Local recruitment: Senior Borehole Drilling Supervisor (Somaliland nationals)

The Somaliland Development Fund – Phase 3 (SDF3) covers the period 2025-2028, with the possibility of a two-year extension. SDF3 aims to strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable communities in Somaliland while creating increased income and job opportunities, thereby helping to reduce poverty. SDF3’s ambitions are aligned with NDP3 and reflect the priorities set out in Somaliland Vision 2030. Funding is currently provided by Denmark and Norway, while the United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands remain engaged partners.

The Somaliland Development Fund (SDF) has allocated funding for the drilling of six boreholes in Burao, as part of the proposed Burao Water Supply Expansion Project. Each borehole site will be supervised by a Borehole Drilling Site Supervisor (DSS) supervised by a Senior Borehole Drilling Supervisor. To support this initiative, the SDF intends to engage the services of one Senior Borehole Drilling Supervisor.  Accordingly, the SDF Secretariat invites applications from qualified Somaliland nationals for these positions.

 Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

 Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Hydrogeology, Geology, or Drilling Engineering.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English; fluency in Somali is an advantage.
• Registered with a relevant professional organization as a practicing Hydrogeologist or Drilling Engineer in Somaliland or the country of domicile.

General Professional Experience

• At least 12 years of experience in groundwater drilling and development, in senior supervisory or management roles.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience covering all phases of deep groundwater development, including site selection, drilling, completion, and commissioning.
• Strong background in quality assurance, safety management, and compliance with environmental and regulatory standards, demonstrated through 10 years of borehole drilling supervision.

Specific Professional Experience

• Proven experience in leading and overseeing multi-site drilling operations, including contract administration and strategic project planning, with at least 5 projects completed in the last 5 years.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret hydrogeological and geophysical data to inform drilling decisions demonstrated through a minimum of 8 years conducting geophysical surveys and borehole siting.
• At least 8 years of experience supervising borehole drilling projects in Somaliland or similar arid/semi-arid environments in the Horn of Africa.

 How to apply

Interested candidates should send their application (cover letter and CV) to the Somaliland Development Fund Secretariat through e-mail jobs@sdf-secretariat.org. Candidates should indicate in their cover letter how they fit the criteria outlined in the advert. All applications must be received by 20^th October 2025 at 1600hrs East African Standard Time. Applicants should clearly indicate the position they are applying for in the email subject line. Full Job Description can be accessed on the SDF website through the link: https://somalilanddevelopmentfund.org/opportunities

Any attempt by a candidate to influence the outcome of the recruitment process in any way which can be interpreted as canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification from being considered for this position.

This role is open to Somaliland nationals only.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.