Laboratory & Quality Assurance Officer I at Nyeri Water & Sewerage Company Limited (NYEWASCO)

• The job holder is responsible for ensuring the effective operations of the quality assurance section ensuring product compliance to applicable standards.

Key Responsibilities/ Duties / Tasks
Managerial / Supervisory Responsibilities

• Coach, mentor, train and develop staff to ensure an effective and motivated team; and
• Supervises and appraises staff.

Operational Responsibilities / Tasks

• Establishes and implements monitoring programs for raw water quality, drinking water surveillance and pollution control to confirm efficiency and effectiveness in treatment processes.
• Establishes sampling points within the water supply to cover all end points and sewage treatment plants.
• Establishes relevant parameters for testing to assess the quality of the water and effluents from the water and sewage treatment plants respectively.
• Establishes key performance indicators and assign targets.
• Establishes monitoring frequencies based on risk assessment and/or as per requirements by regulatory agencies.
• Identifies resources required and plan for their availability.
• Oversees the inspections of treatment plants and sample collections for analysis are conducted at the designated points.
• Oversees that a water and sewage effluent quality database is maintained.
• Oversees that the quality of effluents from identified trade dischargers are regularly monitored to confirm compliance to prevailing regulatory requirements.
• Provides technical content to the relevant company polices.
• Collect, analyze and interpret data on the performance of Company’s processes and convert it into information for decision making;
• Prepare and delivery written and oral reports, papers and briefings; and prepare and speeches and briefs;
• Prepare proposals and concept papers for Quality Assurance;
• Design, develop, validate and optimize studies for purposes of determining effectiveness and efficiency of company’s processes;
• Compile reports, charts, and tables based on established statistical methods and communicate the information to users;
• Implement the performance management and evaluation tools to ensure that they are effectively utilized by staff;
• Implement quality management systems, risk management strategies and corruption prevention and mitigation strategies in the Company;
• Prepare departmental annual budget, work plans and procurement plans;
• Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual reports on strategy and planning;
• Prepare reports to internal and external stakeholders including development partners and oversight institutions;
• Implement departmental service delivery charter; and

Job Dimensions:
Financial Responsibility

• N/A

Responsibility for Physical Assets

• Furniture and fittings of approximately 8 million
• Machines and equipment of approximately Kshs.25 million

Decision Making / Job Influence

• Operational decisions
• Analytical decisions.

Working Conditions

• Works in a laboratory environment (80%)
• Works in the field within the service area (20%)
• Working beyond normal hours including weekends

Job Competencies (Knowledge, Experience and Attributes / Skills).
Academic qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree Chemistry, Biology and/or related fields
• Professional Qualifications / Membership to professional bodies
• ISO/IEC 17025 certification will be added advantage
• Previous relevant work experience required.
• 5 years’ relevant experience with 3 years’ Supervisory experience
• Functional Skills, Behavioural Competencies/Attributes:
• Report writing skills;
• Communication skills;
• Problem solving skills
• Negotiation skills;
• Critical thinking skills;
• Planning skills;
• Interpersonal skills;
• Mentorship skills
• Counselling skills;
• Presentation skills; and
• Conflict resolution skill