Job Details

Job Description

Vacancy title:
Internship Opportunities

[ Type: FULL TIME , Industry: Education, and Training , Category: Management ]

Jobs at:

Research Triangle Institute International

Deadline of this Job:
Wednesday, May 15 2024

Duty Station:
Within Zambia , Lusaka, South – Central Africa

JOB DETAILS:

Mambova, Zambia
Research Triangle Institute International, LLC (RTII) seeks a prospect for an Engineering Internship within the International Development Group (IDG). This internship is located in Mambova scheme, Kazungula District.

The purpose of the USAID Expanding Water and Sanitation Project is to professionalize water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, to promote accountability for reliable and high-quality WASH services, and to enhance the enabling environment for private sector engagement (PSE) in service delivery in Zambia. This project will incorporate a series of interventions that support and strengthen sector governance and enhance public-private partnerships for improved WASH service delivery in a manner that: i) institutionalizes market-based WASH service delivery through financially sustainable and inclusive management models; ii) increases accountability of WASH service providers, policymakers, and civic leaders; iii) supports policy and regulatory reform; and iv) increases private sector participation. These interventions together will provide increased access to safe water, improved sanitation, and enhance the capacity of Zambian government, private sector, and civil society organizations.
The project recently researched different service delivery models and determined options for professionalizing service delivery. To address challenges, the project identified three management models. The models identified for implementation under the project are Commercial Utility managed models; Private sector (Investment and Management) models; and Cooperative /Community managed models. The establishment of suitable models will lead to improved performance, profitability and sustainability of water schemes.
Under USAID Expanding WASH, an internship program will be established to include activities that link students and recent graduates of institutions of learning (Universities, Colleges, trade schools) to Commercial Utilities (CUs) and Local Authorities (LAs). Interns will be hired to support construction activities under this program.
As part of the internship program, two interns will be engaged to support southern Commercial Utility to implement a professionalized piped scheme service delivery model at the Mambova scheme. The support will include establishment of suitable management structures, developing business plans, adoption of standard operating procedures/guidelines and management of delegated service agreements. The two selected interns will be based at the Southern Province Commercial Utility (CU) in the Kazungula District.

Learning Objectives:
This internship will provide opportunity to obtain hands on experience to operate and manage a water scheme professionally in line with standard operating procedures/guidelines.
Responsibilities:
Technical
• Operate water scheme in accordance with laid down SOP and asset management manuals to increase water coverage and hours of supply
Perform non-routine tasks involving water scheme operations, maintenance/repair of the water scheme equipment to reduce non-revenue water
• Monitor the performance of all equipment, gauges and charts in the treatment plant and pump stations
• Monitor the routine performance of electrical systems, circuits, and equipment within the water scheme
• Conduct periodic inspections, analyze, review, and maintain related documents to ensure equipment life, safety, and operational efficiencies
Perform quality control tests on lab equipment and carry out routine water quality testing and records
Commercial
• Report monthly to the Head of Commercial on month-on-month expenditure forecasting, risk & opportunity management
• Manage the creation of customer base and invoices to increase collection efficiency and metering ratio
• Manage the billing of customers
• Increase billing efficiency of the water scheme
RTII’s Internship Program emphasizes experiential and mentored learning experiences, providing students and recent degree recipients an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and skills in a meaningful and practical way. We are committed to developing the future workforce by encouraging interns to explore various career paths in a nonprofit research institute setting that values diversity and inclusion. Through this program, interns will be exposed to RTII’s open and educational culture; support RTII’s mission to improve the human condition; and build upon their career goals.

Additional Information
This in-person internship is supported by a monthly stipend. The position is scheduled to be active from May 2024 through August 2024. The internship requires a minimum commitment of 40 hours per week. This internship will have a specific daily start and end time.

Required Qualifications
• Must be a Zambian Citizen
• Must reside in Kazungula District, Southern Province
• Must be a recent graduate with a minimum qualification of College Diploma and/or University degree in Water Engineering from an accredited TEVETA institution Recent degree recipients who received their degrees in Summer (June, July, August) 2023 or after would be eligible to apply
• Must be computer literate and possess a functional computer
• Excellent communication and organization skills
• Demonstrated initiative and self-motivation in performing assigned tasks

Education Requirement: No Requirements

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Interested candidates should send their CVs