Background

Water Mission is a Christian engineering nonprofit that builds sustainable, safe water solutions for people in developing countries, refugee camps, and disaster areas. Since 2001, Water Mission has served more than 8 million people in 60 countries, sharing safe water and the message of God’s love. Working at Water Mission is as much a calling as it is a career, and we are searching for people with the courage, passion, and drive to help us change the world. Read more about our Statement of Faith and Our Christian Mission.

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the Project Engineer, the Technician is responsible for the assessment, design, troubleshooting, water quality monitoring, and implementation of rural water projects to a high degree of excellence and according to all standards and requirements of Water Mission Malawi. This role requires technical expertise, practical problem-solving skills, and a commitment to working in challenging environments to deliver sustainable solutions. This person must be willing to work in the field for up to one week regularly and occasionally for longer periods. The position is based in Mangochi/Zomba, Malawi, and requires frequent travel to project locations throughout the country as operationally required.

Our culture:

As an employee of Water Mission Malawi, the Technician is responsible for developing a biblical worldview culture that leads to God-honoring excellence in all their work and reinforcing the following: providing accurate data, empowering staff to have the skills and mindset needed to acknowledge mistakes or problems as opportunities to find appropriate solutions, and empowering staff to consistently work for excellence in solutions that are consistent with Water Mission’s mission, vision, values, and standards.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Mission Driven: Maintain a strong Christian witness and model servant leadership. Engage and participate in prayer. Lead and participate in biblically based staff devotions.
• Technical Assessment, Planning and Installation: Conduct site assessments, technical assessments for water projects. Assist in data collection and analysis. Support preparation of technical reports and project proposals. Perform water quality testing. Inspect existing water systems. Read and interpret engineering drawings. Install, connect, test, and maintain water supply system components. Install water treatment systems, remote monitoring equipment, and solar-powered pumping systems. Read and interpret electrical drawings. Install, wire, test, and commission electrical systems. Install and commission solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Install remote monitoring equipment. Conduct electrical testing. Fabricate steel structures, pipe supports, etc. Read and interpret fabrication drawings. Perform cutting, grinding, drilling, fitting, welding, and finishing of metal components. Install fabricated steel structures. Support installation of water treatment equipment. Inspect fabricated work. Maintain accurate fabrication records. Collect and upload project data. Supervise borehole drilling activities. Conduct yield testing.
• Design and Implementation: Assist in the design of water supply and sanitation systems. Support the creation of technical drawings, specifications, and bills of quantities (BoQs). Participate in the construction and installation of WASH infrastructure.
• Troubleshooting, Operation and Maintenance: Identify and resolve technical issues. Perform routine maintenance and repairs. Train community members on operation and maintenance. Support commissioning and operational testing. Provide technical support to system operators. Conduct refresher training for system operators. Support emergency water supply and disaster response activities.
• Water Quality Monitoring: Conduct water quality testing and monitoring. Record and analyze water quality data. Implement corrective measures.
• Community Engagement and Capacity Building: Work closely with community leaders and members. Conduct hygiene promotion and education sessions. Provide technical support and training to local WASH committees. Supervise community volunteers. Train local water system operators. Promote community ownership. Provide technical guidance to communities.
• Project Management Support: Assist in the preparation and management of project budgets and timelines. Support the monitoring and evaluation of WASH projects. Prepare progress reports.
• Logistics and Administrative Support: Support procurement and logistics activities. Coordinate transportation of project materials. Support maintenance of organizational facilities. Assist with vehicle certification and servicing. Participate in inventory verification exercises.
• Health, Safety, and Compliance: Comply with Water Mission health, safety, environmental, safeguarding, and operational policies. Promote safe working practices. Properly use personal protective equipment (PPE). Ensure compliance with engineering standards and regulations.
• Reporting and Documentation: Prepare technical reports. Submit weekly timesheets, project reports, photographs, and supporting documentation. Liquidate project advances promptly. Maintain accurate technical records.
• Other Responsibilities: Participate in technical training. Support emergency response operations. Perform other duties assigned by the Project Engineer.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

Relationship and Alignment:

• Personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith and core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Water Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources, Renewable Energy systems, or a related field. Candidates with relevant City & Guilds qualifications in Electrical Installation, Plumbing, or Mechanical Engineering/Services, or equivalent technical qualifications may also be considered.
• Registered or eligibility to register with MEI as a Graduate Engineer, Technician Engineer or Craftsperson.
• Minimum of 3-4 years of experience in WASH project assessment, design, troubleshooting, water quality monitoring, implementation, operation and maintenance.
• Practical experience working in rural and low-resource settings.
• Proficiency in using technical equipment and tools for water quality testing and system maintenance.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in [local language(s)] and English.
• Willingness to travel frequently to remote project sites.
• Registration with relevant professional body is an advantage.
• Valid Class B driver’s licence.

Skills and Abilities:

• High level of integrity in handling funds in an accountable and transparent manner.
• Good technical and analytical skills.
• Good relationship and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team.

• Mission Driven: Maintain a strong Christian witness and model servant leadership. Engage and participate in prayer. Lead and participate in biblically based staff devotions.
• Technical Assessment, Planning and Installation: Conduct site assessments, technical assessments for water projects. Assist in data collection and analysis. Support preparation of technical reports and project proposals. Perform water quality testing. Inspect existing water systems. Read and interpret engineering drawings. Install, connect, test, and maintain water supply system components. Install water treatment systems, remote monitoring equipment, and solar-powered pumping systems. Read and interpret electrical drawings. Install, wire, test, and commission electrical systems. Install and commission solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Install remote monitoring equipment. Conduct electrical testing. Fabricate steel structures, pipe supports, etc. Read and interpret fabrication drawings. Perform cutting, grinding, drilling, fitting, welding, and finishing of metal components. Install fabricated steel structures. Support installation of water treatment equipment. Inspect fabricated work. Maintain accurate fabrication records. Collect and upload project data. Supervise borehole drilling activities. Conduct yield testing.
• Design and Implementation: Assist in the design of water supply and sanitation systems. Support the creation of technical drawings, specifications, and bills of quantities (BoQs). Participate in the construction and installation of WASH infrastructure.
• Troubleshooting, Operation and Maintenance: Identify and resolve technical issues. Perform routine maintenance and repairs. Train community members on operation and maintenance. Support commissioning and operational testing. Provide technical support to system operators. Conduct refresher training for system operators. Support emergency water supply and disaster response activities.
• Water Quality Monitoring: Conduct water quality testing and monitoring. Record and analyze water quality data. Implement corrective measures.
• Community Engagement and Capacity Building: Work closely with community leaders and members. Conduct hygiene promotion and education sessions. Provide technical support and training to local WASH committees. Supervise community volunteers. Train local water system operators. Promote community ownership. Provide technical guidance to communities.
• Project Management Support: Assist in the preparation and management of project budgets and timelines. Support the monitoring and evaluation of WASH projects. Prepare progress reports.
• Logistics and Administrative Support: Support procurement and logistics activities. Coordinate transportation of project materials. Support maintenance of organizational facilities. Assist with vehicle certification and servicing. Participate in inventory verification exercises.
• Health, Safety, and Compliance: Comply with Water Mission health, safety, environmental, safeguarding, and operational policies. Promote safe working practices. Properly use personal protective equipment (PPE). Ensure compliance with engineering standards and regulations.
• Reporting and Documentation: Prepare technical reports. Submit weekly timesheets, project reports, photographs, and supporting documentation. Liquidate project advances promptly. Maintain accurate technical records.
• Other Responsibilities: Participate in technical training. Support emergency response operations. Perform other duties assigned by the Project Engineer.

• High level of integrity in handling funds in an accountable and transparent manner.
• Good technical and analytical skills.
• Good relationship and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team.

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Water Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources, Renewable Energy systems, or a related field. Candidates with relevant City & Guilds qualifications in Electrical Installation, Plumbing, or Mechanical Engineering/Services, or equivalent technical qualifications may also be considered.
• Registered or eligibility to register with MEI as a Graduate Engineer, Technician Engineer or Craftsperson.
• Minimum of 3-4 years of experience in WASH project assessment, design, troubleshooting, water quality monitoring, implementation, operation and maintenance.
• Practical experience working in rural and low-resource settings.
• Proficiency in using technical equipment and tools for water quality testing and system maintenance.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in [local language(s)] and English.
• Willingness to travel frequently to remote project sites.
• Registration with relevant professional body is an advantage.
• Valid Class B driver’s licence.