WASH Laboratory Officer (Cholera Response)

Action against Hunger is an international non-governmental, private, apolitical, non-religious and non-profit organization created in 1979. Its goal is to combat hunger and dangerous situations that threaten men, women, and children. Currently 500 expats and more than 5,000 employees are working for Action against Hunger in more than forty-six countries working in projects concerning four areas of focus: nutrition, health, food security and water and sanitation. 

In Lebanon, the Syrian crisis continues to generate political, social, and economic pressure due to the war in Lebanon and keeps more than 1.5 million refugees in a situation of increasing vulnerability. In this environment of political, economic and social uncertainty, our teams have maintained their high levels of humanitarian response and aid to Lebanon. Likewise, our interventions have been maintained in the Bekaa and northern areas, as well as in the south of the country, with a special focus on working in partnership or in consortium with other organizations and on institutional strengthening of the relationship with both donors. institutional, such as with local authorities and entities.  

WE WORK IN LEBANON AGAINST COVID-19 

• Focusing on Syrian refugee population and Lebanese host communities,  
• mobilization committees, 
• isolation centers,  
• municipalities and service providers. 
• Conducting training for health personnel.  
• Distributing disinfection and dignity kits.  
• Installing latrines for people with specific needs in South District.  
• Carrying out channel cleaning to ensure proper drainage. Distributing water through tanker trucks. 

The WASH Laboratory Officer (Cholera Response) will be responsible for:

Under the supervision of WaSH Emergency Supervisor and the support of the WaSH Program Manager and ER WASH HoP, the WASH Laboratory Officer (WLO) will be responsible for collecting, testing, and following up on the water samples, as well as managing the Lab equipment, items, and stock. In addition, s/he will be responsible on following up water treatment activities when required.

Objective 1: Operation and maintenance of laboratory and capacity building of field team (30%)

• Train ACTION AGAINST HUNGER staff on how to take water samples in the field following testing protocols.
• Build the capacity of the WASH staff on water testing, shock chlorination and Jar test to cover water-testing gaps when needed.
• Coordinate and prepare workplan for the collection of samples taken by ACTION AGAISNT HUNGER staff in WASH department.
• Ensure that ACTION AGAISNT HUNGER laboratory is maintained and clean, request the lab items and equipment needed and check the quality according to the requested specifications.
• Ensure minimum stock for all testing consumables (broth, sample bottles, membranes) and ensure procurement of consumables are done accordingly respecting the procurement SOP. 
• Ensure ACTION AGAISNT HUNGER’s water quality testing protocols are followed and updated when needed.
• Ensure the security and protection measurement are followed in the laboratory. The laboratory should be managed by the officer 
• Manage the stock follow up of Lab items and any missed items should be reported to line manager and log department 
• Ensure that ACTION AGAISNT HUNGER’s related activities are implemented within ACTION AGAISNT HUNGER’s Protection mainstreaming guidelines and reports any breaches/concerns to the line manager and/or focal point for proper action.
• Ensure that all protection related detected cases are referred to the concerned referral focal point. 

Objective 2: Manage, collect, and conduct water quality testing (40%)

• Manage the entire workflow for water quality testing, incubators, autoclave, Free residual chlorine, turbidity, TDS and photometer chemical testing.
• Collect and organize water sample collection taken from boreholes, water tanks, water trucks, jerry cans and other water storage containers.
• Manage and update borehole water testing data with the support of the Water and Sanitation team (borehole rest water level, CFU results and borehole protection).
• Ensure water test results are communicated back to WASH staff, refugees and WASH focal points.
• Manage the water testing procedure from sample taking to result reading.
• Ensure water testing results are well archived (hard and soft copies) on daily basis.
• Send water testing weekly report and follow up on following the SOPs for the contaminated water sources accordingly, (informing refugees, adding Informal tented settlements (ITS) to water schedule, water treatment sessions and shock chlorination).
• Ensure that water testing results of CFU >10 counts, and water borne diseases referrals are followed up immediately following ACTION AGAISNT HUNGER’s SOPs on 48-hour urgent referral follow up.
• Performs chemical, biochemical and bacteriological tests on a variety of samples, including influent, effluent, potable water, groundwater, surface water, sludge, and compost.

Objective 3: Design and implementation of the water quality plan for the WASH Department (15 %)

• Design and implement a water quality-monitoring plan in coordination with the WASH
• Emergency Supervisor and the support of the WASH Program Manager and ER WASH HoP.
• Conduct systematic surveys, collect water samples and carry out water quality analysis (bacteriological and chemical) in the Laboratory.
• Monitor quality of water regularly and maintain a database for water quality results.
• Develop tools and ensure sanitary inspection of water sources; and analyse data and take necessary measures where needed
• Plan, manage and monitor chlorination of water.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by WASH Emergency Supervisor relating to WASH projects

Objective 4: Reporting (10 %)

• Prepare weekly, monthly work plans and progress reports; and prepare water quality reports
• Report possible problem or conflict during the activities.
• Report the use of materials and possible improvement.
• Regular reporting to ER Supervisor

Objective 5: Other water and sanitation activities (5 %)

• Support Hygiene Promotion and Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation activities (assessments, hygiene promotion campaigns, etc.).
• Be committed to participate in any other activities to achieve the project goals.
• Support other WASH related activities.
• To ensure HTH (calcium hypochlorite) stock, manipulation, and handling for the Cholera response
• To prepare on a daily basis and as per the WASH/Log needs, the HTH disinfection solutions for the Cholera response. 

Objective 6: Security

• Respect the security rules specified in the mission and base security plan, see to it that the team under his/her responsibility complies with the security plan and perform the security management tasks that can be assigned in its protocols.
• Communicate to the security managers of the working location any security related information or noncompliance with the security plan

Objective 7: Support humanitarian activities of Action Against Hunger

• Support the emergency interventions of the organization as per the employee’s abilities.
• Support any activity that helps reaching our humanitarian goals, as per the employee’s abilities.
• Promote gender equality within the humanitarian and/or development work

Training/ Education:

Bachelor’s degree in health science, biochemistry, biomedical, biology or equivalent degree

Technical specific knowledge:

Proficient in managing Del Agua, double-incubators water sample testing. 

Previous experience:

• Experience in working with water quality testing within a humanitarian/recovery context.
• Previous experience in working for NGOs or Labs related to water quality testing.

Humanitarian sector knowledge:

Experience in the humanitarian sector is a plus

Languages:

Fluent Arabic, good English level 

IT and specific systems:

 Computer skills (Microsoft Office), compulsory expertise in Excel

Action Against Hunger – Lebanon seeks to promote gender equality and is committed to empowering women to participate effectively in their communities, we strongly encourage women to apply.

We Strongly encourage people with disabilities to apply.

ACF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and abuse (SEA)