Regional Bio-gas Technician at SNV

SNV is a Not-for-Profit International Development Organisation with long-term, local presence in over 30 of the poorest countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our team of advisors works with local partners to equip communities and businesses with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services. SNV works across three sectors: Agriculture, Energy and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Several international donors fund our programmes. SNV has a +100 million euro annual turnover and is aiming for further growth.

Purpose

To work as the focal person in Regional Biogas Support Unit (RBSU) within the district offices of partners such as the Departments of Agriculture or Fisheries and Livestock, dairy or other farmer cooperatives or other partners.  The Regional Biogas Technician (BT) will work under the supervision of the Chief Technical Officer (CTO). The Regional Biogas Technician will be responsible for, among other things: supervising technical and managerial aspects of the work of trained biodigesters installers (masons) and Biodigesters Construction Enterprise (BCEs); facilitating coaching of the emerging BCEs; promoting the use of biogas and bioslurry among farmers and other biodigesters users in their areas; monitoring and reporting on uptake and sales of biodigesters technology; supporting project related livelihood improvement and women and youth employment initiatives; and, gathering local data that will help inform policy development at central level. This position assists the Chief Technical Officer, the Monitoring, Learning & Evaluation Officer and other component/thematic officers to (i) promote and market biodigester technology in the province (ii) implement Quality Control and Enforcement (QCE) procedures, (iii) provide feedback on QCE and Customer Service Centre’s work to BCEs and other relevant stakeholders (iv) supervise/facilitate technical training and capacity building initiatives for BCEs and other stakeholders; and (v) carrying out research and development initiatives

Job Description

Duties and Responsibility

The Regional Biogas Technician as the main RBSU focal persons in the province/district will work under the supervision and guidance of Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and in coordination with other team members in the National Biogas Support Unit (NBSU) to carry out the following assignments related to Biodigester Construction, Training and Capacity Building, Promotion and Extension, Standardization and Quality Assurance, and Research & Development.

a. General

• Assist in formulating yearly, half yearly and monthly calendar of events related to Biodigester Construction, Standardization and Quality Assurance, R&D and Training and Capacity building of project staff and other stakeholders in the province.
• Ensure timely implementation of the planned activities and provide backstopping support to stakeholders at the provincial level.
• Coordinate all biogas related activities in the province and act as focal person for the implementation of planned activities at the provincial level.
• Represent the province in local forums/meetings.
• Networking with provincial actors and stakeholders.

b. Training and Capacity Building

• Assist NBSU and RBSU staff members and local biodigester project office in planning and implementation of training and capacity building activities.
• Assist in carrying out training needs assessment; and build capacity of the partners in delivering quality services related to training and capacity building.
• Distribute training manuals and other training materials including drawings, construction and operation manuals.
• Organize and conduct technical trainings for BCEs. Make sure that the training programs are conducted as per agreed methodology and to the best of professional practices.
• Carry out field visits to supervise and monitor capacity building activities at the district and village levels. Conduct routine on-the-job and follow-up (refresher) trainings for masons, supervisors and other clients on as and when needed basis.
• Build institutional partnership at the provincial level to integrate/link biogas with the routine activities of the partners. Provide orientation to some pivotal staff members of potential stakeholders.
• Supervise the works of BCEs and identify masons that require additional training and capacity building before they can be certified.
• Prepare training and workshop reports and various other reports.
• Ensure that the list of trained personal in the province is entered timely into the database maintained at Customer Service Centre (CSC).

c. Promotion and Extension

• Work as promoter of the biodigester technology in the province.
• Assist in organizing and conducting promotion workshops, pre and post construction training and user training programs.
• Carry out field visits to supervise and monitor promotion activities at local level.
• Use cost effective, consistent and appropriate tools and techniques for the promotion and extension of biodigester technology to suit the local context. Distribute suitable promotional materials such as posters, broachers, audio-visual aids etc. for the promotion and extension of biodigester technology and collect feedback to update them as and when needed.
• Ensure wide-scale use of IEC (information, education and communication) materials through personnel from different stakeholders in the province.
• Carry out household visits/personal contacts for information dissemination and persuasion.
• Build capacity and provide technical back-stopping services to the masons and BCEs to carry out various tasks related to promotion and extension of technology.
• Identify and document various push and pull factors that facilities/hinders the promotion of biogas technology at the grassroots communities.
• Ensure that users are instructed well on the use of biogas and bio-slurry.
• Prepare field visit report on the progress and problems on promotion and extension of the technology and submit it to the RBSU.
• Exchange knowledge and information related to the promotion of biodigester technology within the stakeholders in the province and share lessons learnt and best practices being adopted in different contexts.

d. Quality Assurance

• Prepare field visits schedules to supervise and monitor quality of construction works as well as after-sale-service provisions.
• Ensure that quality standards for training, construction of biodigesters, after-sale-services and guarantee provisions are complied with. Internalize quality control framework and mechanisms including methods of sampling of biodigesters, field investigation, data and information management as well as follow-up mechanisms.
• Check and ensure that materials, construction techniques and other service delivery provisions for the biodigester installations meet the set quality standards.
• Work with and guide masons and BCEs at local level for construction of quality biodigesters. Provide technical back-stopping services to masons and RBSU team.
• Work with masons to clearly explain them the construction procedures, methods, selection of good quality construction materials and to properly read the technical drawings of biodigesters.
• Visit biodigester households to monitor and evaluate quality of services provided by masons and BCEs.
• Ensure that the quality control forms are filled correctly and accurately and the data and information are entered into computer database maintained in RBSU/CSC.
• Report any deviations to NBSU and take immediate action if plants are not constructed as per approved standards.
• Follow-up the after sale service activities to ensure that the digesters are in good functioning conditions.  Report any defect observed in the biodigester during guarantee period to NBSU and make sure that masons/BCEs rectify the defect on time as per the terms and conditions of After-sale-services.
• Prepare field visit report on progress and problems of construction supervision of biodigesters and submit it to the senior advisor.
• Support to update and maintain database on biodigester installation; and publish periodic reports on status of biodigesters.

e. Research and Development

• Support NBSU to carry out action research on functioning of biodigesters and identify possibilities for optimization of the designs.
• Work with the selected partner(s) to implement R&D activities to carry out action research at field level.

f.  Miscellaneous

• Demonstrate impeccable moral conduct as the project’s representative in the districts.
• Perform other duties as required and as instructed by the senior staff members.

Qualifications

3. Qualification, Work Experience and Professional Skills

• Should have university degree on Civil/Environmental/Agricultural/Electrical Engineering or Environmental/Natural Resources Management or Renewable Energy Technologies.
• At least three years experiences in promotion and extension of new technology in general and Renewable Energy Technology in particular
• Good understanding and proven expertise of planning and implementing capacity building initiatives
• Proven experiences in organizing and conducting technical and other training programmes at the grass-roots level.
• Ability to interpret civil engineering drawings in general and drawings of biodigesters in particular.
• Knowledge on construction and supervision and quality control construction and installing of biodigesters.
• Formal training or hands on experience on Database management
• Reporting skills

4.    Personality

• A good Team player
• Able to work with minimum supervision
• Able to work closely with communities, private enterprises and government officials in a multi-stakeholder platform
• Willing to travel to rural and difficult areas in the country on a regular basis and enjoy working frequently in rural areas
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ready to work in odd hours and under the pressure of deadlines

5.  Key Relationships

• Internally: District offices of Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, NBSU Team, RBSU, and SNV Team
• Externally: Government counterparts in the province, Customer Support Centres, BCEs, external consultants and LCBs.

Additional Information

If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your motivation letter and CV in English on or before the 23th April,2019.

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