UNOPS Hydrology Advisor 2026 | Apply for Elite Home-Based Water Resources Engineering Job

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The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is inviting qualified professionals to apply for the Hydrology Advisor position. This senior-level opportunity offers an opportunity to provide technical expertise in hydrology, water resources management, climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction across the Horn of Africa.

The position is home-based and supports UNOPS projects focused on climate-resilient water infrastructure, water security and sustainable development.

🌍 UNOPS Hydrology Advisor 2026

The Hydrology Advisor will join the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) and contribute to a multidisciplinary Water Security and Climate Adaptation expert team.

The successful candidate will provide advanced hydrological analysis and technical advice while helping integrate climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and integrated water resources management into infrastructure projects.

📌 Job Details

Organization: United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Position: Hydrology Advisor
Job Category: Engineer
Location: Home-based
Seniority Level: Senior Level
ICS Level: ICS 11
Contract Type: ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer
Contract Level: LICA 11
Posting Date: August 21, 2026
Application Deadline: September 10, 2026
Duration: One year initially
Renewal: Renewable subject to satisfactory performance and budget availability
Language: English

💧 About the Role

The Hydrology Advisor will provide senior technical and strategic expertise across UNOPS water-related projects in the Horn of Africa.

The role focuses on developing climate-resilient water engineering solutions and supporting sustainable water governance in areas affected by climate variability and environmental vulnerability.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Senior Portfolio Manager and other technical specialists to deliver high-quality hydrological and climate adaptation outputs.

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🌍 About the Region

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, oversees projects across numerous African countries, including fragile and conflict-affected settings.

Its work covers areas such as:

Climate action
Health
Infrastructure
Peace and security
Project management
Partnerships
Resource management
Sustainable development

The Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office, based in Addis Ababa, supports projects across Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan.

🛠️ Key Responsibilities

The Hydrology Advisor will be responsible for providing technical expertise in areas including:

Hydrology and water resources
Climate change adaptation
Disaster risk reduction
Climate-resilient infrastructure
Hydrological modelling
Hydro-meteorological analysis
Water allocation
Catchment planning
Flood and drought forecasting
Integrated water resources management
Nature-based solutions
Sustainable drainage systems

The role will also involve preparing technical reports, risk assessments and technical briefs while supporting project planning and implementation.

🌦️ Climate and Hydrological Analysis

A major component of the position is the application of advanced hydrological and climate methodologies.

The successful candidate may contribute to:

Global and regional climate model downscaling
Hydrological modelling
Flood and drought forecasting
Early warning systems
Catchment-level assessments
Climate impact assessments
Data-scarce hydrological analysis
Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis
Water infrastructure climate-proofing

The position is particularly relevant to professionals with experience working in arid and semi-arid environments.

🎓 Education Requirements

Required

Applicants must have a Master’s degree or equivalent in one of the following or a related discipline:

Hydrology
Water Resources Engineering
Hydro-climatology
Environmental Engineering
Related field

Candidates must also have at least 7 years of relevant professional experience.

Desirable

A PhD in:

Hydrology
Hydraulic Engineering
Water Resources Management

with a climate-related focus is considered an advantage.

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💼 Experience Requirements

Applicants must have at least 7 years of combined relevant experience in areas such as:

Hydrological modelling development
Climate change impact assessment
Large hydraulic infrastructure
Catchment assessment
Real-time drought forecasting
Real-time flood forecasting

Additional experience in the following areas is desirable:

Water systems risk assessment
Teaching
Applied hydrological research
Capacity building
Hydrological engineering
Academic or professional publications

Experience authoring or co-authoring articles in peer-reviewed journals or international conference proceedings is also an advantage.

🧠 Required Skills

Important technical skills include:

Hydrology
Water resource management
Climate change
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Hydrological modelling
Environmental engineering
Technical analysis
Data interpretation
Risk assessment

The candidate should also be able to work independently and provide high-level technical guidance to multidisciplinary teams.

🌟 Why Consider This UNOPS Opportunity?

The Hydrology Advisor position provides an opportunity to contribute to major water security and climate adaptation initiatives in a region facing significant environmental challenges.

The successful candidate can contribute to projects involving:

✅ Climate-resilient infrastructure
✅ Water security
✅ Flood and drought management
✅ Climate change adaptation
✅ Sustainable water governance
✅ Disaster risk reduction
✅ Hydrological modelling
✅ Integrated water resources management
✅ Sustainable development

The home-based arrangement also provides flexibility while allowing the successful candidate to contribute to regional projects.

🌍 Working With UNOPS

UNOPS promotes diversity and equal employment opportunity and welcomes applicants from different nationalities, cultures, languages, backgrounds and abilities.

The organization also maintains strict standards concerning:

Integrity
Accountability
Respect
Human rights
Gender equality
Non-discrimination
Prevention of harassment
Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse

Final candidates are subject to background checks.

💰 Salary and Contract

The vacancy information provided does not specify a salary amount.

This position is offered under an ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer contract at LICA 11 level.

Applicants should review the official contract terms carefully before applying, particularly because retainer personnel may be required to complete mandatory training courses in their own time without compensation.

📝 How to Apply for the UNOPS Hydrology Advisor Job

Step 1: Review the eligibility requirements.

Step 2: Prepare an updated CV highlighting your hydrology, water resources and climate adaptation experience.

Step 3: Gather relevant academic and professional information.

Step 4: Visit the official UNOPS careers platform and locate the Hydrology Advisor vacancy.

Step 5: Complete the online application accurately.

Step 6: Submit your application before the deadline.

Step 7: Monitor your email for further communication from UNOPS if shortlisted.

⚠️ Important Notice

UNOPS does not request applicants to make payments at any stage of the recruitment process.

Applicants should also note that:

Applications must be submitted before the stated deadline.
Late applications will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Background checks are conducted on final candidates.
UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

Candidates who require reasonable accommodation during the assessment process should inform UNOPS upon receiving an assessment invitation.

🎯 Final Thoughts

The UNOPS Hydrology Advisor 2026 opportunity is suited to experienced hydrology and water resources professionals with strong expertise in climate adaptation, hydrological modelling and resilient infrastructure.

If you have the required Master’s degree and at least seven years of relevant experience, this home-based position offers an opportunity to contribute to climate-resilient water solutions and sustainable development across the Horn of Africa.

Applicants should carefully review the complete vacancy requirements and submit their applications before September 10, 2026.

🔗 How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply through the official UNOPS careers portal, search for “Hydrology Advisor”, review the complete vacancy announcement and follow the application instructions provided by UNOPS.