Irrigation Officer

• Design and create small-scale irrigation layouts such as drip, sprinkler or surface systems using specialised software or technical plans, laying field designs for one acre or more depending on the sites
• Oversee the physical installation, routine inspection, troubleshooting and repair of pumps, pipes, valves and water storage units; conduct O&M trainings for irrigation hosts and link them to service providers
• Develop efficient water distribution and irrigation schedules to maximise crop yields while conserving water; ensure clear water use systems on sites shared with communities for domestic use
• Work with groups and local leadership to establish a water management structure for each site charged with scheduling, operations and maintenance activities
• Work with the community and irrigation leadership to establish a group-level fund system for maintenance and O&M, including through VSLA arrangements
• Conduct land and water resource assessments, record lessons, challenges and best practices, and identify potential sites for further irrigation installations
• Train smallholder farmers, local water user groups and extension workers on climate-smart agriculture, agronomics and water conservation methods
• Monitor construction activities, manage external contractors, and track project budgets and timelines
• Maintain logs of water usage, pump performance and crop metrics, submitting monthly site reports and maintaining production and marketing records
• Work closely with village, parish, sub-county and district leadership of all project sites, including production offices and district agricultural engineers

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Irrigation Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Agronomy or a related field (or a diploma with extensive field experience)
• 3 to 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, installing and maintaining agricultural irrigation or water infrastructure projects
• Proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) or water system design software
• Strong knowledge of soil-water-plant relationships and hydraulics
• Valid driving/riding permit (such as for a motorcycle) to travel between rural or remote project sites

Skills & Competencies:

• Data management and reporting skills, including Microsoft Excel
• Ability to work outdoors in agricultural settings and conduct site inspections
• Good verbal and written communication skills, with fluency in English and local regional languages