WASH Associate

About this role

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking a WASH Associate to support water, sanitation, and hygiene programming across field operations. UNHCR operates globally to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and displaced persons, with WASH interventions forming a critical component of its humanitarian response strategy. This role is based within UNHCR operations and will focus on ensuring access to safe water, adequate sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion activities for populations of concern. The WASH Associate will be responsible for contributing to the planning, implementation, and monitoring of WASH activities in humanitarian settings. Core duties include supporting public health and water resources management initiatives, overseeing construction management aspects of WASH infrastructure, and coordinating hygiene promotion programming for affected populations. The incumbent will also manage technical teams working in the field, ensuring activities align with UNHCR priorities and humanitarian standards. UNHCR requires candidates with knowledge of public health principles, water resources management, construction management, hygiene promotion programming, and technical team management within humanitarian contexts. Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills are essential, as the role involves coordinating a range of diverse actors to achieve common WASH objectives. Prior exposure to UNHCR mandate, its core priorities, and guiding principles is highly desirable. Additional preferred qualifications include specialized certifications or training in WASH and a thorough understanding of the linkages between public health and WASH sector programming. The ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and activities is a key competency for this position. This is a UNOPS LICA6 fixed-term appointment with a target start date of 1 July 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline of 27 May 2026.