Post Title: Senior Specialist in Water Resources Management

Programme Title: Institutional Support Programme to the Palestinian Water Authority, Funded By: TheAustrian Development Agency “ADA”

Duty Location: Ramallah

Programme Duration:  18 months

Responsible to: Programme Director

Programme Background:

Under the Austrian Development Cooperation funded Institutional Support Programme (ISP), the Palestinian Water Authority intends to hire national senior specialists to provide additional human resources to PWA in critical areas and further develop the capacity of PWA staff and junior specialists to be hired under the ISP.

The Institutional Support Programme (ISP) will assist the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) "to fulfil its functions as per the Water Law 2014 through strengthened and effective institutional capacities in the areas of strategic planning, policy formulation, coordination, monitoring, reporting, and resource mobilization" (outcome). Over three years the intervention will contribute to putting an "effective institutional framework in place for improving water security and sustainable management of water and wastewater services (SDG 6) in Palestine through a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach (impact).

The program's key emphasis will be on enhancing human resources while also allocating resources for operational purposes, research, and the implementation of a Management Information System (MIS).

The water sector receives support from various donors to facilitate essential infrastructure developments, considering the diverse range of contributors involved. The programme will support further institutional development of the PWA.

Scope of Work:

The overall objective of the specialist is to support ISP Output 4 - Strategic Planning and Monitoring. Output 4 combines support in strategic planning—ensuring the linkage and flow of information from water resources monitoring to project planning and aid coordination—with the development of IT capabilities, including a Management Information System (MIS). These could be treated as separate outputs but are integrated because they fall under the current Strategic Planning Department's responsibility.

Indeed, there is a close link between the strategic planning and water resources management tasks required. However, the design and use of the MIS will not be limited to the Strategic Planning Department but will consider the information requirements of other departments and units within the Palestinian Water Authority. Since the need for a MIS was clearly confirmed during the preparatory consultations, its development was proposed as one of the activities under this output. Details regarding the scope of the MIS, priority functions, and implementation approach are being evaluated through a separate preparatory assignment.

The General Department of Strategic Planning falls within the mandate of the Palestinian Water Authority - Water Service Providers, and its capabilities will be supported by the recruitment of one specialist and two junior specialists.

This outlines the requirements for a Senior Specialist in Integrated Water Resources Management. The department reports directly to the Chairman of the Palestinian Water Authority. The General Department is responsible for managing and developing water resources, providing the Information Systems Department with relevant information to support the work of the specialized departments at the Palestinian Water Authority, and providing technical support and capacity development to department staff.

The Water Resources Department is responsible for advancing the protection and development of water resources by proposing development plans and policies and supporting partners and service providers in developing master plans and plans for the development of these resources.

The specialist will report directly to the Program Manager and the Director of the Water Resources Department and will work closely with the junior specialist in the unit and the entire project team while—with the support of the Organizational Development Advisor—implementing a thoughtful and systematic approach to capacity development for the dedicated ISP specialists and PWA staff.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The duties of the Senior Specialist in water Resources Management are ensuring the sustainable management, development, and protection of water resources the following duties and responsibilities:

• Guide water resources directorate in the operationalization of the directorate.
• Support the implementation of the National water strategies and policies.
• Identify and prioritize programs and projects to enhance water availability and efficiency.

• Oversee the assessment and monitoring of surface water, groundwater, and non-conventional water sources.
• Ensure the regular collection, analysis, and reporting of hydrological and hydrogeological data.
• Monitor water quantity and quality across various basins and regions.
• Improve data systems and the use of hydrological/hydrogeological models.

• Lead feasibility studies for new water resource development projects (e.g., desalination, wastewater reuse, rainwater harvesting).
• Coordinate and support the implementation of infrastructure projects such as wells, dams, recharge systems, and supply networks.

• Coordinate with relevant governmental bodies, local authorities, donors, and NGOs.

• Review and approve technical reports, plans, and documentation.
• Identify capacity-building needs and support staff development and training.

• Develop and implement Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) plans

• Integrate climate risk assessments into water planning processes.
• Promote initiatives to enhance resilience to droughts, floods, and variability in water availability.
• Ensure compliance with environmental standards and water quality regulations.
• Promote the protection of water ecosystems from pollution and degradation.
• Other related duties as needed.

Outputs:

The specialist will be responsible for submission monthly report to the Programme Director covering the overall progress of the running projects and development plans, achievements so far, gaps and recommendations for improvement.  

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Experience & Qualifications:

• A master’s degree with 10 years of experience in Water Resources Engineering, Hydrology, Hydrogeology, or a related field is required, PHD degree is preferable.
• Specialized training in IWRM, GIS for water resource management, climate change adaptation, or related areas is desirable.
• Deep understanding of hydrological systems, groundwater and surface water dynamics, and water demand management.
• Experience in policy development, strategic planning, and institutional strengthening related to water governance.
• Ability to represent the organization at high-level forums and inter-agency coordination mechanisms.
• Proficiency in water modelling tools, GIS and remote sensing, and data analysis software.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English; Arabic.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple priorities effectively.

Interested candidates can apply by sending their CVs to [email protected]