General Manager, Technical Services at Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company Limited (ELDOWAS)

JOB REF:  ELDOWAS/2024/GM, TS/02– 1 post

Reporting to: Managing Director. 

Terms of Engagement: Three Years Contract Renewable once based on performance 

Job summary:

To plan direct, co-ordinate, control and manage the company’s operations and maintenance of infrastructure and equipment in order to supply water and sewerage services to the Company’s Service Area.

 Key Tasks

Managerial Roles & responsibilities

• Ensuring compliance with established standards for planning, design, construction, and operation and maintenance of water and wastewater services facilities;
• Ensuring achievement of key performance indicators in line with the water sector benchmarks on water coverage, sewerage coverage, and water quality, metering ratio, Non-Revenue Water among others;
• Implementing technical standards of the Company;
• Evaluating performance of the company on all the specified key performance indicators to ensure continuous improvement;
• Responsible for water conservation and demand management for the water utility;
• Ensuring that all materials, parts, chemicals and others used in operations meets required safety and quality standards so as not to compromise staff, customer or public health and safety;
• Responsible for ensuring all technical operations and projects are carried out in accordance with approved standards and budgets;
• Responsible for development of framework for management and maintenance of a water distribution system, sewer system in the company’ area of operation;
• Managing all water produced and fed into the system to minimize losses
• Develop work plans and budgets for the department for approval;
• Oversee the execution of departmental work plan and budgets;
• Review professional water and environmental regulations and guidance, assessing the potential for impacts on the department operations, develop and submit comments and alternative language for issuing agency consideration;
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, performance measures, policies and priorities as assigned by the Managing Director;
• Prepare applications for and maintain required environmental permits for the Company; act a lead negotiator with the issuing agency;
• Develop and/or propose research efforts necessary to support the department strategic goals;
• Oversee performance management of staff in the department;
• Identify training needs for the departmental staff;
• Mentor and coach staff within the department;
• Prepare and submit all monthly, quarterly and annual reports. 

Operational Roles and Responsibilities 

• Responsible for the overall supervision to ensure proper functioning of the Technical Department and its personnel ensuring that the duties are carried out in accordance with the company’s policies;
• Development of departmental policies;
• Oversee and approve plant facilities maintenance project improvements, including capital projects;
• Responsible for approval of extension of water and sewer networks;
• Ensure provision of quality water;
• Ensure proper treatment and safe disposal of wastewater;
• Identify training needs for the departmental staff. Mentor and coach departmental staff;
• Develop department budget and work plan;
• Identify procurement needs of the department;
• Participate in strategic planning and implementation;
• Responsible for physical assets operated and maintained by the company;
• Make strategic, operational and technical decisions for the department;
• Plan the work of subordinates, assigns work to subordinates, and monitor subordinates work performance;
• Appraise/evaluate subordinates’ performance;
• Work closely with other departments/sections in all areas. 

Key Result Areas:

The jobholder’s accountability areas are as follows:

• Timely and accurate completion of all required reports, including operation and maintenance reports;
• Timely compliance with all regulatory agency mandates, permit requirements, sampling schedules and mandated actions and programs;
• Effective operational cost control of the department’s financial resources;
• Successful implementation of quality control standards for services offered by the department;
• Effective supervision of employees assigned to the department;
• Maximization of productivity in the department;
• Continuous process improvement of services offered by the department 

Job Specifications (Essential requirements for this job position):

• A Master degree in Civil/Water Engineering or the equivalent;
• A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or any other related field;
• A minimum of 12 years in related work experience, with 6 years of this in Senior Management;
• A registered Professional Engineer in good standing with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) and a corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers Kenya (IEK) with good standing

Essential Competencies and Personal Attributes

• Must have demonstrated ability to handle departmental budgets, resources, processes, projects and relationships;
• Should have thorough knowledge of the relevant industry/sector as well as knowledge of regulatory requirements affecting the relevant sector;
• Must have ability to plan, organize, implement and evaluate departmental goals;
• Must demonstrate ability to handle multiple and conflicting priorities, and work under strict deadlines;
• Should have strong analytical and be result oriented;
• Must have high standards of integrity and ethical practice;
• Must be capable of functioning effectively both as a team player and a team leader;
• Must have management and Leadership skills;
• Must have ability to accurately plan work assignments, prioritize tasks and deliver deadlines;
• Should have problem solving and decision making abilities;
• Should be an effective communicator with the ability to handle both internal and external communication;
• Should demonstrate ability to identify and respond to risk areas within the department;
• Should have effective people management and conflict resolution skills;
• Must have knowledge in use of MS office packages.