolio. This role focuses on community-based and community-led Watsan approaches, while maintaining full technical scope across health structure Watsan, infrastructure design, waste management and outbreak response. Beyond immediate operational support, the role is also expected to contribute to strategic thinking and planning for the Watsan portfolio in Colombia, Mexico and the broader Cell context. 

TASKS/RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Monitor Watsan status across portfolio through regular remote support and structured field visits, to identify gaps, track progress against standards and strategic objectives, and produce field visit reports with SMART recommendations. 
• Design and support community-based Watsan interventions by applying participatory methodologies (e.g. WASH committees, active community engagement, community mapping) to achieve sustainable intervention and community ownership of Watsan outcomes in MSF programs. 
• Advise programs’ teams on Watsan strategy definition and annual planning, to ensure Watsan interventions are aligned with MSF priorities and contribute to measurable health outcomes. 
• Support the design and installation of Watsan infrastructure (water supply systems, sanitation facilities, drainage, health care waste management systems) in health structures and community settings, to ensure technical quality and compliance with MSF standards and frameworks. 
• Train and coach field Watsan staff and logistics teams on technical and community Watsan topics (e.g. water quality testing, chlorination, safe excreta disposal, vector control, community facilitation skills) to build sustainable field capacity and improve quality of implementation. 
• Support emergency and outbreak response operations upon request, by providing rapid technical Watsan expertise across health facility and community settings, to ensure quality Watsan interventions during acute phases. 
• Validate local suppliers, materials and subcontractors for Watsan activities (e.g. water trucking providers, latrines construction contractors) to ensure quality, safety and compliance with MSF procurement and technical standards. 
• Contribute to the development of Watsan tools, protocols, guidelines and SOPs upon request of the Watsan TC by building on field experience and lessons learned, to improve standardization, institutional knowledge and technical quality across MSF OCBA operations. 

ROLE´S SPECIFIC ELEMENTS 

• The MST may be called to provide temporary coverage of both MST and Watsan Technical Coordinator functions during planned or unplanned absences. 
• The MST may represent the MSF OCBA Watsan department in external technical forums, coordination meetings and intersectional working groups, as required. 
• The MST is expected to maintain close coordination and communication with other departments to ensure a coherent and consistent approach to emergency response. 

SELECTION CRITERIA 

• University degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Health, Public Health Engineering, or a closely related technical field. A postgraduate qualification in Water and Sanitation, Public Health or Humanitarian Studies will be considered an asset. 
• Minimum of 2 years of field experience in WASH/WATSAN with an NGO, including community and healthcare facility (HCF) WASH, outbreak response, adult training facilitation, and working in remote and/or insecure settings. 
• Previous MSF WASH field experience will be considered a strong asset. Experience in Latin America, particularly Colombia, and in climate-vulnerable or climate-affected contexts will be considered an asset. 
• Fluency in Spanish and English (written and spoken) is required. French will be considered an asset. 
• Strong knowledge of Sphere WASH standards, water treatment and quality testing, excreta and wastewater management, healthcare waste management, community WASH methodologies, and vector control principles. 
• Knowledge of MSF WASH protocols and tools, as well as GIS and/or EPANET, will be considered an asset. 

CONDITIONS  

• Frequently travels to the missions (at least 50% of the time). Homebased position when not deployed. 
• Full time position. 
• For the position and if the candidate selected is authorized to reside and work in Spain, the salary will be at 34,989 € (Level 5 according to IRP2 as entry point). If the candidate selected is resident out of Spain, the compensation will be subject to the local pay scale applicable to that country. 
• Practical working conditions while in the field are as per MSF-OCBA guidelines. 
• Contract duration: maternity leave interim, minimum of 6 months. 
• Starting date: As soon as possible. 

HOW TO APPLY 

• To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter.
• Closing date: 29th July, 2026 at 23:59 CET (Central European Time). 

INFORMATION ABOUT RECRUITMENT PROCESS STEPS 

• After the application deadline, the recruitment process usually takes between 6 and 8 weeks.  
• All candidates will be informed once the process is closed. Due to the high number of applications, individual feedback cannot usually be provided.  
• If you have not heard from us, it means the process is still ongoing and additional candidates may be contacted.  
• A reference check will be requested in the final stages of the process. Candidates will be required to provide references from former employers using professional or corporate email addresses (personal email accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo, etc will not be accepted). 

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. MSF provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination.