Hydrology Advisor

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Addis Ababa, the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) delivers project management, procurement, and infrastructure services across Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan, with a primary focus on health, agriculture, and economic development. Established in 2009, HAMCO partners with governments and development stakeholders to implement impactful, results-driven initiatives that contribute to sustainable development. Since 2024, new projects have been aimed at expanding access to healthcare, education, energy, and livelihoods, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected regions. HAMCO also provides human resource management services, supporting the effective implementation of development initiatives. Key efforts include equipping research facilities, strengthening education and health systems, building vaccine research capacity, and enhancing resilience in communities affected by crisis. Through these interventions, HAMCO contributes to inclusive growth, regional stability, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Horn of Africa.

The UNOPS Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) is establishing a multi-disciplinary Water Security and Climate Adaptation expert team. This team supports long-term master planning, the strategic design, and the resilient management of hydraulic, sanitation, and water resource infrastructures across fragile and climate-vulnerable landscapes. As a core technical member of this team, the incumbent provides authoritative technical guidance, remote and inception support, and advanced hydrological analysis. The role goes beyond standard engineering to embed climate change projections, disaster risk reduction (DRR), integrated water resources management (IWRM), and catchment-level planning. The role requires independent hydrological analysis according to validated international standards and the advanced knowledge to adapt existing methodologies to meet emerging climate risks and sustainable development goals within the Horn of Africa

The Hydrology Advisor acts as a senior technical and strategic expert, independently driving the hydrological, climate adaptation, and disaster mitigation technical outputs of the office’s water-related portfolio. Reporting directly to the Senior Portfolio Manager who leads the team, the candidate provides authoritative technical advice, elaborates complex environmental data, and delivers high-quality specialized outputs. The role involves solving complex, data-scarce hydrological challenges, ensuring the climate-proofing of specialized infrastructure designs, and informing regional water security strategies.

1. Technical Expertise

• Provide specialist technical advice and strategic design support in the hydrological sectors across the hydrological, water resources, and climate change adaptation sectors.
• Assist, guide, and verify climate-resilient methodologies are implemented ensuring infrastructures are designed to withstand extreme weather events, long-term climate shifts, and altered hydrological regimes.
• Support decision-support systems for optimal, conflict-sensitive water allocation, balancing ecosystem needs with agricultural, domestic, and energy demands. .
• Ensure all technical designs and assessments align with international quality standards and UNOPS technical infrastructure guidelines.

2. Monitoring and Reporting

• Actively engage with the broader team and all relevant stakeholders on data collection, field verification, and hydro-meteorological modeling .
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of implementation plan progress.
• Prepare and submit technical reports, risk logs, and issue briefs summarizing the progress of hydrological tasks to the Senior Portfolio Manager
• Work closely with the Senior Portfolio Project Manager to provide rapid technical responses and adapt methodologies to emerging project and regional environmental needs.

3. Knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Building

• Support team multi disciplinary collaboration and share advanced knowledge on:
• Macro and micro-level hydrological assessments and multi-scenario baseline modeling. - Downscaling global climate models (GCMs) and regional climate models (RCMs) to evaluate long-term impacts on catchments and infrastructure lifespans. - Distributed hydrological modeling for simulating complex processes in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). - Hydro-meteorological forecasting, impact-based early warning systems (EWS), and real-time flash flood/drought monitoring. - Incorporating Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) alongside traditional infrastructure. - Quantifying uncertainty, sensitivity analysis, and managing data-scarce environments common in fragile contexts.

4. Technical Portfolio & Team Support 

• Support the Senior Portfolio Project Manager from a technical viewpoint to review, pitch, and deliver multifaceted projects with heavy hydrological or climate-adaptation components.
• Support the Senior Portfolio Project Manager in coordinating the technical work of the team; technically supervise and coach the team during the implementation phase.
• Ensure principles of human rights, gender equity, peace, voice, accountability, ‘doing no harm,’ and aid effectiveness in all activities.
• Create, foster, and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards, and commitments.

Required

• Master's degree or equivalent in Hydrology, Water Resources Engineering, Hydro-climatology, Environmental Engineering, or a related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience on the subject; 

Desired

• Ph.D. in Hydrology, Hydraulic Engineering, or Water Resources Management with a climate focus.

Required

• A minimum of 7 years of combined relevant experience in: Hydrological modeling development in the engineering sector; 
  Climate change impact evaluations on large hydraulic infrastructures and/or catchments; and Real-time drought and flood forecasting.
  

Desired

• Experience in risk assessment of water systems.

• Experience in teaching, conducting applied research, and/or capacity building in the hydrological engineering sector.

• Author or co-author of articles published in international peer-reviewed journals or proceedings of international conferences in the hydrological sector.

  
  

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