SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation. Founded in the Netherlands 50 years ago, we work in more than 20 countries in Asia, West Africa, and East and Southern Africa. Our global team of local and international advisors work with local partners to equip communities, businesses, and organisations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development. Our new Strategic plan (2022-2030) commits us to work in three intersecting sectors (Agrifood, Water and Energy), with a focus on the three cross-cutting issues of climate change, institutional strengthening and governance and gender and social inclusion, to support the achievement of nine of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SNV has been operating in Tanzania since 1972. Currently, SNV is implementing seven projects in the Agrifood, Water and Energy sectors, with staff based in offices in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Dodoma, Bariadi and Sumbawanga, and partners throughout the country. SNV is an open and learning organisation that focuses on improving the lives of Tanzanians through a market-based approach inclusive of women and youth.

For more information on SNV's program in Tanzania, visit our website: www.snv.org/Tanzania.

The senior advisor will be responsible for being the technical lead for the work under the IKI Katuma programme that focuses on improving hydrological information for better water resource management and sustainable landscapes within the Katuma catchment of the Lake Rukwa river basin.

•           Lead the preparation of work plans related to hydrological monitoring programmes, riparian land use, conflict and erosion control, and artisanal mining. Assist other intervention areas as guided by the Project Manager

•           Implement and supervise day-to-day activities related to enhancing a hydrometeorological monitoring system in the target area with a focus on installing hydrometric stations, establishing environmental flows, and resolving land use issues through significant participatory stakeholder relationship and capacity building

•           Provide the lead technical guidance on interventions relating to procurement, installation, and use of hydrometric stations, riparian land use and soil erosion, environmental flows, channel morphology re-adjustment, and resolution of localised mining impacts. This will include leading on engagement with specialist equipment suppliers and experts in artisanal mining

•           Actively engage with key stakeholders (e.g., Lake Rukwa Water Basin Authority, recipients of hydrological/water quality information, farmers associations, Water User Associations, village committees, etc) and contribute to building their technical, coordinating and planning capacities

•           Monitor and evaluate project performance and progress against approved work plans under hydrology, channel re-adjustment, land-use and erosion, and mining and suggest corrective measures where appropriate

•           Coach and supervise a field intern in assisting with field-based activities, organising meetings, collecting data and any other task related to the programme activities

•           Supervise contractors/suppliers implementing hydrometric installations, channel re-adjustment, and practical erosion control activities

•           Lead capacity building within Lake Rukwa Basin Water Board on hydrometric and water quality equipment asset maintenance and long-term monitoring and reporting procedures

•           Prepare progress reports, in line with both donor and SNV internal procedures and requirements that update the management on project implementation, and of all other major project deliverables defined in the contract

•           Represent SNV on sector platforms and coordinate activities with the donor and other implementing partners under this programme; including aligning interventions (where strategic and complementary) with the SUSTAIN Eco project operating in the same landscape

•           Comply and adhere to all SNV procedures and policies, including Travel, procurement, Finance and HR issues

•           Any other relevant duties as shall be determined by the PM or Management team.

• Master’s level degree in hydrology/water resources management/ environmental sciences or related field
• A minimum of 6 years’ work experience with development programmes focusing on water/natural resource management, conservation issues, or environmental management in Tanzania
• Expertise in applying water quantity and water quality monitoring tools and other hydrology concepts (including bathymetry) highly desirable
• Expertise in tools and approaches to tackle soil erosion and lake/river siltation
• Hands-on experience of coordinating and facilitating multi-stakeholder platforms at all levels
• Experience of working with international organisations is an advantage
• Excellent communication skills in English and Swahili (both written and oral), including very strong report writing and presentation skills
• Willingness to travel long distances in remote rural areas within the Katuma catchment of the Lake Rukwa river basin
• Expertise and use of GIS tools to generate maps for evidence-based decision making and documentation desirable
• Knowledge and application of climate resilience and Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) approaches an advantage;
• The ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural setting

Key Competencies:

• Technical Skills and Knowledge: Advanced and up-to-date knowledge and experience of hydrometric monitoring equipment, networks, monitoring, and analysis; rainfall-runoff modelling; ability to work with freshwater ecologists to calculate environmental flow requirements
• River geomorphology and re-adjustment design; ability to procure and supervise or manage appropriate re-adjustment services
• Knowledge and experience of Tanzanian National Land Use Planning Guidelines and processes
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Sound experience of monitoring and evaluation tools and approaches, analysis of water resources information (including water quality, water quantity, and bathymetry) and ability to concisely summarise key findings and recommendations
• Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to coordinate, communicate effectively and engage a wide range of stakeholders including regional water resource authorities, farmer cooperatives, Water User Associations, village committees, mining communities, and project partner organisations
• Ability to conduct research related to land use planning legislation/guidelines, soil erosion and deposition dynamics, and more sustainable mining practices and develop tailored recommendations
• Ability to work well independently and with a diverse, multi-disciplinary group in a fast-paced, collaborative work environment
• Able to assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects and demands
• Computer and software proficiency – Outlook, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ArcGIS/QGIS or similar geospatial software

Reporting to: Programme Manager

Contract Type: National contract  

Contract Duration: Two years 

Expected Start Date: Early June 

Working at SNV

SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of Water experts.

How to Apply:

The vacancy is for internal and external candidates and it will active up to 30th May 2024 and all applications should be through Smart Recruiters on the following link https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/SNV.

All information will be in the strictest confidence and in accordance to GDPR. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We will require that you provide us with full details of three people who are willing to act as a referee.  We will not contact these referees without your explicit permission.

                            Women candidates are encouraged to apply.