Job Description

• Job Position: QUALITY CONTROL
• Department: Water/WasteWater/ Sewerage System
• Location: Ghana
• No. Of Vacancy:  03

JOB DESCRIPTION
To ensure that plant effluent meets water pollution control standards by conducting laboratory tests/analyzing test results of appropriate samples and advising appropriate and timely corrective action.The responsibility of this key function is to carry out routine sample analyzes of streams and large water bodies, raw and treated wastewater, sludge, and other byproducts of wastewater treatment process to determine efficiency of plant processes and to ensure that plant effluent meets environmental pollution control requirements, using standard laboratory equipment. The laboratory shall conducts tests for settle able solids, suspended solids, total solids, volatile solids, volatile acids, alkalinity, pH, dissolved oxygen demand, turbidity, and other substances. These tests are to be carried out as regularly as prescribed by international and local health and environment standards.

Peculiar Conditions of the Job:

• Frequent exposure to unpleasant sight  or foul smell of effluents
• Exposure to unpleasant chemical substances used in laboratory tests
• Physical contact with effluents and sludge
• Frequent exposure to sewage or it products may result in a number of illness such as:
• Gastroenteritis, characterized by cramping stomach pains, diarrhea and vomiting
• Well’s disease, a flu-like illness with persistent and severe headache, transmitted by rat urine. Damage o liver, kidney and blood may occur and the condition can be fatal
• Hepatitis, characterized by inflammation of the liver and jaundice
• Occupational asthma which results in attacks of breathlessness, chest tightness and wheezing. It is the product of inhaling living or dead organisms
• Infection of skin or eyes
• Rarely, allergic alveolitis (inflammation of the lungs) with fever, breathlessness, dry cough and aching muscles and joints.
• Key Performance Indicators:
• Zero incidence of discharge of polluted or sub-standard treated effluents into adjoining water bodies, arising from quality control negligence
• Regularity of tests and reliability of tests results
• Reduction in health and environment risks associate with sewage disposal 
• High standard of practice and administrative discipline.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Exercise total responsibility for the operations of the Central Laboratory and ensure professional supervision of smaller laboratories which may be located in other treatment plants operated by the organization
• Provides expert technical oversight in the performance of scientific analyses, including the utilization of specialized techniques or complex laboratory instrumentation.
• Plans, assigns, reviews and supervises the daily activities of subordinate staff.
• Establish schedules and methods for performing various laboratory tests of wastewater samples; identify resource needs; review needs with appropriate management staff; and allocate resources accordingly
• Oversee and conduct chemical and microbiological tests and sampling of raw and treated sewage; prepare test solutions; record test results; prepare daily, weekly and monthly reports
• Troubleshoots complex analytical problems.
• Oversees and reviews routine and complex chemical , biological and bacteriological examinations
• Analyzes samples of sewage for harmful micro-organisms and for rate of sludge purification by aerobic bacteria.
• Interpret and explain laboratory test results and recommend appropriate correctional measures when necessary to both operations and management staff or relevant government authority
• Recommends equipment to be purchased to ensure the proper operation of the section
• Provides lists of materials and/or supplies needed to ensure the proper timely operation of the section.
• Train treatment plant Operators and Attendants on the basic principles, procedures and techniques for collecting wastewater samples and conducting simple/routine tests;
• Maintain inventory of chemicals and materials required for continuous sample testing and prepare requisitions for additional supplies as needed.
• Participate in the selection of assigned staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures
• Participate in the preparation and administration of the assigned budget; submits budget recommendations; prepares and submits requisitions for supplies, materials and parts and monitor expenditures.
• Develops, modifies and maintains procedures for laboratory certification
• Initiates changes in laboratory procedures in prescribed laboratory techniques and performance of routine tests.
• Calibrates, maintains and operates all manual and automated laboratory instrumentation
• May assist superiors in data acquisition for various reports
• Ensure that the laboratory test covers the following as frequently as required by practice standards:
• Ammonia
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand
• Chemical Oxygen Demand
• Coliform
• Conductivity
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Fecal Coliform Bacteria
• Nitrate/Nitrite
• pH
• Phosphorous
• Temperature
• Total Dissolved Solids
• Total Kjedahl Nitrogen
• Total Suspended Solids
• Turbidity
• Volatile Acid/Alkalinity
• Helminth eggs
• Organics
• Any other duty that may be assigned by the Head of Department

Required Skills or Experience

• Age: NA
• Gender: Male/Female
• Education: B.Sc. in Chemistry, Bio- Chemistry, Bacteriology or General Science degree with Chemistry (as a minor), or any other equivalent qualification from a recognized university.
• Work Experience: 3 years
• Nationality: Ghanaian
• Salary: Competitive
• Expected Availability: Within 1 month

SKILLS

• Knowledge of the current regulations and the methods used for sample collection and analysis
• Knowledge of laboratory principles, practices and techniques of chemistry, biology and bacteriology
• Basic knowledge of automated analysis and instrumentation.
• Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of electronic computes and complex automated instrumentation, and the role they perform in laboratory analysis.
• Knowledge of sewage treatment and disposal, industrial wastes, stream polluti0n or the methods for treating and testing water supply systems, depending on area of assignment.
• Knowledge of local and internationally applicable laws and regulations pertaining to water quality, wastewater treatment and data validity.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety practices for laboratory work.
• Skill in laboratory techniques, and in following and adapting scientific methods and adapting scientific methods and procedures.
• Ability to interpret test results, and to prepare comprehensive analytical reports.
• Ability to perform a variety of laboratory tests on water, wastewater, or sludge samples, and to prepare and standardize laboratory reagents.
• Ability to carry on independent research in the chemistry, biology and/or bacteriology of wastewater treatment or potable water supplies.
• Ability to train, instruct and/or oversee personnel
• Ability to operate, maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment and instruct personnel in their use
• Ability to present scientific ideas and findings clearly and concisely in written oral and graphical form.