SENIOR GROUNDWATER SPECIALIST – Totnes United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

SENIOR GROUNDWATER SPECIALIST

ABOUT GROUNDWATER RELIEF

Groundwater Relief (https://groundwater-relief.org/) is a UK registered charity (No. 1167458) that provides technical expertise and services to organisations and government agencies responsible for developing and managing groundwater resources across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Groundwater Relief’s work is facilitated by a team of international groundwater professionals, comprising over 500 registered technical members. Their collective support has enabled Groundwater Relief to undertake over 130 projects in 27 different countries in the past 8 years.

Groundwater Relief has a small team of core staff members who manage the technical membership, manage projects, and support the growth and development of the charity. We are in the process of expanding our dynamic and innovative staff team to increase our organisational capacity and to better engage our global membership of groundwater experts within the humanitarian and development sectors.

We are therefore currently looking to recruit a Senior Groundwater Specialist to join our core staff team at Groundwater Relief to help us in achieving our mission.

THE ROLE

The Senior Groundwater Specialist will be responsible for, but not limited to;

• Providing technical and strategic support to International and National Non-Government Organisations (INGOs/NGOs), UN agencies and Government Agencies engaged in water supply;
• Leading project teams to deliver high quality rapid technical support in the humanitarian context;
• Representing GWR on international projects; travelling to project locations to provide field support that may involve undertaking water resources assessments, managing drilling programmes, establishing monitoring networks, rehabilitation works, developing operations and maintenance programmes, and building the capacity of partner organisations and/or water authorities;
• Developing proposals and funding applications, working with other organisations to understand the best way to meet objectives and project needs;
• Developing high quality, technical but accessible reports, presenting findings clearly and keeping recommendations practical and direct for the humanitarian sector;
• Oversee, guide and support GWR’s staff on other technical projects, including reviewing technical reports;
• Work with GWR’s membership to publish guidance documents, technical standards and deliver technical trainings;
• Support innovation that will help GWR to meet its objectives as a charity;
• Promote GWR’s services within the humanitarian and development sectors, including presenting at conferences, presenting in coordination meetings, to donors and government departments.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

• Relevant degree with an MSc or equivalent qualification in Hydrogeological or similar;
• Extensive experience working in the field of water supply, including water well construction;
• Expertise or a good working knowledge of: water resource management, aquifer development, groundwater chemistry, groundwater contamination, geophysics and groundwater modelling;
• Proficiency in utilising hydrogeological and GIS software;
• Demonstrable experience in managing international groundwater projects, project budgets and delivering effective and timely outputs under pressure;
• Ability to engage with a range of different stakeholders, ideally within the humanitarian and development sector;
• Highly competent in developing and delivering high quality reports;
• Demonstrable experience delivering complex ideas to non-technical personnel;

YOUR PROFILE

We are looking for an individual with passion and desire to improve the way groundwater is developed, and managed, for the benefit of people across the globe.

We are looking for someone who has the ability to, and enjoys, interacting, establishing and maintaining relationships with multiple different stakeholders on both a technical and social level including government officials, NGOs, local organizations, communities, donors and the Groundwater Relief members.

We are looking for someone who can, and is willing to, travel internationally (up to 50% of the time) to work in demanding environments and in difficult circumstances. The candidate must have strong resilience and the ability to work under stress in remote areas with basic living conditions.

We are looking for someone who is creative and a practical problem solver with a willingness to take on responsibility and make decisions whilst simultaneously engaging experts to advise and direct those decisions.

We are looking for someone who is committed to the growth of Groundwater Relief as a charity.

You must have fluency in English.

BENEFITS

• Competitive Salary ranging between £35,000 and £38,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Pension scheme (4.5% by employer, and 4% contribution by employee)
• 23 days Annual Leave per annum, not including bank holidays (pro rata)
• An additional day of annual leave for every 7 days worked in the field.

LOCATION AND HOURS OF WORK

• The role will commence between February and April 2024.
• The normal working location will be in our offices in Totnes, Devon, UK. We also have a flexible working policy and arrangements can be discussed with the right candidate.
• Will consider a full time (37.5 hours a week) or 4 day (30 hour) per week role. Working days may differ if you are on a project.