Principal Water Resource Management Specialist at OPEC Fund for International Development

The OPEC Fund for International Development is a multilateral development finance institution established in 1976. Our 12 Member Countries are:  Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Principal Water Resource Management Specialist

Location: Austria
Department / Unit:  Public Sector Operations / Sectors and Themes Unit 
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Job Category: Q2
Grade: Professional
Recruitment Status: International / Local
Contract Duration: Two-year fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal

Job Profile

• The Principal Water Resource Management Specialist will provide strategic leadership in client dialogue and policy development related to water resources management, watershed restoration, including irrigation and agriculture.
• The incumbent will foster strong partnerships with government agencies and development partners, research institutions, non-government organizations, the private sector, and other sector-related institutions to advance sustainable and climate-resilient water and agriculture solutions.
• The role will be responsible for leading the design and direction of investment operations in the sector and for developing comprehensive policy papers addressing key areas such as water resource management, irrigation, and agriculture.  

Duties and Responsibilities
Accountability & Responsibilities

• Lead strategic policy dialogues in Water Resource Management (WRM) and agriculture, articulating institutional mandates for South-South cooperation, climate resilient infrastructure, and investment opportunities across diverse geographies
• Collaborate with Regional Directors to identify and prioritize business opportunities in specific regions and engage in technical discussions to develop project pipelines
• Identify innovative solutions for the development of WRM and agriculture sector operations to support sustainable economic development and poverty reduction in consultation with partner countries, development partners, community members and other stakeholders
• Contribute to the project design and preparation, including feasibility studies, and economic justification in the sectoral context of the country
• Facilitate origination and delivery of WRM/agriculture projects, focusing on technical quality and delivery of development outcomes. This also entails reviewing the technical designs, implementation arrangements, and adequacy of environmental and social safeguards, procurement and fiduciary arrangements of projects in coordination with other team members
• Participate in supervision missions and contribute to key project documentation with technical inputs, including implementation plans, status reports, aide memoires, and completion reports
• Strongly support project implementation and facilitate progress in disbursement
• Originate and implement high impact WRM/ Hydro projects and develop a pipeline of standalone projects for OPEC Fund.

Knowledge Management and Innovations:

• Develop position papers of WRM (irrigation, wetland management, flood control and nature- based solutions) aligning approaches with global principles and organizational mandates
• Support and contribute to various analytical and advisory work and knowledge generation activities related to water agriculture, environment, and rural development
• Have cutting edge sector knowledge and keep abreast of the latest developments in the sector and networking with peers in other MDBs and DFIs
• Contribute to and, where appropriate, co-lead analytical studies or Trust Funds initiatives on WRM and agriculture, focusing on financing, asset management, climate resilience, gender, and  impact evaluation, as well as on general best practices in the investment, management and delivery of infrastructure and services.
• Collaborate in cross-sectoral teams responsible for legal, safeguards, procurement and development effectiveness for improved preparation and implementation of projects.
• Perform other duties as required by the Director, Sectors and Themes Unit relevant to the area of responsibilities.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of Master’s Degree in in Engineering, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Economics, Finance, or a (closely) related field 
• A minimum of 12 years of direct relevant professional experience  
• A demonstrated track record in producing high-quality research papers, analysis and policy briefs for multilateral development institution or other international organizations is considered a strong asset
• Certification in Water Resource Management / Agriculture from a recognized institution or professional association is considered an asset
• Proven practical experience in designing, implementing, and supervising projects in the sector, ideally within the context of international development
• Robust analytical skills with regard to WRM/agriculture sector and development finance
• Strong operational skills in one or more technical areas, such as water resource management,  and agriculture, project financing and operations, climate change financing, public-private partnerships, or infrastructure issues
• Strong organizational skills, as well as the ability to prioritize tasks and ensure timely completion of tasks under pressure
• Proactive application of relevant international best practices to own work
• Demonstrated project management experience, including coordination of multidisciplinary teams and stakeholder engagement
• Fluent in English. Good working knowledge of Arabic, French, Spanish, Russian or Portuguese is an added advantage.

Competencies:

• Subject Matter Knowledge - The in-depth understanding and expertise in specific fields relevant to the OPEC Fund's operations and the individual's role.
• Collaboration and Teamwork - The ability to effectively work with colleagues, stakeholders and partners to achieve shared goals.
• Communication - The ability to relay ideas, information and messages effectively and succinctly to a variety of audiences.
• Customer Centricity  - The ability to focus on comprehending and addressing customer needs; consistently deliver exceptional service and foster strong, lasting customer relationships. 
• Problem Solving Ability - The ability to identify issues adeptly, delve into root causes, and devise pragmatic solutions; demonstrate ingenuity and resourcefulness in overcoming challenges. 
• Sense of Responsibility - The ability to demonstrate ownership and accountability in tasks and outcomes; uphold reliability and commitment to fulfilling responsibilities. 

Application Closing Date
1st November, 2025.