The WABES project (Water, Behavior Change and Environmental Sanitation) aims to improve access to water and sanitation in line with the SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) Global Program Water Framework. This position as a WABES project manager for the MEWS group, will be focused on improved and equitable access to safely managed sanitation, considering circular economy principles. The key focus of our mandate is solutions for the management of non-sewered sanitation, or fecal sludge management, in dense urban areas. The main tasks are currently centered around:
1. production of bio-based conditioners (i.e., coagulants and flocculants) from organic waste streams for improved dewatering, and;
2. low-footprint treatment for removal of organic matter and nutrients, of the resulting liquid streams.
Applied research is conducted collaboratively with research partners worldwide, currently with a focus in Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia. More information on the MEWS group can be found .
Responsibilities:
3. Coordinate and manage applied research on WABES research objectives
4. Collect, manage and analyze quantitative data sets
5. Mentor students in experimental design, laboratory skills and data management
6. Develop and pursue new collaborations with research and implementation partners
7. Write policy briefs, guidelines and scientific articles
8. Prepare and present lectures and workshops on fecal sludge management
9. Manage budget, write operational and financial reports
10. Contribute to the development of new funding proposals
Candidates for this position should have the following qualifications:
11. MSc in environmental, sanitary, or public health engineering
12. Relevant experience with sanitation, and sewered and non-sewered wastewater management
13. Experience with laboratory research (e.g. wastewater analysis, running reactors)
14. Demonstrated quantitative data analysis skills (e.g., R, Python)
15. Strong organization and communication skills. The candidate must have proven ability to work collaboratively with international teams across diverse disciplines and to coordinate activities for multi-stakeholder projects
16. International work experience in low-income countries (e.g. internship)
17. Any additional knowledge of mechanical engineering, sensors, chemistry, or microbiology is a plus
18. Fluency in English is required, knowledge of other languages is a plus
Position details
Timeline: Earliest starting date is 1 July 2025.
Duration: Current funding runs until 31 December 2026, with possibility of extension.
Location: This position is based at Eawag in Dübendorf, Switzerland, with intermittent international travel.