Program Assistant – Sanitation and Hygiene job at Red Rhino Development

OUR MISSION: WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS

At Red Rhino Development Limited, we believe access to safe water, improved sanitation, and healthy communities changes lives. In Bukedea, we are not simply implementing projects, we are building sustainable systems, empowering communities, strengthening government partnerships, and ensuring long-term ownership of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) outcomes. The Program Assistant – Sanitation and Hygiene is a leadership opportunity for someone ready to own district-level program delivery, lead people, solve complex field challenges, strengthen donor confidence, and drive measurable impact.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

Bukedea is a strategic district for our work. The person in this role will: Serve as Red Rhino’s lead representative in Bukedea, oversee day-to-day district operations and district-based program implementation, drive sanitation and hygiene transformation and AquaTrust service delivery, lead staff performance and strengthen district accountability, strengthen local government and stakeholder partnerships, ensure donor confidence, compliance, and operational excellence, and deliver measurable and lasting community impact. This role will directly influence how communities experience our mission.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The ideal candidate demonstrates:

Character: High integrity, strong ownership mentality, accountability, professional maturity, and a community-centered mindset.

Leadership: Ability to lead teams effectively, strong decision-making ability, confidence under pressure, and ability to coach, mentor, and influence others.

Work Style: Self-driven and highly motivated, fast learner, adaptable and solution-oriented, and resilient in rural field settings.

Communication: Strong stakeholder engagement skills, excellent written and verbal communication, and strong relationship-building ability.

YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS

Within your first 90 days, success means: Establishing strong leadership presence in Bukedea, building trust with district leadership, communities, and stakeholders; assessing all active program operations and field systems; stabilizing sanitation and hygiene implementation quality; strengthening team accountability and staff performance; aligning community contribution systems with approved standards; strengthening AquaTrust district operations and customer service systems; and improving operational efficiency, data quality, and reporting standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A. District Leadership & Program Delivery

• Lead and coordinate all Bukedea district program activities.
• Oversee AquaTrust and sanitation/hygiene programming across the district.
• Ensure all activities align with approved donor proposals, budgets, and timelines.
• Ensure timely, high-quality implementation of all field activities and approved work plans.

B. AquaTrust Operations Oversight

• Coordinate and supervise district-level AquaTrust implementation and water systems operations.
• Support enrollment, customer service, and service uptake across communities.
• Monitor payment compliance, conduct routine accountability checks, and support collection processes.
• Oversee system upgrades, rehabilitations, installations, and formal handovers.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, and operational response activities.
• Engage district stakeholders and represent the program in coordination meetings and partnerships.
• Coordinate and supervise district-level AquaTrust activities, water systems operations, and program implementation.
• Supervise the Mobilization and training of communities, WUCs, and stakeholders to support enrolment and service uptake.
• Monitor payment compliance, conduct audits, maintain financial accountability, and support collection processes.
• Oversee operation and maintenance of water systems, including preventive maintenance and water quality monitoring.
• Ensure customer satisfaction through follow-ups, feedback management, and service quality monitoring.

C. Sanitation & Hygiene Leadership

• Provide technical leadership on sanitation and hygiene programming.
• Lead sanitation and hygiene behavior change interventions.
• Promote safe water handling, handwashing, and environmental cleanliness.
• Ensure all sanitation and hygiene activities meet donor and organizational quality standards.

D. Team Management

• Supervise and support district-based staff.
• Set performance expectations and monitor agreed KPIs.
• Coach, mentor, and strengthen staff capacity and accountability.

E. Government & Stakeholder Engagement

Maintain strong working relationships with: District Local Government; District Water Office; District Health Department; Community leaders; Water User Committees; and Implementing partners.

F. Donor Accountability & Compliance

• Ensure all donor requirements and organizational standards are met.
• Support donor reporting, field visits, and audits.
• Protect donor confidence through strong performance, transparency, and professionalism.

G. Reporting, Documentation & Data Management

• Submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports.
• Maintain accurate field documentation and records.
• Ensure data quality using approved digital systems including mWater and Asana.

H. Risk Management & Administrative Oversight

• Identify operational risks early and escalate issues promptly.
• Recommend practical solutions to field and operational challenges.
• Ensure proper management of district assets, inventory, logistics, and administrative documentation.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE (YOUR SCOREBOARD)

Success in this role means: Strong district operational leadership, fully compliant project implementation, improved sanitation and hygiene outcomes, strong AquaTrust operational performance, strong donor confidence, high-performing Bukedea team, strong government relationships, timely, accurate reporting, positive and measurable community impact.

THE CHALLENGE

This role is demanding. Bukedea needs a leader who can perform in complexity without avoiding it. It requires: Field presence, resilience; strong leadership; quick judgment; emotional maturity; and the courage to solve difficult problems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree in: Environmental Health Science; Public Health; Health Education and Promotion; Rural Sanitation and Hygiene; Community Health; or a related field.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Minimum four (4) years relevant professional experience in: WASH programming; Sanitation and hygiene implementation; AquaTrust or related water systems management; Rural development; Community-based programming; and Donor-funded projects. Proven knowledge of PHAST and CLTS. Computer literacy in using Google Docs.

• Two-year experience in Sanitation and hygiene promotion in NGO or Government organizations.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must have:

• Proven sanitation and hygiene experience;
• Strong field implementation experience;
• Experience supervising teams;
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience;
• Financial accountability and compliance experience;
• Strong data management and reporting skills;
• Fluency in Ateso (mandatory); and
• Willingness to live and work in Bukedea.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal, Local: Country Director, Finance and Administrative Officer, Finance Officer, Senior Program Manager, Project Engineer, Construction and Field Coordination Officer, Program Officers, Supply Chain Officer, M&E Assistants, Accounts Clerk, Guards and Cleaners.

Internal, New York: CEO, Operations Director, Program Director, Director of Community Partnerships, Development Director, Marketing Manager, Events Manager, and Program Coordinator

External: Partner Organizations, District Water Officers, District Information Officers, District Health Officer, District Community Development Officer, and Staff, Sub-County Local Government, Health Extension Workers, Community Development Workers.

Please note:

• This position is open only to Ugandan nationals, male and female.
• Deadline for receiving applications is 7th June, 2026

At RRD/UWP, you will be the right fit for this position if your attitude, attributes and aspirations fit within our values listed below:

Integrity: Do what is right because it’s right, even when nobody is watching.

Expertise: Always learn. Pursue excellence in our job, industry, and context.

Community: Build healthy, vibrant relationships serving one another.

Generosity: Always share & add high value to others.

Agility: Work with urgency, act swiftly, and remain flexible.

• Lead and coordinate all Bukedea district program activities.
• Oversee AquaTrust and sanitation/hygiene programming across the district.
• Ensure all activities align with approved donor proposals, budgets, and timelines.
• Ensure timely, high-quality implementation of all field activities and approved work plans.
• Coordinate and supervise district-level AquaTrust implementation and water systems operations.
• Support enrollment, customer service, and service uptake across communities.
• Monitor payment compliance, conduct routine accountability checks, and support collection processes.
• Oversee system upgrades, rehabilitations, installations, and formal handovers.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, and operational response activities.
• Engage district stakeholders and represent the program in coordination meetings and partnerships.
• Coordinate and supervise district-level AquaTrust activities, water systems operations, and program implementation.
• Supervise the Mobilization and training of communities, WUCs, and stakeholders to support enrolment and service uptake.
• Monitor payment compliance, conduct audits, maintain financial accountability, and support collection processes.
• Oversee operation and maintenance of water systems, including preventive maintenance and water quality monitoring.
• Ensure customer satisfaction through follow-ups, feedback management, and service quality monitoring.
• Provide technical leadership on sanitation and hygiene programming.
• Lead sanitation and hygiene behavior change interventions.
• Promote safe water handling, handwashing, and environmental cleanliness.
• Ensure all sanitation and hygiene activities meet donor and organizational quality standards.
• Supervise and support district-based staff.
• Set performance expectations and monitor agreed KPIs.
• Coach, mentor, and strengthen staff capacity and accountability.
• Maintain strong working relationships with: District Local Government; District Water Office; District Health Department; Community leaders; Water User Committees; and Implementing partners.
• Ensure all donor requirements and organizational standards are met.
• Support donor reporting, field visits, and audits.
• Protect donor confidence through strong performance, transparency, and professionalism.
• Submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports.
• Maintain accurate field documentation and records.
• Ensure data quality using approved digital systems including mWater and Asana.
• Identify operational risks early and escalate issues promptly.
• Recommend practical solutions to field and operational challenges.
• Ensure proper management of district assets, inventory, logistics, and administrative documentation.

• High integrity
• Strong ownership mentality
• Accountability
• Professional maturity
• Community-centered mindset
• Ability to lead teams effectively
• Strong decision-making ability
• Confidence under pressure
• Ability to coach, mentor, and influence others
• Self-driven and highly motivated
• Fast learner
• Adaptable and solution-oriented
• Resilient in rural field settings
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong relationship-building ability
• Proven sanitation and hygiene experience
• Strong field implementation experience
• Experience supervising teams
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience
• Financial accountability and compliance experience
• Strong data management and reporting skills
• Fluency in Ateso
• Computer literacy in using Google Docs
• Proven knowledge of PHAST and CLTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in: Environmental Health Science; Public Health; Health Education and Promotion; Rural Sanitation and Hygiene; Community Health; or a related field.
• Minimum four (4) years relevant professional experience in: WASH programming; Sanitation and hygiene implementation; AquaTrust or related water systems management; Rural development; Community-based programming; and Donor-funded projects.
• Two-year experience in Sanitation and hygiene promotion in NGO or Government organizations.