Data Processing Assistant (BS-16)

Irrigation Department; Sukkur; On-site; PKR 450,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

The Irrigation Department in Sukkur invites applications for the Data Processing Assistant (BS-16). The role manages and analyzes hydrological, meteorological, and irrigation data to support water resource planning, flood forecasting, and canal operation scheduling.

The officer maintains centralized databases, runs ETL pipelines, and generates periodic reports using SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Python, ArcGIS/QGIS and advanced Excel to ensure 99% data accuracy and timely flood data delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and managing relational and spatial databases.
• Experience building ETL pipelines for real-time telemetry data.
• Strong understanding of data quality, validation, and audits.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain relational and spatial databases for canal flow, rainfall, and groundwater monitoring networks
• Develop and automate ETL pipelines to ingest real-time telemetry data from SCADA systems and manual gauge entries
• Perform statistical analysis and predictive modeling for seasonal water availability and crop water requirement estimation
• Generate and disseminate standardized irrigation performance reports, dashboards, and GIS maps for senior management and stakeholders
• Ensure data quality through validation rules, anomaly detection algorithms, and regular audits against field measurement records
• Coordinate with field divisions, WAPDA, and Met Department to resolve data gaps and integrate multi-source datasets into the central IMIS

Skills

SQL Server

PostgreSQL

Python (pandas)

ETL pipelines

GIS analysis

Excel

Statistical analysis

Education

MCS/MSc Computer Science/IT or equivalent

Tools

SQL Server

PostgreSQL

Python (pandas)

ArcGIS

QGIS

Excel (Advanced)

Job description

The Data Processing Assistant (BS-16) in the Irrigation Department serves as a key technical officer responsible for managing, processing, and analyzing large volumes of hydrological, meteorological, and irrigation operational data. This role ensures accurate data availability for water resource planning, flood forecasting, canal operation scheduling, and project monitoring. The incumbent operates within the department's Directorate of Planning or Hydrology wing, maintaining centralized databases, generating periodic reports, and supporting decision-making for irrigation network management across the province.

Daily workflows include extracting raw data from telemetry stations, gauge readers, and field offices; validating and cleaning datasets using automated scripts and manual checks; updating the Irrigation Management Information System (IMIS) and GIS layers; producing weekly reservoir status bulletins, seasonal water availability forecasts, and annual irrigation performance reports. The officer uses SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Python pandas, ArcGIS/QGIS, and advanced Excel. Service standards require 99% data accuracy, 24-hour turnaround for critical flood data, and compliance with Pakistan Water Gateway metadata standards. Career progression leads to Senior Data Analyst (BS-17) and Chief Data Officer (BS-18/19) positions.

Selection follows a competitive Category A process: a 100-mark MCQ written screening examination covering computer science fundamentals, database systems, statistics, and irrigation domain knowledge; candidates scoring above the departmental cutoff are shortlisted on merit (typically top 5x vacancies). Shortlisted candidates undergo document verification of educational degrees (MCS/MSc Computer Science/IT or equivalent), domicile, and experience certificates. Final selection is made by the Departmental Selection Committee through a 30-mark technical oral viva voce assessing practical problem-solving, system design, and situational judgment. Final merit combines written (70%) and viva (30%) scores.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and maintain relational and spatial databases for canal flow, rainfall, and groundwater monitoring networks
• Develop and automate ETL pipelines to ingest real-time telemetry data from SCADA systems and manual gauge entries
• Perform statistical analysis and predictive modeling for seasonal water availability and crop water requirement estimation
• Generate and disseminate standardized irrigation performance reports, dashboards, and GIS maps for senior management and stakeholders
• Ensure data quality through validation rules, anomaly detection algorithms, and regular audits against field measurement records
• Coordinate with field divisions, WAPDA, and Met Department to resolve data gaps and integrate multi-source datasets into the central IMIS