WASH Officer -Water Quality at Peace Winds Japan

JOB OVERVIEW:

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 Kakuma camps.

The Primary responsibilities of Water Quality Officer will include 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.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• 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 availability 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 Kakuma 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 Kakuma 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.

Relevant Experience

• Degree in water technology, public health or analytical chemistry
• Experience in WHO WASH water quality standards
• Minimum 2 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
• Report writing skills and computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Skills and competencies

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