Chief Technician Air Quality Services at The South African Weather Service (SAWS)

Responsibilities:

• Maintenance and improvement of existing infrastructure and development/expansion of air quality monitoring networks. 
• Electronic, electrical and mechanical maintenance of the country wide air quality monitoring infrastructure on a continuous 24 hours per day, 365 days a year basis. 
• Ensure data transmission and accuracy of data from the ambient air quality monitoring infrastructure. 
• Perform equipment maintenance procedures as per schedule or when required so as to limit down time of infrastructure to a minimum. 
• Assembly and installation of monitoring systems and associated peripheral equipment according to prescribed guidelines installation manuals. 
• Commissioning and installation of new technical applications and solutions. 
• Perform major and minor repairs to monitoring equipment as and when required. 
• Problem solving and other routine functions pertaining to the monitoring infrastructure. 
• Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reporting on the availability and quality of data from the monitoring network in line with applicable SOPS and templates.
• Interaction with technical staff in the SAWS Regional and Head offices in technical as well as scientific and ICT fields. 
• Strict adherence to/implementation of national and internationally prescribed standards and SOPs in respect of the air quality monitoring infrastructure maintenance and data management and reporting. 
• Provision of technical support to remote locations (Background stations and Regional offices). 
• Provide guidance to and assist junior staff in the solving of problems, scheduled tasks, and other routine functions pertaining to the monitoring infrastructure.
• Ensure that the requirements for preventative and corrective maintenance as well as infrastructure recapitalization are estimated, motivated for and communicated to management and included in Departmental budgets. 
• Maintain good/productive stakeholder and client relationships and ensure > 80% client satisfaction. 
• Assist with the management and implementation of the Regional Centers for air quality and meteorological monitoring. 
• Ensure adherence to ISO 9001 and ISO 17025. 
• Keep abreast of the latest developments in ambient air quality monitoring technologies and techniques. 
• Ability to work independently to solve problems and perform tasks and other routine functions pertaining to the monitoring infrastructure. 
• Contribute to the strategic direction and business plan of the South African Weather Service, and pay special attention to targets, transformation and recapitalization. 
• Act as a mentor to junior staff and provide support to the Regional offices and remote locations. 
• Manage air quality workshop and the job card system. 
• Ensure equipment and consumables are purchased timeously and maintain operating stock.
• Ensure project expenditure within time and budget. 

Minimum Requirements: 

• A 4-year qualification related to Electronic or Electrical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry or Environmental Management. 
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in ambient air quality monitoring or other environmental monitoring that involved equipment/instrument commissioning (including siting), instrument operation, maintenance, calibration, repair and data transmission. 
• Advanced or expert skills in ambient air quality monitoring instrument operation, maintenance and repair. 
• Advanced knowledge of ambient air quality monitoring instruments and measurement technics. 
• Good knowledge of computer and information systems as well as database management systems. 
• Knowledge of air quality legislation, laboratory quality systems, monitoring equipment maintenance and repair. 
• Code 8 driver’s license for a gear shift vehicle (manual). 
• Ability to work under pressure and within time constraints. 
• Ability and willingness to work over-time (weekends included) as and when needed. 
• Ability to travel long distance and sleep-over away from home as per maintenance schedules when required. 
• Project management skills and experience.