Senior International Hydrogeological Modelling Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA) is dedicated to implementing a growing portfolio of groundwater initiatives aimed at enhancing groundwater assessment, sustainable management, climate resilience, drought preparedness, and evidence-based decision-making across Africa and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). UNESCO, established in 1945, operates in over 190 countries and has a mission to contribute to peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. The organization emphasizes the importance of groundwater as a strategic resource and is committed to addressing the challenges posed by climate change and increasing water demand.

Job Overview:
The Senior International Hydrogeological Modelling Specialist will play a pivotal role in providing high-level technical expertise across multiple groundwater projects. This position involves leading the development, review, and application of conceptual and numerical groundwater models, supporting groundwater forecasting and decision-support systems, and ensuring technical quality assurance. The consultant will also be responsible for strengthening institutional capacities through mentoring, training, and knowledge transfer. The role is crucial for enhancing the scientific basis for groundwater governance and ensuring the delivery of high-quality technical outputs across UNESCO's groundwater initiatives. The consultant will work closely with various stakeholders to ensure that the groundwater initiatives are effectively implemented and aligned with international best practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be tasked with several key responsibilities, including:

• Leading the development, refinement, and application of conceptual and numerical groundwater models to support sustainable groundwater management and climate resilience.
• Integrating hydrogeological, hydroclimatic, hydrogeochemical, remote sensing, and groundwater monitoring datasets into modelling workflows.
• Developing, calibrating, validating, and operationalizing groundwater forecasting models, climate scenario analyses, Decision Support Systems (DSS), and Groundwater Early Warning Systems (EWS).
• Preparing technical reports, modelling documentation, and scientific recommendations based on the modelling outputs.
• Supporting stakeholder engagement, technical capacity development, and knowledge transfer through training and workshops.
• Providing strategic technical advice to UNESCO and project partners to enhance groundwater planning and drought preparedness.
• Ensuring the delivery of high-quality technical outputs and maintaining effective communication with project partners and stakeholders throughout the consultancy.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a PhD in Hydrogeology or a closely related discipline. Additionally, they should have at least 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in groundwater studies and hydrogeological modelling. Demonstrated experience in the development and application of conceptual and numerical groundwater models is essential, along with proven experience in integrating hydrogeological and hydroclimatic data into modelling workflows. Research expertise in climate change and drought impacts on groundwater systems is also required. The candidate should exhibit strong analytical skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams.

Educational Background:
A PhD in Hydrogeology or a closely related discipline is mandatory for this position. This advanced educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of groundwater systems and for developing innovative modelling tools that can address the challenges posed by climate variability and change.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in groundwater studies and hydrogeological modelling. Candidates should have a strong track record of developing and applying conceptual and numerical groundwater models, as well as integrating various datasets into effective modelling workflows. Experience in research related to climate change and its impacts on groundwater systems is also essential, as it will inform the consultant's approach to developing sustainable groundwater management strategies.

Languages:
Fluency in English and French is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with international stakeholders and for the preparation of technical documentation and reports. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this consultancy is set for 12 months, with the possibility of extension based on project needs and performance. This position is classified at Level 3 - Senior, indicating a high level of responsibility and expertise. The consultancy is open to external candidates, and applications must be submitted by the specified deadline. UNESCO emphasizes its commitment to diversity and encourages individuals from minority and indigenous groups, as well as persons with disabilities, to apply. The organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy against harassment and ensures that all applications are treated with confidentiality.