Field Agent job at Impact Water

Background

Field Agents perform the most essential part of Impact Water’s work – educating learners about the importance of drinking clean, and safe water and carrying out system maintenance to ensure the water purification systems are working properly. Field Agents also represent Impact Water in our activities throughout the country. Field Agents interact with school administrators, teachers, and hundreds of students on a daily basis. The job primarily involves traveling to three or more schools daily, checking on water purification systems, collecting data, problem-solving, and educating students.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the proper functioning of Impact Water systems: this is done through the distribution, maintenance, and replacement of filters, UV lamps, Aquatabs, and cartridges, as well as the collection and return of unused materials.
• Raise awareness and educate: The Field Agent’s other primary task is to promote awareness and understanding about the importance of drinking clean water and how Impact Water’s products work. We call these School Engagement and Product Usage (SEPU) visits. The primary audience is schoolchildren, but Field Agents are expected to advocate for the cause of clean drinking water with everyone they meet.
• Data collection and reporting: Collecting and sharing accurate data ensures our job is done well, helps us make better decisions, and is required for communicating our accomplishments to donors. Field Agents collect data on their phones as they do their work, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Ensure our systems are delivering clean water: This involves conducting water quality tests, observing, reporting, and fixing improperly functioning systems, and problem-solving with schools to help them use our systems effectively.
• Other tasks as assigned by the Field Coordinator: This may include things like delivering documents for schools to sign, establishing relationships with local government officials, doing additional research to improve our operations, etc.

Supervision and Performance Review

Each Field Agent is supervised by a Field Coordinator, who is based in Kampala, but will come to supervise each individual Field Agent in person at least twice. On a weekly, if not daily basis, Field Agents have check-ins with their supervising Field Coordinator, who provides regular feedback on their performance and grades their work.

Reporting and Relationships

As noted above, Field Agents report directly to a Field Coordinator. The Field Agent’s work with schools is also checked by a Customer Experience Agent. Field Agents are part of a large network of Impact Water Field Agents and are encouraged to learn and problem-solve with one another. At Impact Water, we have a culture of constant learning and recruiting from within our company; several high-performing Field Agents have become Field Coordinators.

Location and Travel

This position will be based in the Field Agent’s own district and requires a significant amount of travel. Field Agents are expected to travel every work day, Monday through Friday, throughout the term of their employment, which is usually about six weeks.

Key Attributes

• Ability to Work Autonomously: Ability to self-manage and work independently with limited in-person supervision. You must proactively organize your workload, pace tasks, and take the initiative to solve challenges without constant oversight.
• High Integrity: Demonstrate strong ethical standards and can be fully trusted to carry out responsibilities with honesty. Given the decentralized role, you ensure transparency in your work and avoid situations that could lead to fraud or misconduct.
• Cost-Conscious: Remain mindful of budget constraints and strive to use resources efficiently. You manage operational expenses prudently to complete field activities in a cost-effective manner.
• Team Player and Commitment: Strong collaboration skills and dedication to team success. You will interact with other Field Agents, Field Coordinators, and stakeholders, supporting others and contributing to Impact Water’s mission.
• Grit and Resilience: Exhibit resilience and persistence in overcoming challenges. You maintain focus and effort over the long term, demonstrating a strong commitment to achieving results, even in difficult circumstances.

Required Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate will be a mission-driven individual who fully aligns with Impact Water’s values and has the following skills, experience, and qualities:

• Possess a diploma or degree in any field (preferably Education or Social Work)
• Fluency in English and the ability to speak the local language of the district are mandatory
• Reside in the district where you are assigned work, with a good geographical and cultural understanding of the area
• Must be able to travel 100% of the work time to visit schools, which are often in remote locations
• Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively interact with school administration, teachers, and students
• Confident personality, including being energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to accurately record data
• High levels of honesty and integrity
• Passion for improving the lives of others
• Must own a reliable Android phone
• Prior experience with data collection and/or social work is strongly preferred
• A post-secondary school certificate in training, preferably in social work or in education, is strongly preferred

• Ensure the proper functioning of Impact Water systems: this is done through the distribution, maintenance, and replacement of filters, UV lamps, Aquatabs, and cartridges, as well as the collection and return of unused materials.
• Raise awareness and educate: The Field Agent’s other primary task is to promote awareness and understanding about the importance of drinking clean water and how Impact Water’s products work. We call these School Engagement and Product Usage (SEPU) visits. The primary audience is schoolchildren, but Field Agents are expected to advocate for the cause of clean drinking water with everyone they meet.
• Data collection and reporting: Collecting and sharing accurate data ensures our job is done well, helps us make better decisions, and is required for communicating our accomplishments to donors. Field Agents collect data on their phones as they do their work, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Ensure our systems are delivering clean water: This involves conducting water quality tests, observing, reporting, and fixing improperly functioning systems, and problem-solving with schools to help them use our systems effectively.
• Other tasks as assigned by the Field Coordinator: This may include things like delivering documents for schools to sign, establishing relationships with local government officials, doing additional research to improve our operations, etc.

• Ability to Work Autonomously
• High Integrity
• Cost-Conscious
• Team Player and Commitment
• Grit and Resilience
• Fluency in English and local language
• Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills
• Confident personality
• Excellent attention to detail
• High levels of honesty and integrity
• Passion for improving the lives of others

• Diploma or degree in any field (preferably Education or Social Work)
• Reside in the district where you are assigned work
• Must own a reliable Android phone
• Prior experience with data collection and/or social work is strongly preferred
• A post-secondary school certificate in training, preferably in social work or in education, is strongly preferred