WATER QUALITY OFFICER

Country: Kenya

Organization: Peace Winds Japan

Closing date: 10 Jan 2023

PEACE WINDS JAPAN

Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) is a Japanese Non-Governmental Organization established in 1996. PWJ has been providing humanitarian and development assistance for people affected by forced displacement and natural disasters in more than 20 countries in the world.

PWJ launched its mission in Kenya in 2012 and has been implementing projects funded by UN agencies and the government of Japan in shelter, WASH and youth development to improve living environments of refuge and host populations while promoting peaceful coexistence and self- reliance in the communities in Dadaab, Kakuma and Kalobeyei.

PWJ is UNHCR partner responsible for WASH, Warehouse, Motor vehicle Service Unit, Shelter, Centralized fleet and fuel management for Dadaab Refugee Operations.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Water Quality Officer reports to the WASH Coordinator, and is responsible for ensuring the supply of quality water to refugees and host community members in Dadaab camps.

The Primary responsibilities of Water Quality Officer will includes overseeing the proper treatment of water at permanent and temporary treatment plants; supervision and monitoring of regular water quality test activities; set up of water quality data management system (data collection, entry, analysis, reporting); and conducting regular trainings to build the staff capacity on water quality. He/she will also ensure proper management of equipment, consumables and other resources under the program and reporting periodically to supervisors.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure proper treatment/disinfection of water at treatment plants.


• Establish clear and straightforward management systems including Jar tests, Alum dosage, Chlorine dosage, chemical preparation, etc.


• Organize regular water quality data monitoring system and conduct regular water quality test starting from the Intake, to different stages of treatment plant, tap stands, storage reservoir/s, household level, etc to ensure refugees/host community are supplied with safe water as per UNHCR and international standards.


• Develop necessary formats and a database for regular water quality data collection, data entry, storage, analysis and report production.


• Raise purchase requests for procurement of equipment, reagents, treatment chemicals, and ensure the availably of all necessary items in stock for regular water quality test and operation.


• Ensure the cleaning of treatment plant units, service reservoir, and clean water wells at regular, scheduled intervals.


• Prepare the preparation of Operation manuals for the water treatment plants in Dadaab camps.


• Work with WASH officer and coordinate with other IPs on information sharing related with water quality and promotion of proper water storage at household level.


• Summarize and produce weekly, and monthly water quality report to the Area Manager to share to head office and UNHCR;


• Serve as the focal person for water quality issues for Dadaab camp and head of the water quality lab.

Water Quality Control

• Collect water samples from selected water sources and from points of its usage i.e boreholes, households, water taps, schools and health facility


• Carry out physical and bacteriological analysis of drinking water for all the camps and water sources. Coordinate and manage lab testing.


• Ensuring training of national staff, incentive staff and WASH committees in technical areas including water quality testing and/or building and maintaining quality water point structures.


• Ensure SPHERE standards both qualitative and quantitative are considered for analysis of water quality and quantity.

Sanitation and Hygiene

• Together with hygiene promoters, WASH committees and community leaders, conduct assessments to understand barriers and motivators for promoting key sanitation and hygiene practices and behaviors.


• Develop effective social and behavioral change intervention strategies for promoting key sanitation and hygiene practices and behaviors based on identified barriers and motivators.


• Support hygiene promoters to carry out these strategies through regular hygiene promotion activities and community dialogues to engage communities to foster their initiatives to improve their sanitation and hygiene


• Provide technical assistance for the community agents and beneficial communities on construction/installment of WASH related facilities e.g., toilet, hand washing facility, refuse-pit and dish rack, etc.


• Coordinate with education partners and schools to implement School Led Total Sanitation (SLTS), star school awarding and any other activities to promote sanitation and hygiene among school going children


• Conduct community awareness creation sessions on menstrual hygiene management. This includes dialogues with leaders including religious leaders and any other trusted persons in the community


• Work together with incentive sanitation cleaners, market committees and any other groups and individual to remove the waste from the residential and communal spaces, dispose the waste and manage existing disposal site properly. Develop a strategy for sustainable solid waste management service for the future implementation


• Develop sanitation marketing strategies with CBOs and private sectors for sanitation and hygiene and involve hygiene promoters in carrying out sanitation marketing activities.

Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Work with the health partners on how to interpret and use data/findings to guide targeted interventions and decision making


• Work closely with the MEAL officer to conduct routine KAP surveys and latrine census.


• Timely development of monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual performance reports and highlighting success stories arising from the field


• Represent the organization as required in inter-agency and government coordination meetings and liaise with other organizations working in the operational area where appropriate.


• Carry out any other task as requested by the supervisor

Require Qualifications Education and qualification

• Bachelor's degree in Water engineering, public health/environmental health, analytical chemistry, biochemistry or microbiology from a recognized university


• Knowledge of SPHERE, WHO and national quality standards


• Be a registered/licensed member of the relevant body


• Additional course or personal learning on community development, livelihood, project and business management is an asset


• Understanding of water pipeline designs, knowledge of ArcGIS; Epanet, AutoCAD Civil-CAD and water modeling software is an asset

Relevant Experience

• Minimum 5 years relevant work experience in the area of WASH and at least 1 year in humanitarian setting.


• Experience in capacity building for community own resource persons or community-based staff


• Experience in intervention projects with strong community involvement


• Experience in partner and stakeholder coordination


• Experience in designing and implementing social and behavior change communication

Skills and competencies

• Ability to observe and understand cultural and social contexts and reflect the understandings in programing


• Excellent analytical and report writing skills


• Strong community engagement and facilitation skill


• Ability to infuse positive energy to the team


• Attention to detail, keen at following procedures and meeting deadlines


• Ability to organize tasks simultaneously and prioritize work


• Strong verbal and written communication skills


• Strong interpersonal skills working with cross cultural and multi diverse teams


• Ability to build strong working relationships for partnerships


• Standards of Professional Conduct especially on integrity, service, and accountability

Capacity building:

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  • Conduct regular training/refreshment/ jointly with the Water quality team members including Hygiene promoter team, assistant water quality Assistant officers, and treatment & chemical operators and camp water quality monitors.
    - Prepare notes, modules, and other related resources regarding the training component and share for the trainees;
    - Organize the laboratories with necessary equipment, manuals for equipment, books, and other electronic reference materials.
  
  

General Employees’ Obligations and Responsibilities

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  • The Employer stipulates the right to assign the Employee any other kind of work derived from his/her specialization. In case of urgent work and such like the Employee may be asked to work overtime as well as during public and other holidays.
    - Deliver project objectives within time, resource and budget constraints.
    - Correctness and completeness of given tasks.
    - The Employee takes over the responsibility for all entrusted material or cash. The Employee is obligated to cover all damages or losses caused by his carelessness.
    - Maintain confidentiality of all information gained from employment within, not publicly.
    - Representing and upholding the values, policies and procedures of PWJ at all times.
    - Your schedule is subject to change at any time according to the organization needs.
    - Behave in a professional manner at all the times with the understanding that the public associates your behavior with PWJ.
  
  

How to apply

Working Conditions:

The position is based at Dadaab refugee camp. Hot weather is prevalent throughout the year. The holder of this position is recruited in line with the PWJ terms and conditions of service. The incumbent shall reside in UNHCR refugee camp while executing official duties.

Additional information of the posting

We are looking to recruit Kenyan national candidates only. Interested and qualified candidates are cordially invited to send a cover letter (1 page) indicating salary expectation and resume (3 pages) as one pdf document no later than 10th January 2023 to: **recruit@peace-winds.or.ke.**When applying indicate the title this position on the Subject line. Due to the urgency to fill this position, shortlisting and interviews will be conducted on rolling basis.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For more information about Peace Winds Japan, please visit https://peace-winds.org/en/