Water and Sanitation Engineer

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to impactful infrastructure projects in the Horn of Africa, enhancing community resilience and sustainability. The position offers exposure to diverse project environments, cross-cultural collaboration, and professional development opportunities in water engineering, project management, and stakeholder engagement within the UN system.

Location: Addis Ababa

Organization: UNOPS

Deadline: 01-Jan-2026

Job Description

General Information

Job Category: Engineer

Seniority Level: Mid Level

ICS Level: ICS 09

Contract Type: ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer

Contract Level: LICA 9

Duration: One year, renewable based on satisfactory performance and budget availability.

About the Region

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.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

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.

Job Specific Context

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager, the Water and Sanitation Engineer operates within a dynamic project environment, focusing on water supply, sanitation, and fire-fighting systems across multiple regions. The role is essential to ensuring the quality, resilience, and sustainability of infrastructure projects, requiring frequent travel to project sites and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

The Water and Sanitation Engineer will contribute to improved public health, safety, and resilience of communities by providing reliable access to water, sanitation, and emergency fire-fighting services.

Role Purpose

The Water and Sanitation Engineer will provide professional water supply, sanitary engineering, and fire-fighting services, including planning, design, quality control, and reviews within the building design scope, ensuring full compliance with national building codes, environmental regulations, and international standards.

Functions / Key Results Expected

1. Site Assessment

Conduct technical assessment of infrastructure projects as an input for the design interventions.
Determine the ground condition in relation to water supply, sanitation, and fire-fighting systems in project location.
Prepare checklists, undertake desk reviews, field surveys, and consultations to gather baseline data
Identify critical gaps, risks, and opportunities for integrating resilience, sustainability, and compliance with national and international standards.
Prepare comprehensive assessment reports.

2. Design Works

Develop comprehensive engineering designs for sanitary systems, water supply systems, including plumbing networks, fixtures, wells, tube wells (borehole), and rainwater recharge wells.
Design reliable and sustainable water supply systems, including distribution networks, pumping facilities, storage reservoirs, and treatment solutions, ensuring compliance with national standards and climate-resilient practices.
Prepare hydraulic calculations and flow diagrams.
Design sanitation systems covering wastewater plumbing, sewer lines, toilet fixtures, septic tanks, soak pits, reed basins, and runoff drainage systems.
Prepare designs for fire-fighting systems, incorporating plumbing, pumps, power backup connections, alarms, and portable fire extinguishers.
Produce detailed drawings, specifications, and technical documents, ensuring integration with other engineering disciplines and alignment with disaster risk resilience standards.
Prepare cost estimates and bills of quantities (BoQ) based on approved district rates and updated market surveys.
Ensure that all designs, specifications, and supervision activities comply with recognized national and international standards and guidelines, including Ethiopian Standards (ES/EN), Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA), UNOPS Guidelines, WHO Guidelines for Water, Sanitation and Health, ISO standards, and FIDIC conditions of contract, as well as other relevant codes of practice local or international for water supply, sanitation, and fire-fighting systems.

3. Construction Supervision and Quality Control

Assist in the procurement process, including the review of suppliers, materials, and installation practices for compliance with specifications.
Support the Infrastructure Unit in overseeing and monitoring contractors’ work plans and progress to ensure timely and effective implementation of works.
Conduct quality control inspections during construction and the defects liability period for water supply, sanitation, and fire-fighting systems.
Provide technical troubleshooting and on-site engineering support to address construction challenges.
Support quantity surveying and field progress measurement, preparing periodic supervision and compliance reports.

4. Leadership, Coordination, and Stakeholder Engagement

Collaborate with multidisciplinary design teams to ensure coherent integration of sanitary systems with structural, architectural, and electrical components.
Support the Infrastructure Unit while coordinating with Regional Water Supply and Sanitation officials during inspection and to ensure smooth connection of new systems with city networks.
Facilitate stakeholder consultations and technical discussions to ensure alignment of project deliverables with community needs and regulatory requirements.
Guide contractors, consultants, and site teams to ensure professional standards are maintained throughout the project lifecycle.

5. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

Develop standard specifications, manuals, and technical guidelines for the selection and use of pipes, fixtures, and appliances.
Document and disseminate lessons learned, case studies, and best practices in sanitation engineering and fire safety systems.
Build capacity of local contractors, engineers, and stakeholders through technical training and mentoring.
Ensure effective knowledge transfer and institutional strengthening to promote sustainability of water supply, sanitation, and fire-fighting systems beyond project implementation.

Skills

Construction Site Management, Fire Protection, Quality Control, Sanitation, Stakeholder Engagement, Technical Design, Water Supply.

Education Requirements

Required

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Water Resources Engineering, Civil Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, or a related field.

Desired

Master’s degree in Water Resources Engineering, Civil Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, or a related field.
Practicing Professional Sanitary/Water Engineering certification is required.