Technical Officer

Job Description

Title: Technical Officer

Company Name: REACH: Improving Water Security for the Poor

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Anywhere in Bangladesh

Employment Status: Contractual

Educational Requirements:
∎ Minimum requirement of MSc degree. Preferred specialization in engineering, information science, computer sciences, mathematics, or other quantitative disciplines.
∎ Additional professional studies or advanced degree related to water management is preferred but not required.

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ Project: REACH Project, Bangladesh Country Programme
∎ Duration: One-year renewable contract for up to three years.
∎ The REACH programme seeks to advance world-leading, risk-based science through interdisciplinary research to improved water security for five million poor people in Africa and Asia by 2022. The science-practitioner partnership is led by Oxford University with UNICEF as the global, regional and national practitioner partner. More details at: www.reachwater.org.uk
∎ In Bangladesh, the programme is led by BUET (IWFM) with University of Dhaka and icddr,b and UNICEF, with collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh and the private sector. Three observatory sites have been identified in the first phase of the work in Khulna, Dhaka and Matlab. This senior position will support the policy work in all three sites with specific deliverables related to the Coastal Water Security, Urban River Security and Universal Drinking Water Security workflows in Khulna, Dhaka and Matlab. Three observatories will have local field teams and offices to support the work and link to wider water security monitoring and modelling.
∎ This position will report to a senior member of the University of Oxford team and is appointed and managed by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. The successful candidate has responsibilities to liaise with UNICEF and the Department of Public Health and Environment on technical and policy related issues. We announce availability of a full-time position for Technical Officer to be awarded in July 2019 under a recently initiated 7 years (2015-2022) programme: "REACH: Improving Water Security for the Poor".

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Project Coordination and Management:
∎ Manage procurement, installation and maintenance of water sensors and monitors including hand pump transmitters, piped water meters and river monitoring technologies.
∎ Coordinate processes to obtain required permissions. Also coordinate with project partners for sensor placement in field research sites and ensure equipment tracking and maintenance system, as needed.
∎ Coordinate and communicate REACH activities with UNICEF country and regional programmes and the University of Oxford, including attending key meetings and meeting with WASH team. Coordinate and communicate REACH research, work plans, and reporting activities with Government of Bangladesh, in partnership with UNICEF and BUET.
∎ Provide monthly reports and weekly updates to the Oxford University research team. Support field visits from the Oxford University team and other REACH partners.
∎ Support the team leader in generating monthly reports on the data system and the data generated by the system for UNICEF, Oxford, DPHE and other partners.
∎ Support the team leader in analysis of the data on handpump usage being generated by the data system.
∎ Technical Coordination and Support:
∎ Coordinate design and implementation of information management system including software, data management system and data visualization, particularly in relation to user needs.
∎ Coordinate technical components for device installation and data logger functionality.
∎ Coordinate collection of ancillary data related to universal drinking water and ensure integration into data platforms and research projects. Manage and oversee training workshops with government, NGO and community stakeholders.

Additional Requirements:
∎ Minimum of 5 years of professional experience required.
∎ Essential Skills:
∎ Independent, problem-solving and creative approach to work effectively to deliver project goals on time and on budget.
∎ Ability to communicate complex data to non-specialist "stakeholders".
∎ Experience working with information systems to advance monitoring, evaluation or technical improvements.
∎ Fluency in written and spoken English and Bengali
∎ Experience with databases (e.g. MS access, PHP, SQL)
∎ Experience with common GIS platform (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS).
∎ Experience with mobile data systems (e.g. SMS, GPRS).
∎ Desirable Skills:
∎ Experience coordinating rural field projects, preferably within the water sector.
∎ Experience curating and managing large data sets.
∎ Knowledge of web-based scripting, such as SQL and PHP programming languages.
∎ Experience working with Government of Bangladesh or related policy initiatives.

Application Deadline: July 9, 2019

Company Information:
∎ REACH: Improving Water Security for the Poor
∎ Address : IWFM, BUET, Dhaka - 1000
∎ Web : http://reachwater.org.uk/

Category: NGO/Development