Job Description: Technical Lead, Free Chlorine Residual Sensors
Application deadline: September 1st, applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Mangrove Water
Mangrove Water is a technical support organization dedicated to increasing access to safely managed drinking water through the optimization and implementation of in-line chlorination (ILC) technologies. Mangrove serves as a bridge between technology and implementation, providing open-source resources, and tailored assistance to governments, utilities, and NGOs. Mangrove Water is also contributing technical leadership to an emerging initiative to spur innovation in low-cost water quality sensor technology for rural and decentralized water systems, with plans for additional technical partnerships in development.
Background: In-line chlorination is a critical pathway to meeting SDG 6, safely managed drinking water for all. However, in LMIC settings, routine operational monitoring of chlorine residual is currently done by in-person testing, resulting in a both time- and staffing-intensive process. In high-income contexts, free chlorine residual monitoring is done by real-time remote sensors that generate actionable alerts to prevent lapses in water quality. Existing sensors are too expensive or ill-suited to low income settings. Therefore, there is a critical need for low cost, free chlorine residual sensors. Mangrove Water is leading development support initiatives, including a technical working group around remote water quality monitoring.
Start Date: As soon as possible.
Duration: 1 year, with potential to extend to second year.
Objective: The Sensors Lead will play a strategic role in Mangrove Water’s contribution to an emerging initiative to spur innovation in low-cost water quality sensor technology. One major objective of this role is to develop the technical standards and human-centered design criteria that will shape how new chlorine residual sensor technologies are evaluated. Additionally, this role will manage trial protocols and serve as the primary technical liaison to participating manufacturers. This role will also contribute to organizational strategic planning as this workstream matures.
2. Core Responsibilities
A. Technical Standards & Human-Centered Design
This role will be responsible for the strategic development of product performance standards for water quality sensors intended for low- and middle-income country (LMIC) deployment, ensuring those standards reflect real-world usability alongside lab performance.
- Technical Standards Development: Draft and iterate product performance criteria (accuracy, environmental durability, chlorine detection specifications) for water quality sensors intended for LMIC field deployment.
- Human-Centered Design Integration: Ensure evaluation criteria and trial protocols reflect real-world usability, not just lab performance, for frontline operators and rural water systems.
- Evaluation Framework: Build and maintain the technical assessment framework used to certify sensor performance against defined standards.
- Professional Liaison and Project Management: Coordinate with collaborative teams working to design, build, and support the development of water quality sensors.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Draft and revise technical standards documentation for internal and partner review.
- Conduct field-informed usability research to inform design criteria.
- Maintain the certification framework and supporting documentation.
B. Trial Protocol Management & Technical Liaison
This role will manage lab and field trial logistics and serve as the primary technical point of contact for participating manufacturers and technology developers.
- Trial Protocol Design: Own lab and field trial protocols, including coordination of third-party accredited lab validation for performance and environmental stress testing.
- Technical Liaison: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for participating manufacturers and technology developers during evaluation phases.
- Cross-Functional Coordination: Work alongside Mangrove’s engineering team on trial logistics and contractor relationships.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Coordinate third-party lab validation testing and results review.
- Manage day-to-day technical communications with participating firms.
- Prepare technical documentation and briefing materials for internal and partner review processes.
3. Additional Responsibilities (Based on Interest & Need)
- Direct Technical Assistance: Provide support to other team members developing documentation and capacity building tools as needed. This could include travel, on an as-needed basis.
- Open Source Resource Design: Contribute to visual guides and other technical resources related to sensor deployment for the broader ILC sector.
4. Communication and Reporting
- Primary Contact: Mangrove Water’s CEO: Megan Lindmark
- Regular Check-ins: Weekly Mangrove Water team meetings, weekly coordination calls with broader sensor team
