Laboratory Technician for Water Quality Testing (2 Positions)
About GOAL:
Founded in 1977, GOAL works to promote the realization of the fundamental rights of the poor, the vulnerable, and those affected by humanitarian crisis. GOAL currently works in 16 countries; Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Iraq, and Zimbabwe. GOAL’s head office is in Dublin, Ireland with support offices in London and New York.
Operational in Uganda since 1979, GOAL has a head office in Kampala, five field offices and over 90 staff. We implement programmes that build community resilience and support socio-economic development with a focus on water, sanitation and hygiene, health systems strengthening and agricultural market systems.
Laboratory Technician for water quality testing – Temporary position (2 Positions)
Location: Agago
Reports to: MEAL Manager
Nutrition Programme Summary
GOAL Uganda is part of a consortium led by Tufts University to conduct a research project (One Nutrition in Complex Environments (ONCE)) funded by USAID which aims to pilot and carefully measure the effects of a multi-level multi-sectoral nutrition intervention in Agago District, Northern Uganda, and determine potential for scale up in a complex environment. The research has three aims;
- Aim 1: Implement and test two approaches to nutrition: (1) GOAL’s Nutrition Impacts Positive Practice (NIPP) program and (2) NIPP in combination with a “value-added” integrated approach (NIPP+). The latter includes access to innovative low-cost tools and technologies relating to a) WASH, b) animal health and c) agriculture.
- Aim 2: Identify best-practices emerging from the implementation of the two approaches (NIPP alone and NIPP+) through process and program monitoring for effective integration, implementation, scale-up, and uptake.
- Aim 3: Study the sustained impact of the NIPP approach and the ”value added” package (NIPP+) on knowledge and practices by gender within participating households, environmental risk factors, child health and nutritional status through a rigorous impact evaluation and longitudinal monitoring system.
GOAL is now seeking 2 laboratory technicians to support the team in carrying out data collection for the baseline survey for the Feed the Future ONCE project in Agago District between 6th January and 8th February 2020.
Purpose of the Role:
GOAL will recruit and train 2 laboratory technicians for a period of 30 days (training and data collection) to assist with water quality testing for baseline survey.
The baseline survey will target 900 households with mothers with children 6 month- 2 years in age. The baseline will involve topical surveys, collecting water samples at household and at water sources for water quality testing and taking anthropometry measurements of children 6 month- 2 years. The data will be collected from the sub-counties of Omya Pacwa, Lukole, Omot, Patongo and Arum.
The laboratory technicians will assist with water quality testing for baseline survey scheduled to start on the 6th January 2020 to 8th February 2020. They will be using digital data gathering forms in CommCare app to enter water quality results for each sample. The laboratory technicians will report to MEAL Manager and will be required to work for 6 days a week (Monday to Saturday) and sometimes Sundays for the duration of the baseline survey.
Laboratory technicians may work as a team or in shift of day and night depending on the number of samples collected per day.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct, or oversee the conduct of chemical, physical, and biological water quality sampling testing and analysis to ensure compliance with water quality standard
- Keep track and maintain a record of the water quality stock through documentation.
- Ensure routine maintenance of test equipment, instruments, reagents and other laboratory equipments.
- Ensure equipment comply with applicable protocols, standards and guidelines
- Ensure accurate collection of data, including the correct code for the household in to the survey questionnaire.
- The Laboratory technicians shall receive samples in two shifts; in the afternoon for day time analysis and in the evening for night time analysis.
- Collaborate with field team and provide feedback on issues related to collection of water samples
- Shall be required to sign a tablet for his/her work and ensure that the tablets and any accessories given is kept safely, handled with care and only used for the right purpose.
- Ensure charging of assigned tablet and must verify that it is charged to 100% each morning before the start of the work.
- Sign your attendance list on a daily basis
- Adhere to GOAL’s safeguarding policies including child protection, sexual harassment, fraud and conflict of interest policy
- Any other roles and responsibilities assigned by the supervisor
Laboratory technicians will be responsible to the laboratory technician focal person and MEAL manager.
GOAL will make available to the Laboratory technicians all materials required to complete their role.
Duration and timeframe:
Laboratory technicians will be expected to be in post for a period of 5 weeks, starting on 6th January 2020.
They will be expected to attend a 6-day training in Agago District from Monday 6th January to Saturday 11 January. Trainings will begin at 8:00am each day.
Laboratory technicians will be expected to work 6 days per week. There will be up to 10 days spent overnight at field sites in targeted sub-counties.
Terms of placement:
During the training technicians will be paid daily allowance and accommodation for the period of data collection and will be subject to Uganda tax law and regulations.
During data collection GOAL will provide transport from the GOAL office or field base to the field sites. Technicians are expected to make their own way to the GOAL office. GOAL will provide a small snack and water daily. Where the team is required to stay overnight to facilitate data collection, GOAL will provide accommodation. No additional payments shall be provided.
Payments will be made at the end of the training and at the end of data collection through either mobile money or bank transfer.
All the applicants are expected to have a functional bank account, NSSF Number and Tax identification number (TIN). You are also expected to provide a mobile money number registered in your own names.
In the case where technician fails to work for three consecutive days without prior communication to her or his supervisor and without any valid excuse, it will be deemed that s/he abandoned the work and therefore GOAL may decide to deduct the number of days for which s/he was absent or decide to withhold a payment and terminate contract.
Tablets used during training and data collection should be returned in the same conditions they were given to you. If lost, damaged or misplaced the technician will be responsible for the loss/damage.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
Essential
- The ideal candidate for the GOAL water quality testing assistant must hold a diploma in water engineering/civil engineering/public health, sciences – chemistry, biology or laboratory technology and a minimum of 3 years’ experience carrying out water quality tests OR a
- Must have a demonstrated experience carrying out water quality test and implementing remedial actions
- Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge and understanding of WHO and National (GOU) water quality standard
- Ability to read and write to a high standard in English and demonstrated writing of technical reports.
- Experience in research or data collection using digital data gathering application (ODK, CommCare, SurveyCTO, Mwater
- Good communication skills (written, spoken)
Desired
- Ability to stay in the field for long hours and in some circumstances overnight.
- Experience in rural development program and activities
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Fluency in Luo
How to Apply:
Interested applicants who meet the requirements should submit their applications which must include at least 4 reference contacts (2 professional, 2 character references, including your supervisor and the most recent/previous employer), and daytime contact number to; The Human Resource Manager, GOAL Uganda on the email: recruitment@ug.goal.ie by 4th December 2019. PLEASE DO NOT ATTACH CERTIFICATES, indicate the job title in the subject line.
Deadline: 4th December 2019
NB: Only selected candidates that meet the requirements will be notified.