Senior Project Officer (Sciences) Job Vacancy at UNESCO – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is inviting applications from qualified and experienced professionals for the position of Senior Project Officer (Sciences) under the Kilimanjaro Transboundary Aquifer System (KTAS) Project.
The project, titled “Unlocking the Groundwater Potential of the Kilimanjaro Water Tower” (GEF ID 11547), is a five-year Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters initiative implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as the GEF Agency and executed by UNESCO in collaboration with the Governments of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The project aims to improve water security, climate resilience, groundwater management, and ecosystem health through scientific research, monitoring, protection of groundwater recharge areas, and cooperation between the two countries.
Job Details
Job Title: Senior Project Officer (Sciences)
Organization: UNESCO
Project: Kilimanjaro Transboundary Aquifer System (KTAS)
Duty Station: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as stated in the vacancy title
Contract Duration: Initial 12-month contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds
Approximate Annual Starting Salary: USD 113,814
Application Deadline: 29 October 2026, at midnight Paris time
Application Method: Online through the official UNESCO Careers website
Position Summary
The Senior Project Officer (Sciences) will lead the Project Management Unit (PMU) and provide strategic, managerial, and technical leadership for the implementation of the KTAS Project.
The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating project activities across Kenya and Tanzania, supervising project staff and consultants, maintaining partnerships with government institutions and development partners, and ensuring that project activities meet scientific, operational, and reporting standards.
The position also involves supporting transboundary groundwater governance and promoting long-term sustainability of the project's results.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Strategic Planning and Project Implementation
Develop project implementation strategies, multi-year plans, annual work plans, budgets, and performance objectives.
Coordinate delivery across all project components and resolve implementation challenges.
Ensure scientific activities, field investments, capacity development, safeguards, and communications are effectively integrated.
Monitor project risks and recommend appropriate corrective actions.
Recommend significant project changes through established approval procedures.
2. Transboundary Coordination and Partnerships
Coordinate with FAO, government ministries, national coordinators, basin institutions, and other strategic partners.
Support the Project Steering Committee (PSC) through preparation of meetings, decision papers, records, and follow-up actions.
Support the establishment of a permanent mechanism for transboundary consultation and information exchange.
Contribute to the development of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP).
Represent the project at authorized national, regional, and international meetings.
3. Scientific Leadership and Quality Assurance
Oversee technical work involving hydrogeology, geophysics, hydrochemistry, groundwater modelling, drilling, and monitoring.
Review technical specifications, scopes of work, and project deliverables within delegated authority.
Ensure that groundwater assessments, monitoring frameworks, information systems, and pilot activities meet appropriate scientific standards.
Integrate climate resilience, gender equality, local knowledge, youth participation, and environmental and social safeguards into project implementation.
4. Team and Performance Management
Lead, supervise, coach, and assess Project Management Unit personnel.
Supervise consultants, contractors, and service providers.
Monitor partner performance against agreed work plans, budgets, milestones, and reporting requirements.
Promote an accountable, collaborative, and inclusive working environment.
5. Reporting and Compliance
Monitor project progress against the results framework and GEF indicators.
Oversee preparation of progress reports, implementation reviews, co-financing reports, and other required documentation.
Ensure compliance with applicable UNESCO, FAO, and GEF requirements.
Coordinate follow-up actions arising from audits, project reviews, and evaluations.
6. Financing and Sustainability
Maintain partnerships with government institutions, academic institutions, communities, civil society, and development partners.
Monitor co-financing commitments and identify potential financing gaps.
Support resource mobilization and preparation of investment proposals.
Promote the long-term sustainability of groundwater monitoring networks, information systems, and governance mechanisms.
Required Qualifications
Education
Applicants must possess a PhD in Hydrogeology, Geology, Water Resources Management, or a closely related field.
Professional Experience
Candidates must have:
At least seven years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience, preferably including at least three years at the international level.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, multidisciplinary water, environmental, or natural-resource programmes involving multiple institutions and countries or jurisdictions.
Substantial experience in groundwater assessment or management.
Experience supervising personnel and consultants, managing work plans and budgets, and delivering results and donor reports.
Experience facilitating government-led processes and building partnerships across public institutions, technical organizations, civil society, and development partners.
Skills and Competencies
Applicants should demonstrate:
Strong strategic judgement and decision-making skills.
Excellent leadership, negotiation, facilitation, and diplomatic abilities.
Knowledge of results-based management, risk management, quality assurance, and technical writing.
Ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accountability.
Proficiency in standard office and project-management tools.
Familiarity with hydrogeological data, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and information systems.
Language Requirements
Applicants must have excellent written and spoken knowledge of:
Desirable Qualifications
The following will be considered an advantage:
Experience with GEF International Waters projects or projects involving UN organizations.
Experience in Eastern Africa and knowledge of water governance in Kenya and Tanzania.
Experience with transboundary aquifers, volcanic hydrogeology, groundwater information systems, managed aquifer recharge, or climate-resilient investment planning.
Experience in resource mobilization or co-financing management.
Knowledge of another official UNESCO language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish.
Salary and Benefits
The approximate annual starting salary for this position is USD 113,814.
Depending on the applicable UNESCO employment terms and conditions, benefits and entitlements may include:
30 days of annual leave.
Family allowance.
Medical insurance.
Pension plan.
Actual benefits depend on the applicable employment terms and conditions.
Contract Duration
The initial contract is for 12 months. Renewal may be considered depending on satisfactory performance and the availability of funds.
Selection Process
Candidates must complete the online application and provide accurate and complete information before the deadline.
The recruitment process may include:
Pre-recorded video interviews.
Written assessments.
Interviews with a selection panel.
Reference checks.
Requests for additional information concerning qualifications.
Applicants should carefully review their applications before submission because they cannot modify them after submission, according to the vacancy announcement.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the official UNESCO Careers website.
Official website: https://careers.unesco.org/
Search for the position title Senior Project Officer (Sciences) and follow the instructions in the official vacancy announcement.
Applicants should review the eligibility requirements, employment conditions, and application instructions before submitting their applications.
Application Deadline
29 October 2026, at midnight Paris time.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline.
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