The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 40 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Job overview: 

Under the direct supervision of the Senior EH officer, the water technician officer is responsible to provide electromechanical related emergency response as well as durable solution activities in all IRC EH/WASH intervention areas in Tigray for IDPs and Hosting Community. The principal role of the Water Technician Officer (WTO) is to ensure quality program implementation and providing capacity building trainings. The Water Technician Officer will be based at Shire Inda Selassie to carry out rehabilitation of water schemes in Northwest zone of Tigray, capacity building of IRC staff and to government staff (Woreda water office technicians), Water Management committee (WASHCo) of each scheme in hosting communities. He/she will be responsible for supervising water technician assistant officers and plumbers participated in rehabilitation of water schemes (Boreholes, hand pumps and spring development schemes). 

Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as main technical focal point for activities related to troubleshooting, operation, and maintenance of electro-mechanical parts (pumps, generators, switchboards) of water supply systems in IRC operations areas in Tigray.
• Identify gaps & plan for onsite training to build the capacity of the Assistant Water Technician Officers, plumbers, and operators in Hitsats IRC managed water system in consultation with the EH department water technician Manager.
• Ensures that all generators, pumps, dewatering pumps and fittings at production and distribution systems, tap stands, water storage tanks have enough back up easily moved parts.
• Identify & ensure the procurement of tools and equipment required towards operation & maintenance of the water supply systems including generators, pumps, and control panel for pumps.
• Prepare and put in place monitoring plan for the operation and servicing of the generators, Solar System, and pumps.
• Keep records of fuel consumption, generator working hours and electromechanical equipment’s performance indicators during the operation and maintenance phase and report to supervisor and Water Technician Manager.
• Organize and deliver trainings on operation and maintenance of electro-mechanical parts to IRC Staff (operators, plumbers, and Assistant Water Technicians Officers) and Government water office electrotechnical experts and technicians in IRC operation areas in Tigray.
• Provide the necessary technical support to water management committees (WMCs), operators, plumbers and technicians in the operation and maintenance of their water supply schemes.
• Prepare, weekly and monthly progress reports and keep the supervisor informed of the maintenance and/or installation of electro-mechanical parts.
• Visit the generators and pumps monthly and provide guidance and advice for the operators and maintenance team of woreda electromechanical experts.
• In coordination with regional water bureau and woreda water offices conduct assessment on electromechanical problems and rehabilitate water schemes (install generators, pumps, switch bords) in the existing and new water supply projects.
• In coordination with regional water bureau and woreda water offices conduct assessment on electromechanical problems
• Prepare detail specification including item description, part # and quantity of spare parts necessary to fix identified problems on electro-mechanical parts (pumps, generator set, dewatering pumps, water treatment kits, control panels, etc.) of the water supply schemes.
• Identify and ensure the procurement of minor tools required towards operation and maintenance of the systems including, spare parts, generator sets, control panel for pumps.
• Install and maintain generators, pumps, switch boards, solarized systems and perform other related tasks as requested by supervisor.
• Prepare weekly & monthly progress reports and keep the supervisor informed of the maintenance and/or installation of electro-mechanical parts.
• Facilitate and coordinate in documenting program related documents keep records on activities of water operation in soft copy and hard copy.
• Represent and coordinate with other agencies, local government, donors, and other partners to promote deliver of standard methodology humanitarian assistance.

Staff management

• Supervise and provide the necessary technical support to water technician assistants, water guard operators, IDP social workers and technicians in operation and maintenance of their water supply schemes facilities.
• Directly supervise team of EH (operation/maintenance team; generator operators, plumber, chlorinator, water system care takers and water tap attendants) for IDPs and host communities’ intervention in specified sites as needed.
• Prepare performance targets jointly with supervisee and evaluate their performance bi-annually.

Job Requirement

Qualifications

• A minimum of 1 year for postgraduate, 2 years for first degree or diploma with 5 years of proven relevant experience in areas of generator installation, generator servicing and maintenance, pump installation and servicing, plumbing and related water works.
• NGO experience is a plus.
• Working under stressful conditions and ability to prioritize among urgent tasks.
• Basic supervisory/managerial skill.
• Technical report writing skill.
• Computer literate.

Educational Requirements : BSC/Diploma in Electro-Mechanical/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering from recognized university/college/TVET. 

Preferred competency, experience & skills:

• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.
• Strong analytic problem-solving skills
• Good ability in communication, work both independently and in a dynamic teamwork.
• Good ability in Microsoft Office  
• Ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

Language Skills: Very good communication skills (verbal and written) in English language. Knowledge of the local language is an advantage.