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.

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