WASH Officer Water Quality

Job Description

1. Role and responsibilities

The water quality officer leads all water quality management activities, including treatment plant operations, rigorous testing protocols, data analysis, reporting, and capacity building, to meet WHO, Sphere, and UNHCR standards. The officer oversees water treatment systems and operations, resource management, and inter-agency coordination to ensure a safe water supply to refugees and host communities. The following is a brief description of the role.

Generic responsibilities

Below are the general responsibilities of the position:

• Supervise daily operations of water treatment plants, ensuring optimal disinfection (chlorination, alum dosing), cleaning, and compliance with technical protocols.
• Perform regular calibration/maintenance of water quality testing equipment (photometers, incubators, sensors).
• Conduct comprehensive analysis on test results/trends and produce weekly/monthly water quality compliance reports for NRC, UNHCR, RRS, and partners.
• Manage procurement and inventory of reagents, treatment chemicals, consumables, and spare parts to prevent shortages in critical supplies and ensure uninterrupted clean water supply.
• Train plant operators testing protocols, safety procedures, and compliance with UNHCR/Sphere standards.

Specific responsibilities

• Implement daily water quality tests at tap stands, reservoirs, water treatment plants, ensuring optimal disinfection (chlorination, alum dosing) and adherence to technical protocols.
• Oversee daily operations at treatment facilities, including jar testing, chemical dosing, and maintenance schedules.
• Supervise regular cleaning of treatment units, service reservoirs, and other clean water storage facilities.
• Establish a comprehensive water testing regime from water intake points to household levels (consumption points, covering: Physicochemical parameters (pH, turbidity, residual chlorine) and Bacteriological safety (fecal coliforms, E. coli).
• Manage digital data systems for test results, trends’ analysis, and automated reporting.
• Produce weekly/monthly quality compliance reports for NRC, RRS, UNHCR, and other partners.
• Ensure the proper functioning of water quality test instruments and equipment by conducting regular calibration/maintenance of equipment (e.g., Photometers, incubators, sensors, meters).
• Manage procurement and inventory of reagents, water treatment chemicals, and other supplies of consumables and spare parts.
• Ensure strict stock control to prevent shortages in critical supplies to ensure smooth supply of clean water.
• Serve as NRC’s primary focal point for water quality issues in his/her respective camp.
• Coordinate with IPs (Implementing Partners) on joint water safety plans and household water storage initiatives.
• Train plant operators on testing protocols, safety procedures in accordance with UNHCR and Sphere minimum standards

Critical interfaces

Relevant interfaces for this position are:

• External: UNHCR, RRS, local authorities, community leaders, NGOs/INGOs.
• Internal: WASH Team Leader, Water Supply/Hygiene Promotion Officers, Support Departments (Logistics, Finance), other CC teams (Education).

Qualifications

1. Professional competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in Sanitary/Environmental Engineering, Water Supply Engineering, Water Engineering, Environmental/Public Health, Applied Chemistry, Microbiology or related field.
• Minimum 3 years (with first degree) or 2 years (with postgraduate) in water quality management, preferably in humanitarian settings.
• Proven experience in surface water treatment, urban/rural water supply systems, and operations.
• Advanced skills in data analysis software (e.g., Excel, Power BI, KoBo Toolbox) and technical report writing.
• NGO experience in Dolo Ado refugee contexts.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).
• Knowledge of Somali language.

2. Behavioral competencies

The following NRC’s competencies are essential for this position:

• Managing resources and achieving results
• Handling insecure environments
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Working with people
• Coping with change
• Planning and delivering results.

Skills Required:

• Applied / Natural / Science
• Chemistry / Chemical / Engineering
• Environmental / Natural / Resource
• Health / Medical
• Hydraulics / Water / Engineering