Background

The Coordination Office for Development Cooperation of the Austrian Embassy Kampala is seeking to recruit a highly qualified and experienced professional for the position of Advisor Water and Sanitation. The successful candidate will work under the overall supervision of the Head of Office and provide strategic leadership, technical expertise and portfolio management for the Austrian Embassy, Development Cooperation’s water and sanitation interventions in Uganda.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The Advisor Water and Sanitation will be responsible for the overall management of the water and sanitation sector portfolio, including:

• Providing strategic leadership, planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of Austrian Embassy, Development Cooperation’s Water and Sanitation Programme and contributing to strategy development and implementation.
• Representing Austrian Embassy, Development Cooperation in sector coordination platforms, policy dialogue processes, sector working groups and technical committees.
• Playing a proactive role within the Development Partners Group (DPG) and related donor coordination mechanisms, contributing to joint policy positions, strategic partnerships, resource mobilization opportunities and sector reform dialogue.
• Managing the full project cycle, including project identification, appraisal, design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and documentation.
• Supporting procurement processes and management of consulting and other professional services.
• Building and maintaining effective partnerships with government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, academia and the private sector.
• Serving as the focal point for environment, climate change and energy-related matters and promoting the integration of cross-cutting themes including climate resilience, environmental sustainability, gender equality and social inclusion.
• Supporting knowledge management, learning, innovation and dissemination of sector best practices and lessons learned.
• Undertaking any other duties assigned by the Head of Office in line with the objectives of the position.
• Provide oversight and guidance to administrative, technical, and operational staff, fostering a culture of quality, professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement across the office.
• Ensure that enhancing and protecting Austria’s visibility, reputation, and strategic interests remains a guiding principle in the execution of all duties and stakeholder interactions.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must possess:

• A Master’s Degree in Water Resources Management, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Public Health Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Development Studies or a related field.
• At least fifteen (15) years of relevant professional experience, including substantial experience in programme and project cycle management and financial oversight of donor-funded interventions.
• Demonstrated experience working with international development organizations and managing donor-funded programmes and projects.
• Strong understanding of Uganda’s water and sanitation sector, policy processes and stakeholder landscape.
• Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation, facilitation and report-writing skills.
• Proven leadership, stakeholder management and partnership-building abilities.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• High proficiency in English and advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and online collaboration tools.
• Ugandan nationality or legal authorization to work in Uganda.

Core Competencies

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strategic leadership, results orientation, sound judgment, stakeholder engagement, partnership management, teamwork, excellence, integrity and professionalism.

• Providing strategic leadership, planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of Austrian Embassy, Development Cooperation’s Water and Sanitation Programme and contributing to strategy development and implementation.
• Representing Austrian Embassy, Development Cooperation in sector coordination platforms, policy dialogue processes, sector working groups and technical committees.
• Playing a proactive role within the Development Partners Group (DPG) and related donor coordination mechanisms, contributing to joint policy positions, strategic partnerships, resource mobilization opportunities and sector reform dialogue.
• Managing the full project cycle, including project identification, appraisal, design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and documentation.
• Supporting procurement processes and management of consulting and other professional services.
• Building and maintaining effective partnerships with government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, academia and the private sector.
• Serving as the focal point for environment, climate change and energy-related matters and promoting the integration of cross-cutting themes including climate resilience, environmental sustainability, gender equality and social inclusion.
• Supporting knowledge management, learning, innovation and dissemination of sector best practices and lessons learned.
• Undertaking any other duties assigned by the Head of Office in line with the objectives of the position.
• Provide oversight and guidance to administrative, technical, and operational staff, fostering a culture of quality, professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement across the office.
• Ensure that enhancing and protecting Austria’s visibility, reputation, and strategic interests remains a guiding principle in the execution of all duties and stakeholder interactions.

• Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation, facilitation and report-writing skills.
• Proven leadership, stakeholder management and partnership-building abilities.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• High proficiency in English and advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and online collaboration tools.
• Strategic leadership
• Results orientation
• Sound judgment
• Stakeholder engagement
• Partnership management
• Teamwork
• Excellence
• Integrity
• Professionalism

• A Master’s Degree in Water Resources Management, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Public Health Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Development Studies or a related field.
• At least fifteen (15) years of relevant professional experience, including substantial experience in programme and project cycle management and financial oversight of donor-funded interventions.
• Demonstrated experience working with international development organizations and managing donor-funded programmes and projects.
• Strong understanding of Uganda’s water and sanitation sector, policy processes and stakeholder landscape.
• Ugandan nationality or legal authorization to work in Uganda.