Hydrology Advisor

The Hydrology Advisor provides senior technical and strategic expertise in hydrology, climate adaptation, and disaster mitigation for water-related infrastructure projects in the Horn of Africa. The role involves advanced hydrological analysis, climate-resilient design support, and knowledge sharing to enhance water security and sustainable development in fragile and climate-vulnerable contexts.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist technical advice and strategic design support in hydrological sectors including water resources and climate change adaptation
• Assist, guide, and verify implementation of climate-resilient methodologies ensuring infrastructure withstands extreme weather and long-term climate shifts
• Support decision-support systems for optimal, conflict-sensitive water allocation balancing ecosystem, agricultural, domestic, and energy demands
• Ensure all technical designs and assessments align with international quality standards and UNOPS technical infrastructure guidelines
• Engage with team and 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 to the Senior Portfolio Manager
• Provide rapid technical responses and adapt methodologies to emerging project and regional environmental needs
• Support multidisciplinary collaboration and share advanced knowledge on hydrological assessments, climate model downscaling, distributed hydrological modeling, hydro-meteorological forecasting, early warning systems, and nature-based solutions
• Support the Senior Portfolio Project Manager in reviewing, pitching, and delivering projects with hydrological or climate-adaptation components
• Technically supervise and coach the team during implementation
• Ensure principles of human rights, gender equity, peace, accountability, and aid effectiveness in all activities
• Promote a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, and abuse

Requirements

• 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
• Ph.D. in Hydrology, Hydraulic Engineering, or Water Resources Management with a climate focus (desired)
• 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
• Experience in risk assessment of water systems (desired)
• Experience in teaching, conducting applied research, and/or capacity building in the hydrological engineering sector (desired)
• Author or co-author of articles published in international peer-reviewed journals or proceedings of international conferences in the hydrological sector (desired)
• Fluent proficiency in English

Skills

• Hydrological Modeling Development
• Climate Change Impact Evaluation
• Real-time Drought Forecasting
• Real-time Flood Forecasting
• Water Systems Risk Assessment
• Hydrological Engineering Design
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Disaster Mitigation
• Water Resources Management
• Applied Research
• Capacity Building
• Hydraulics Engineering
• Hydrology
• Environmental Engineering

Languages

English