About Splash

Splash is an international development organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA. In 15 years, we have reached nearly 1,000,000 children in cities around the world. In 2019, we embarked on an exciting, five-year initiative, Project WISE (WASH in Schools for Everyone), focused on serving over 800,000 children in three major growth cities - Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar, Ethiopia and Kolkata, India - with improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, WASH behavior change programs, and strengthened school-based menstrual health programs. This is an exciting time for Splash as we pivot to new ways of working and aim to expand our impact to new cities across 3-5 countries.  

Splash supports local leaders, institutions, and partners to drive lasting change on the ground. We believe that local capacity to solve problems at scale exists, and our job is to strategically support and magnify the impact of local governments, nonprofit and for-profit actors for the good of children and families across the cities in which we work.  

Our core values guide everything we do, including every hiring decision we make. They are:   

People - People first. People second. People third.   

Quality - Beautiful products that function and last.   

Honesty - No drama, no surprises, no BS.    

Joy - Kids at heart, seeing potential everywhere.   

Mistakes - Make them, don’t repeat them.   

Splash values the unique skills and experiences everyone brings to the organization, and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment. To learn more, please visit www.splash.org.   

The Job

Job title:                          Manager - Clerk Of Works, Zambia

Location:                         Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Zambia

The Job:                           Full time office based

Position Overview

The Clerk Of Works will serve as Splash International’s on-the-ground representative in Zambia to oversee the end-to-end delivery of WASH infrastructure works in schools. This includes water systems, toilets, and handwashing facilities, ensuring compliance with designs, specifications, health and safety standards, and project schedules. The role provides independent oversight of contractors, strengthens accountability, and safeguards Splash’s interests by ensuring quality, timely, and cost-effective infrastructure delivery.

Roles & Responsibilities

Core Focus – WASH Infrastructure Delivery

• Monitor and support full delivery of WASH systems (e.g., water supply, sanitation blocks, handwashing stations).
• Review designs and Bills of Quantities (BoQs) for accuracy and feasibility.
• Coordinate between Splash’s 3^rd party Engineering, Hydrogeology, drilling, and construction contractors as necessary, ensuring compliance with specifications and timelines.
• Report on and oversee quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), health and safety (HSE), and commissioning of completed works.

Coordination

• Liaise closely with the Ministry of Education, line ministries, district authorities, and school leadership.
• Engage with contractors, consultants, and suppliers to align expectations and resolve any issues that may arise.
• Represent Splash in technical working groups and sector coordination meetings as needed.

Controls & Compliance

• Track and report on project schedules using Gantt charts or equivalent.
• Maintain site diaries, photo documentation, and materials verification records.
• Monitor variations/change requests, ensuring adherence to Splash standards and local regulations.
• Provide objective, timely reporting on contractor progress and issues.

Procurement Support

• Contribute to technical specifications and tender documents.
• Support RFP development, bid evaluations, and contractor onboarding.
• Work with Splash Operations/Procurement teams to align suppliers and contractors with project requirements.

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)

• Monitor contractor adherence to health and safety standards.
• Intervene in unsafe practices and escalate risks promptly.
• Ensure school and student safety is supported during all works.

Capacity Building & Team Support

• Contribute to cross-functional team learning by sharing technical insights and lessons learned.

Administrative & Reporting

• Track project milestones, budgets, and deliverables to ensure accurate record-keeping.
• Prepare technical reports, field visit summaries, and updates for donors and leadership.
• Assist in procurement processes for engineering supplies and services.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field. Civil Engineering Technologists (HND) will be considered.
• Experience: Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in engineering project implementation, preferably in the WASH, or public institutional (e.g, hospital) or NGO sector.
• Strong knowledge of water supply systems, sanitation infrastructure, and/or construction management.
• Strong skills in contractor management, construction supervision, and site coordination.
• Proven ability to interpret engineering drawings, BoQs, and schedules.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple projects, manage timelines, and deliver results.
• Familiarity with QA/QC practices, HSE standards, and compliance monitoring, aligned with local Zambian building codes.
• Excellent documentation habits (site reports, photos, compliance records).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to coordinate across contractors, government, and community stakeholders, with the ability to convey technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated independence, authority, and problem-solving capacity on-site.
• Competence in MS Office (Excel, Word, Project)
• Fluency in English and Nyanja are required, knowledge of Bemba is helpful.
• Willingness to travel frequently within Zambia to project sites.

The Manager, Clerk Of Works, will have authority to:

• Stop unsafe work immediately.
• Request corrective measures from contractors where works deviate from design, quality, or safety standards.
• Report directly to Splash International on issues requiring escalation.

The Ideal Candidate

• A deep commitment to the overall mission of the organization, its programs, and approach consistent with Splash’s values.  
• Bring a balance of technical engineering expertise, clerk of works, and strong coordination skills.
• Traceable and verifiable experience in oversight supervisory roles in most preferably School WASH or Institution of learning and or hospital plumbing installations, for example: Water supply, septic installation and or refurbishments, toilet cisterns and associated plumbing
• Must also have a reasonable understanding of the key dictates of construction project management, the key players within the contract of work, and their roles and responsibilities
• Demonstrable understanding of material quality and other general standards
• Capability in exerting authority on work sites
• Organized and detail-oriented, able to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Resourceful and solutions-focused, able to troubleshoot and adapt quickly in dynamic field environments.
• Strong communicator, comfortable working with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborative team player, able to work effectively across departments and with external contractors.
• Demonstrates a commitment to Splash’s mission of delivering safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions.
• Culturally sensitive, respectful, and able to build trust with local communities and partners.
• Motivated by impact-driven work and eager to contribute to program success in Zambia.

Compensation & Benefits

At Splash, we prioritize our mission by offering benefits to support our employees and their families.

• Splash operates across time zones with flexible work schedules. Team members can set standard hours within their time zone, but should be available for occasional work outside of their standard hours. This is balanced by a self-managed schedule allowing personal time.
• Benefits include 21 days of paid time off, increasing by 2 days each year up to 28 days, 11 paid holidays, and Wellness Fridays (reduced hours on Fridays). Additionally, we offer two weeks of paid time off mid-year during the July 4th week and the last week of the year.
• Medical, dental, vision insurance, and a 401K plan with 3% match contributions towards the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) .
• The benefits are subject to change depending on the local labor law and guidelines.