OBJECTIVE

To provide technical support to Solid waste management activities as part of an integrated Water, for Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and operational maintenance program in Oxfam's implementation projects locations. The assistant will work closely with the Senior Engineer Officer to implement, maintain, and oversee infrastructure projects efficiently and in line with humanitarian principles.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WORKING GROUP

The Engineering Assistant will work within the Engineering team to support project implementation, supervise the Cash for work team (CFW), ensure compliance with technical specifications, and contribute to the overall operation and maintenance of OXFAM activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in recruiting, deploying, and assessing Syrian Cash-for-Work (CFW) staff.
• Supervise non-Oxfam staff such as masons, plumbers, casual laborers, and CfWs within the project duration.
• Establish and enhance the maintenance framework system for daily site checks and documentation.
• Conduct assessments for emergency needs within a broader Public Health scope.
• Identify and supervise technical resources required for assigned tasks, ensuring quality work within project timelines.
• Liaise closely with the Community Engagement team for planning and implementation.
• Report regularly to the Senior Engineering Officer.
• Develop management control systems through financial planning and cost analysis.
• Support in designing quality control plans.
• Oversee engineering drawings and documentation of production issues.
• Ensure quality control and reliability by directing CfW teams in inspection and testing activities.
• Recommend methods for improving personnel, material, and utility efficiency.
• Manage procurement processes for required equipment and materials.
• Enforce compliance with safety standards and HSE action plans.
• Provide technical oversight and coordination for contracted service providers.
• Maintain a photographic and documentary record of site activities.
• Review and approve contractor method statements and work plans.
• Ensure timely completion of remedial works during defect retention periods.
• Document and log challenges and lessons learned throughout the project.

STAKEHOLDERS

Key Stakeholders Impacted by the Role:

• Oxfam Engineering Team
• Azarq Camp management and community representatives
• Cash-for-Work (CfW) team and supervisors.
• Contractors and suppliers involved in project execution.
• Community Engagement Team & Solid Waste Management team.
• Oxfam's procurement and logistics teams.

Qualifications

Essentials

• Engineering degree or equivalent qualification.
• Experience in Climate Justice & WASH operations, infrastructure maintenance, and humanitarian settings.
• Basic knowledge of control systems, quality assurance, and HSE standards.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse communities.
• Fluent in spoken and written English and Arabic.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s humanitarian principles and gender policies.

Nonessentials

• Experience working in refugee camps or emergency response settings.
• Prior exposure to cash-for-work programs and community engagement initiatives.

HOW WE INCORPORATE OUR VALUES, FEMINIST PRINCIPLES AND DECOLONIZATION 

For all our Transforming Business Support Human Resources Working Groups and Core Group. 

While this is our current stance, we are committed to continuous learning and improvement. We are dedicated to enhancing our understanding of integrating feminist principles and decolonization into our daily work. As we actively learn, we will update sections in this document to reflect our progress. 

All Oxfam Values, Equality, Solidarity, Courage, Inclusiveness, Empowerment, and Accountability are not just words but the very fabric of how we work. People & HR TBS are key in reflecting changes required in the harmonized procedures. All TBS HR WGs will verify that any update is consistent with our values, feminist principles, and the Oxfam Code of Conduct. When considering decolonial feminist principles in practice, Gender Justice Feminist Futures Strategy might also inspire us in this exercise. 

Equality: “We believe everyone has the right to be treated fairly and to have the same rights and

We believe in treating everyone fairly with equal rights and opportunities. Equity goes further by recognizing diverse circumstances and providing tailored resources to achieve equal outcomes. The principle of equity helps us achieve equality.

Decolonial Feminist Leadership:

We aim to practice leadership that is aware of power dynamics and strives for collective decision-making. This approach empowers others by sharing power and enabling individuals to make decisions.

Accountability: The working groups will enable transparency by clearly documenting all processes, including Terms of Reference (ToRs), work plans, stakeholder feedback, approval processes, and final implementation plans. This ensures that all documentation is accessible to all involved.

Inclusivity: We commit to the principle of "Nothing about Us without Us," ensuring active participation from CCRs and historically marginalized groups. While improving policies, we will balance inclusivity with efficiency to avoid overburdening CCRs. This includes ensuring diverse representation within working groups (e.g., gender, geography, ethnicity) and allowing time for translation and asynchronous participation when needed. All final outputs (e.g., policies, guides) will be made available in the four official languages, with relevant webinars conducted in those languages.

We offer:

We offer a competitive salary and a range of additional benefits to staff including flexible working options, generous pension scheme, annual leave, additional leave allowances, company sick pay, life assurance and a range of other benefits. 

From the day you join Oxfam we invite you to stretch and learn in your role. Our wide range of Learning & Development opportunities includes in-house courses, e-learning modules, on-the job learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and much more. 

You can read more about all Oxfam has to offer here.

Flexfam:

We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you. We think this role would work particularly well as a partially home-based role or job share.

How to apply:

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.