Consultancy - Hydraulics & Agricultural Irrigation Automation Researcher

The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture(ICBA) is an international, non-profit agricultural research center established in 1999 through the visionary leadership of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), and the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ICBA is a unique applied agricultural research center in the world that is focused on marginal areas where an estimated 1.7 billion people live. It identifies, tests and introduces resource-efficient, climate-smart crops and technologies that are best suited to different regions affected by salinity, water scarcity and drought. Through its work, ICBA helps to improve food security and livelihoods for some of the poorest rural communities around the world. ICBA is an equal opportunity employer and appoints qualified staff regardless of race, creed, color, age, gender, religion or national origin. We demonstrate our commitment to each member of our team through a competitive benefits package designed to assist our employees to cover their needs and the needs of their immediate family members.

Job Summary
Rehabilitation of river canal systems and installation of new hydraulic posts and irrigation automation is one of the key priorities under the five-years plan (2021-2025) of the Kazakhstan Government. Under this plan, “Kazvodkhoz” started a project during the year 2022 to modernize and digitalize the irrigation network of RGP “Kazvodkhoz” for two regions Almaty and Turkistan. The project aims to ensure control over water consumption by farmers in the Almaty and Turkestan regions and will include reconstruction of hydraulic posts of five canals and installation of automated water accounting systems in these two regions. It is anticipated that the new system will improve the efficiency of obtaining reliable data on water consumption and reducing the error in irrigation water. The implementing companies will construct and install complete flow rate and water level sensors with converter and telemetry system in addition to all related equipments and site preparation in 35 construction sites. ICBA intends to hire a field researcher to provide technical supervision on the reconstruction of hydraulic posts with implementation of automated water metering systems on canals in these two regions. The field researcher will work to ensure that the hydraulic posts and irrigation automation is installed with highest quality possible. The field researcher will work jointly with the “Kazvodkhoz” team and the implementing companies.
Job Responsibilities
  • Ensure control of the construction (without overstating the cost and scope of work.
  • Confirmation of the volume of construction in accordance with the project design and estimate documentation.
  • Control of application of construction materials, structures and equipment specified in the project design and estimate documentation.
  • Control of compliance with the planned construction terms and schedules.
  • Inspection of availability and suitability of documents confirming the quality of used construction materials, structures, and equipment.
  • Report on accurate reflection of actually performed scope of work, spent funds, rendered services in the reporting documents of contractors.
  • Prepare technical reports as specified by the project documents
  • Prepare research papers to submit to peer-reviewed journals
  • Additional activities to support ICBA’s mission

 

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

  • Master of Science or Doctoral degree in hydrology / hydraulics
  • At least 5 years’ working knowledge in river canal hydraulics and sensors
  • Excellent skills in hydraulics and irrigation automation
  • Fluency in written and spoken English and Rusian

Desirable

  • Working knowledge of database management
  • Additional language skills
  • Supervisory experience
Post Date
4 February 2022
Status
Closed
Vacancy Type
Consultancy
Closing Date
open until filled
Location
Kazakhstan
Report To
Program Leader - SNRM
Job Number
NA
Duration of the assignment
One Year
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