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This WASH Officer level 2 is to be used in a Dnipro Field Office (FO), Ukraine, where WASH is a substantial component of the Country Programme. The WASH Officer reports to the WASH Manager (Level 4)

UNICEF Ukraine

Приєднуйтесь до команди ЮНІСЕФ Україна!

Purpose of the job: The WASH Officer works as part of a team of WASH Officers at the Dnipro Field Office, coordinating closely with colleagues covering complementary geographic and thematic areas. The WASH Officer is expected to operate with a significant degree of autonomy in their assigned area of responsibility, while contributing to team-wide programme coordination. The WASH Officer provides technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the WASH programming process. The Officer prepares, manages and implements a variety of technical and administrative tasks, related to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH output results of the country programme.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 

 1. Programme development and planning

Lead and contribute to evidence-based planning and design of WASH programmes by analyzing sector needs, trends, and data. Support alignment with national priorities, humanitarian response frameworks, and partner systems. Develop programme documentation, technical inputs, and partnerships (including utilities), ensuring strong foundations for effective and scalable interventions.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

Oversee and support programme implementation to ensure quality, timeliness, and impact. Monitor infrastructure projects, track progress against targets, and ensure compliance with financial and operational standards. Contribute to reporting, evaluations, and continuous improvement by identifying challenges, solutions, and lessons learned.

3. Technical and operational support for programme implementation

Provide hands-on technical guidance and operational support to government, partners, and contractors. Review engineering and technical documentation, ensure compliance with standards, and help resolve implementation challenges. Represent UNICEF in field-level coordination, ensuring strong technical positioning and alignment with sector priorities.

4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response

Strengthen preparedness and contribute to emergency response and early recovery efforts. Support procurement and partnership arrangements, participate in joint needs assessments, and ensure readiness to deliver WASH interventions in crisis contexts in line with UNICEF procedures and cluster coordination mechanisms.

5. Networking and partnership building

Build and maintain strong partnerships with government, utilities, NGOs, donors, and cluster actors. Support coordination, advocacy, and resource mobilization efforts. Contribute to communication and donor engagement materials while promoting integrated humanitarian-development approaches and aligned sector responses.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Promote innovation and learning within the WASH sector by supporting research, documenting best practices, and scaling effective models. Contribute to knowledge sharing and capacity-building initiatives for partners and staff, ensuring continuous improvement and adoption of modern, efficient solutions.

Impact of result: The support provided by the WASH officer will enable the country office to achieve the WASH-related output results of the country programme.  This, in turn, will contribute to the achievement of the outcome results of the country programme document.  When done effectively, the achievement of the outcome results will improve child survival, growth and development, and reduce inequalities in the country. 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: WASH Officer Level 2.docx

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

Minimum requirements:

1. Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: civil, hydraulic, mechanical or environmental engineering is preferred, however public health, social sciences, behavior change communication, sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field will also be considered.
2. Work Experience: A minimum of two years of professional work experience in WASH-related programmes is required.
3. Skills: 
   1. •  
      • Urban water supply systems (treatment, pumping, distribution networks, chlorination)
      • Emergency water supply (water trucking, bottled water, temporary systems, standby chlorination)
      • WASH infrastructure rehabilitation (design review, BoQ analysis, construction supervision)
      • Energy resilience for water and/or heating utilities (backup power, solarization, frequency converters)
      • Water Safety Plans, utility asset management
      • Wastewater / sanitation systems in urban settings
      • WASH-in-Schools and Health Centres
      • Menstrual hygiene management
      • Humanitarian WASH – preparedness and response
      • Humanitarian WASH – coordination of the response
      • Project management
      • Capacity development
      • Knowledge management
      • Human rights and WASH
4. Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.

Desirables:

1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)
2. Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset.
3. Relevant experience in Ukraine, engaging with utilities or administrative institutions or in conflict/emergency response is a strong asset.
4. Relevant experience with an NGO or UN agencies is an asset
5. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 
   1.  

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

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.

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 and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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 suitable candidates with disabilities and women 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.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.

This position is based in Dnipro and the incumbent will be expected be work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.