Hydrologist (2 positions) – Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Employment Type:  three months: limited contract

Required number: two

Duty Station: Bahir Dar with frequent travel to 8 primary schools located around Bahir Dar City

Splash Overview

Splash is an international charitable organization headquartered in Seattle, WA, founded in 2007. Our mission is simple: “We clean water for kids.” In 14 years, we have reached over 700,000 children in cities around the world. In 2019, we embarked on an exciting, five-year initiative, Project WISE, (WASH in Schools for Everyone), to reach every government school in Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar in Ethiopia, and Kolkata, India with improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, WASH behavior change programs and strengthened school-based menstrual health programs. This project will benefit more than 800,000 children by 2023.

Our core values guide everything we do including every hiring decision we make.  They are:

• · People – People first. People second. People third.
• ·       Quality – Beautiful products that function and last.
• ·       Honesty – No drama, no surprises, no BS.
• ·       Joy – Kids at heart, seeing potential everywhere.
• ·       Mistakes – Make them, don’t repeat them.

Splash values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment. To learn more, please visit www.splash.org.

Position Overview

The hydrologist, borehole drilling supervisor, is expected to undertake day to day follow up on sites where borehole drilling is carried out and provide on-site high level technical support and ensure the work is going on in line with the contractual agreement reached between the drilling enterprise/company and Splash Ethiopia.

The hydrologists report directly to the WASH Infrastructure Manager and also closely works with the entire Splash Bahir Dar team.

Responsibilities

The position holders will be responsible to carry out a day-to-day follow-up of the borehole drilling works in eight sites found Bahir Dar city administration. The position will contribute to ensuring well productivity and work quality.  It will contribute to the effective target achievement of the Project.

• Engage in detailed groundwater source assessment for water supply projects in partnership with respective government offices.
• Review and evaluate feasibility study documents, verify drilling sites at field level prior to drilling implementation, conduct field monitoring, and onsite technical assistance.
• Ensure the selected sites and groundwater development follows community needs, donor’s requirements, Splash and government policies, and national standards.
• Decide on the well depth during the drilling work considering the required water demand and the soil condition.
• Develop necessary formats and create a database for ongoing & completed well drilling sites and report production.
• Take part in planning, follow up on project implementation, and provide progress reports as required.
• Promote major cross-cutting themes including environment, gender, child protection, disability, and peacebuilding.
• Oversee well drilling programs including logging drill cuttings; identifying types of geologic materials being drilled and locating water-bearing zones; well design, development of well specifications, management, and/or review of well construction and testing results.
• Ensuring that the work site is safe, clean, and organized.
• Ensuring that all drilling procedures are followed, and all safety precautions are taken.
• Communicating with engineers and other team members about technical issues that arise during drilling operations.
• Preparing reports detailing daily drilling activities and any problems encountered during drilling operations.
• Monitoring the amount of time required to drill each section of a well in order to ensure that deadlines are met and monitoring day-to-day site activities for drilling and completion projects.
• Reporting any problems encountered during drilling operations to the appropriate party for resolution.
• Coordinate with the WASH Infrastructure manager to develop schedules to meet contract requirements.
• Supervise and direct field crews and drilling contractors.
• Ensure implementation of health and safety and project work plans.
• Ensure the availability of access roads for the transportation of rigs and other vehicles by communicating with the user community and resolve day to day problems on the job site.
• Provide direction and coordination of field activities related to drilling and other fieldwork.
• Interface and communicate with clients in a professional manner.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with drilling contractors and vendors.
• Facilitate comprehensive water quality test undertakings after drilling.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

Preparation and approval of contractors’ payments

• BSc degree or above in Geology/Hydrogeology/Earth Science/Geophysics
• 6 years for MSc and 8 years for BSc with relevant experience: Direct experience on borehole drilling supervision is much preferred
• Basic computer knowledge (Word, Excel, Outlook) and advanced knowledge of current up-to-date design software.
• Advanced knowledge of application software such as Arc-GIS, Global mapper, etc.