UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to support

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands.

Background of Assignment: 

UNICEF Pacific WASH and Climate Programme supports government and partners to deliver safe, inclusive, and climate and disaster-resilient WASH infrastructure in communities, schools and health care facilities, across Pacific Island countries and territories.

UNICEF is currently supporting multiple construction projects in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia, Vanuatu, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu.

To strengthen technical quality and ensure compliance with water supply specifications, standards, and climate- and disaster-resilient design principles, the UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Office (MCO) proposes to recruit a Water Supply Engineering Consultant on Long Term Agreement with up to 300 working days as and when required stretched over 36 Months. The consultant will provide specialized technical expertise, on site assessment, system design review and quality assurance for water supply systems, integrated into community, health, and education infrastructure.

The consultant’s primary role will be to assess, review, and support the design, installation, testing, commissioning, and maintenance planning of water supply systems in communities, schools, and health facilities across Pacific Island countries and territories. This includes ensuring systems meet required standards of safety, reliability, efficiency, durability, and resilience to Pacific environmental conditions such as cyclones, salt corrosion, high humidity, drought and heat.

How can you make a difference?

The Consultant will provide technical services for the assessment, design, engineer’s estimate, procurement support, quality assurance of climate- and disaster-resilient water supply systems for communities, schools, and health facilities across UNICEF Pacific programme countries. S/he will undertake the following:

The scope of work may include:

A. Inception, pre survey and design preparation

Water quality and source monitoring data

Review existing/ baseline data including:
Previous assessments and feasibility studies.
Government datasets and records.
Topographic maps and satellite imagery.
Hydrogeological and meteorological information.
Existing engineering drawings and system records.

ii. Prepare Survey tools

Data collection tools and templates.
Site assessment checklists.
Quality assurance and quality control procedures for surveys.

iii. Develop a fieldwork plan including:

Finalize survey schedule, equipment requirements, safety procedures and logistics arrangements.
Coordinate with communities, schools, health facilities, government authorities, and other stakeholders. UNICEF Country Offices shall facilitate stakeholder engagement, introductions, community consultations, and coordination with government counterparts where required.

B. Assessment and survey

iv. Water Source and Site Assessment

The Consultant shall undertake site assessments directly or use available government approved survey data where appropriate.

Water source identification and assessment.
Yield testing of springs, boreholes, wells, or surface water systems.
Water quality sampling and analysis using portable field test kit or samples collected and analysed at the laboratory
GPS-based topographic surveys.
Environmental and social screening

v. Climate and Disaster and water safety Risk Assessment

- Assess exposure to climate and disaster risks, including cyclones, flooding, drought, landslides, earthquakes, sea-level rise, and saltwater intrusion amongst others.
- Apply the Drinking Water Safety and Security Planning (DWSSP) framework and recommend mitigation and adaptation measures.

C. Water supply system design and technical documentation

vi. Water Supply System Design

- Prepare or ensure the availability of climate- and disaster-resilient water supply designs, drawings, calculations, and technical specifications.
- Design or ensure the availability of structurally sound water intakes, boreholes, rainwater harvesting systems, storage, treatment, distribution networks, solar-powered pumping systems, and associated infrastructure.
- Undertake water demand, hydraulic, tank-sizing, pump-sizing and EPANET analyses.

D. Preparation of Technical Bid Documents

vii. Prepare BoQs, confidential cost estimates, technical specifications, drawings, and tender documentation.

vii. Provide technical support during the procurement process, as required.

E. Quality Assurance and Quality Control

ix. Develop or review QA/QC plans and procedures, define testing and testing requirements, establish acceptance criteria for materials and workmanship

x. Develop quality monitoring and reporting templates.

xi. The Consultant shall develop operation and maintenance (O&M) guidance for each water supply system including operation manuals, spare part list and maintenance schedule.

Please refer to the ToR ( TOR for Water Supply Engineering (LTA).pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines.

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:

Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables and should show a breakdown for the following:

Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above. To establish the LTA, the consultant must provide a daily fee quote for approximately 300 working days over three years.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:  

A university degree is required in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.

Work Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years in assessment, design, installation, supervision, and QA/QC of water supply infrastructure projects, experience in Pacific SIDS preferred; familiarity with IEC, AS/NZS, IEEE standards.
Experience in capacity building/knowledge transfer and stakeholder engagement.

Skills:

Water supply engineering assessment, design, and construction supervision.
Hydrological, hydrogeological, water quality, and site investigations.
Hydraulic modelling and network analysis using EPANET or equivalent software.
Design of water sources, storage, treatment, distribution, and solar-powered pumping systems.
Preparation of engineering drawings, technical specifications, BoQs, and cost estimates.
Quality assurance, quality control, and contract administration.
Use of engineering and GIS software, including AutoCAD/Civil 3D, EPANET, and QGIS/ArcGIS.
Technical report writing and preparation of procurement and contract documentation.
Knowledge of sustainability, climate resilience, and GEDSI principles in infrastructure projects.

Language Requirements:  

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or national local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Desirables:

Ability to resolve difficult, complex and sensitive situations often under pressure;
Ability to initiate and manage change in a diverse environment;
Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas and concepts in written and oral form;
Ability to manage and monitor the effective use of resources;
Ability to supervise and direct a team of professional and support staff working on construction projects;
Ability to work strategically to realize organizational goals, develop strategies, set clear visions; Strong communication and negotiation skills to establish and maintain trusted partnerships for achievement of objectives and to develop close and effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders;
Ability to identify and analyze systemic issues, formulate opinions and make conclusions and recommendations to resolve them;
Skill in the identification of new opportunities or requirements to meet challenges in the field and propose changes;
Strong knowledge of latest developments and technology in water supply industry

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of misconduct.
UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.
Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.
Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitablecandidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Individual Long-Term Agreement (LTA) for Water Supply Engineering Consultant with UNICEF Pacific (300 working days over 36 months)