Are you an experienced Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) professional seeking a leadership role in the humanitarian sector? The Environmental Health (WATSAN) Team Leader position at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) offers a unique opportunity to lead critical environmental health interventions that directly improve the health and living conditions of vulnerable populations. This role is ideal for professionals with strong technical expertise in water supply, sanitation systems, waste management, public health, and emergency response.
As one of the world's leading humanitarian organizations, MSF relies heavily on effective environmental health programs to prevent disease outbreaks, improve infection control, and support medical operations in challenging environments. The Environmental Health Team Leader plays a central role in ensuring these interventions are properly planned, implemented, monitored, and continuously improved.
About Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Médecins Sans Frontières is an international humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical assistance to populations affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and healthcare exclusion. Founded in 1971, MSF operates in more than 70 countries and is recognized globally for delivering life-saving healthcare in some of the world's most challenging environments.
Environmental health and WASH programs are essential components of MSF's humanitarian response strategy. By ensuring access to safe water, sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion, vector control, and waste management systems, MSF helps reduce disease transmission and improve overall public health outcomes.
Position Overview
The Environmental Health (WATSAN) Team Leader is responsible for the overall planning, implementation, supervision, and monitoring of environmental health activities within the mission. The role involves supporting environmental health managers, supervisors, and technicians while ensuring that all interventions meet MSF standards and protocols.
The successful candidate will oversee multiple environmental health interventions including:
- Water supply systems
- Sanitation facilities
- Excreta disposal
- Waste management
- Wastewater treatment
- Vector control programs
- Infection prevention and control activities
- Dead body management systems
These interventions are critical to preventing disease outbreaks and maintaining healthy living conditions in humanitarian settings.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Project Management
The Team Leader will guide environmental health teams and ensure the effective implementation of WATSAN activities across project locations.
Core responsibilities include:
- Leading environmental health interventions
- Supervising field teams and technical staff
- Developing project work plans
- Managing budgets and resources
- Monitoring project performance
- Ensuring compliance with MSF standards
Strong leadership is required to coordinate activities across multiple operational areas and maintain high-quality service delivery.
Technical Oversight
The Environmental Health Team Leader serves as the primary technical expert for environmental health activities.
Responsibilities may include:
- Conducting environmental health assessments
- Designing water and sanitation systems
- Monitoring water quality
- Supporting waste management initiatives
- Advising medical teams on infection control measures
- Implementing vector control strategies
The role requires both strategic planning and hands-on technical problem-solving.
Emergency Response
Humanitarian emergencies often require rapid environmental health interventions.
The Team Leader may:
- Participate in emergency assessments
- Develop emergency WASH response plans
- Coordinate rapid deployment activities
- Assess public health risks
- Support outbreak prevention measures
- Mobilize environmental health resources
Emergency preparedness and rapid response are key aspects of the position.
Staff Development and Capacity Building
A major responsibility involves strengthening the capacity of environmental health teams.
This includes:
- Staff recruitment support
- Technical training
- Mentorship and coaching
- Performance management
- Skills development programs
- Technical guidance for supervisors and managers
Building local capacity helps ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of humanitarian interventions.
Monitoring and Reporting
The Team Leader is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting environmental health data.
Tasks include:
- Monitoring project indicators
- Evaluating intervention effectiveness
- Producing situation reports
- Supporting donor reporting
- Documenting lessons learned
- Recommending program improvements
Accurate reporting helps inform decision-making and improve future operations.
Educational Requirements
Candidates are generally expected to possess a degree in a relevant field such as:
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Health Science
- Water Resources Engineering
- Hydraulic Engineering
- Public Health
- Civil Engineering
- Sanitation Engineering
- Related technical disciplines
Additional training in emergency WASH programming, vector control, or humanitarian response may be advantageous.
Professional Experience
Applicants should demonstrate significant professional experience in environmental health and WASH programming.
Typical requirements include:
- Several years of environmental health experience
- Experience managing technical teams
- Experience in humanitarian or emergency settings
- Knowledge of water supply systems
- Experience in sanitation and waste management
- Public health programming experience
- Familiarity with NGO operations
Experience in refugee camps, disaster response, conflict settings, or public health emergencies is often highly valued.
Essential Skills
Successful candidates typically possess:
- Leadership and team management skills
- Strong communication abilities
- Technical expertise in WASH systems
- Strategic thinking
- Problem-solving capabilities
- Project management skills
- Analytical and reporting skills
- Ability to work under pressure
The role requires professionals who can balance technical excellence with strong leadership and coordination abilities.
Why This Role Matters
Environmental health interventions are among the most effective methods of preventing disease transmission during humanitarian crises. Safe water, proper sanitation, waste management, and hygiene promotion help reduce outbreaks of cholera, diarrheal diseases, malaria, and other public health threats.
The Environmental Health Team Leader ensures that these critical services are delivered efficiently and effectively, protecting both patients and communities. Their work directly contributes to improved health outcomes and supports the success of broader medical interventions.
Career Opportunities
Professionals who serve as Environmental Health Team Leaders often advance into senior humanitarian and public health roles such as:
- WASH Coordinator
- Environmental Health Coordinator
- Public Health Engineer
- Humanitarian Program Manager
- Technical Advisor
- Emergency Response Coordinator
- Global WASH Specialist
The experience gained in this position is highly valued by international NGOs, UN agencies, and development organizations worldwide.
Application Tips
To strengthen your application:
- Highlight WASH project experience.
- Demonstrate leadership achievements.
- Showcase emergency response experience.
- Emphasize technical expertise in water and sanitation.
- Include measurable project outcomes.
- Highlight training and mentoring experience.
- Tailor your CV to humanitarian work.
Candidates who demonstrate both technical competence and strong leadership capabilities are often the most competitive.
Final Thoughts
The Environmental Health (WATSAN) Team Leader position at MSF offers an outstanding opportunity to contribute to life-saving humanitarian work while leading critical public health interventions. The role combines technical expertise, leadership, emergency response, and community impact, making it an excellent opportunity for experienced WASH professionals.
For individuals passionate about improving public health, supporting vulnerable communities, and advancing humanitarian goals, this position provides a rewarding pathway to make a lasting difference while building a successful international career.
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