Senior Project Officer (Sciences)

About this role

UNESCO is recruiting a Senior Project Officer (Sciences) at P-4 level to serve as senior manager and strategic technical authority of the Project Management Unit for the Kilimanjaro Transboundary Aquifer System Project, known as the Kilimanjaro Water Tower initiative. The post is based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the incumbent is accountable to UNESCO for coherent, timely and high-quality execution across Kenya and Tanzania. The role carries responsibility for translating the approved project document into a sequenced implementation strategy, annual work plans, budgets and procurement priorities. The officer directs delivery across all components, resolves bottlenecks, maintains a strategic risk register and leads adaptive management.

The post-holder serves as UNESCO's principal interface with FAO, co-chairing ministries, national coordinators, basin institutions and the Jumuiya Water Fund, and provides secretariat support to the Project Steering Committee. The officer sets technical assurance standards across hydrogeology, geophysics, hydrochemistry, modelling and managed aquifer recharge, and supervises PMU staff and consultants. Candidates must hold a PhD in hydrogeology, geology, water resources management or a closely related field, with at least seven years of progressively responsible relevant experience, preferably including three years at international level. Demonstrated experience leading complex multidisciplinary water or natural-resource programmes across countries, groundwater assessment expertise, staff supervision, budget management and donor reporting are required, as are excellent English and Swahili.

Desirable qualifications include GEF International Waters experience, TDA/SAP processes, Eastern African water governance and resource mobilization. The project is a five-year Global Environment Facility International Waters initiative implemented by FAO and executed by UNESCO with the Governments of Kenya and Tanzania. The appointment is a one-year project appointment, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds, with an approximate annual starting salary of 113,814 USD and benefits including 30 days annual leave, medical insurance and a pension plan. Applications close on 29 October 2026 via the UNESCO Careers website.