Hydrogeologist Officer

Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-9 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-9 contracts.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labour force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage the recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - Job-specific

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a leader in the region for the rights of its children. Working closely with the Government of Jordan, civil society, the private sector and communities, UNICEF Jordan Country Office aims to sustain results achieved for children to date, and strive to further improve policies, national institutions and programmes, for the well-being of every child in Jordan, in line with Jordan's Vision 2025 and the National Human Resources Development Strategy (2016-2025) towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Our programmes focus on improving the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the Kingdom, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or background. Our main pillars include: Child Protection; Education; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene; Adolescent and Youth Engagement; Health and Nutrition; Social Protection; and Operations.

Since the onset of the Syrian crisis in 2011, over 1.3 million Syrian refugees have been registered with UNHCR in Jordan and currently 121,931 of these refugees live in two camps: 78,061 in Za’atari camp; 37,170 in Azraq. UNICEF, as Lead Agency for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector, providing water and sanitation facilities in the camps ensuring that the refugees receive the minimum standard of 35 liters of water per person per day and that the environment is kept in a sanitary condition through a range of activities, including desludging, realization of a gray water and community mobilization.

In collaboration with SDC, UNICEF constructed Boreholes and community-level water networks in Azraq camps, with each WASH block (toilet and bathing cubicle) shared between three shelters and connected to water and greywater networks. The current system has been operational since May 2017 and consists of 2 boreholes, 2 storage locations, main pipelines, and the distribution network. The water is supplied to four villages in the camp through the main pipeline to over 300 communal taps stands daily according to a distribution schedule with regulated distribution times of 2 shifts per day.

Water demand at the Azraq camp is increasing due to the Covid isolation cases and peak summer demand periods, hence the communal water network is suffering from low water pressure and quantity issues associated with unequal demand and community misuse of the tap stands. Left

unaddressed this will lead to increased security and instability in the camp. Realizing the high water need and crowd at the tap stand, UNICEF received additional funding support from SDC to install an additional Borehole (BH) and plot level water network extension. Currently both projects are under assessment and preparatory phase. A consultant is selected to do the assessment including BOQ and design estimation preparation.

Objective

The main objective of the post “Hydrogeologist” is to support UNICEF Jordan program in monitoring and supervision of BH drilling in Azraq camp that includes day to day quality check, control and provide technical support to the contracting company for the successful BH implementation. Moreover, the hydrogeologist is to support the monitoring and supervision of Zaatari and Azraq camps existing BHs and provide technical support whenever needed.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the Supervision of the WASH Specialist.

1. Technical Support and Project Management

- Under the supervision of the WASH Specialist/WASH Manager (SDC) and Chief WASH, lead the planning, design, construction and commissioning of the 3rd Borehole in the camp.

- Conduct a desktop review of the hydrogeological conditions onsite. Review the design and contract documents supplied by contractors to ensure their quality and appropriateness.

- Organize, plan, and supervise daily drilling operations jointly with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and contractors.

- Ensure that drilling operations are conducted according to the contractual specifications and internationally accepted standards and methods.

- Approve the borehole design to ensure that layers are correctly delimited and that the well design matches the hydrogeological conditions revealed by the geophysical logs.

- Provide timely decision-making support during drilling, development, pump test operations, and certification.

- Provide timely technical support to the contractor for BH drilling as necessary.

- Supervise maintenance operations of the already existing boreholes (BH-2 and BH-3) and geophysical investigations.

- Monitor 3 BHs of Zaatari camp including geological investigations and provide necessary recommendations whenever needed.

2. Monitoring and Documentation:

- Water quality monitoring including Investigation of the quality of the water to ensure that it is fit for drinking.

- Monitor the implementation/BH installation (construction and commissioning of BH) that includes: Collect water and soil samples to test for certain properties, such as the pH or pollution levels.

- Support partners/contractors to ensure adequate reporting and timely updates

- Review and provide input to technical sections of O&M manuals (BH – operation)

- Support the certification of the network and the handover of completed works (BHs)

- Compiling and filing a complete set of all the relevant design and construction documents for future reference.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Competencies

- Technical competency

- Drive for results

- Analytical

- Reliable and able to work under pressure

- Capable of working in a multi-national/cultural environment

- Excellent communications skills

- Strong organizing ability

- Flexibility

- Ability to learn

- Initiative

Education/Experience/Language requirements

• Graduate in Groundwater engineering, (Hydrogeologist) or a related subject that includes groundwater.
• At least 4 years’ experience in ground water including BH drilling in public water/wastewater utilities.
• Good knowledge and having experience on water formations beneath the soil.
• Knowledge of water quality testing and sampling methods and techniques.
• Previous experience in the humanitarian WASH sector (UN, government or NGO entity) dealing with large scale emergencies or displaced/refugee camp situations would be considered an asset.
• Project Management and Construction Management required.
• Demonstrated experience in the operation and maintenance of ground water management systems and wastewater management is a considerable asset.
• Any training course in BH drilling and O&M of water and wastewater networks is an asset
• Computer skills ( Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Autocad …etc)

Contract type, level and duration

1. Contract type: ICA
2. Contract level: Local ICA Specialist
3. Contract duration: Till end of Dec 2022

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.