Principal Water Resource Management Specialist

Vacancy Number: 2327
Country: Austria

Department/Unit: Public Sector Operations / Sectors and Themes Unit

Date of Issuance: July 30, 2026

Deadline of Applications: August 12, 2026

Required Languages: English

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Grade: Professional

Job Category: G2

Recruitment Status: International / Local**

Contract Duration: Two-year fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal.

This is a re-opening of the vacancy. Candidates who already applied do not need to re-submit their application.

*Please note that the recruitment modality for professional positions (international or local) will be determined in line with the OPEC Fund’s policies and procedures, and based on the candidate’s nationality and residency status at the time of appointment.

Nationals from the Member Countries of the OPEC Fund for International Development are strongly encouraged to apply. The Member Countries are: Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

Job Profile

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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.

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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 a 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.