WASH Officer (Contracts administration),(NO-2), TA, 6 months, #00138219, Caracas –Venezuela, LACR

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For every child, the right to access.

On 24 June 2026, two major earthquakes (7.2 and 7.5 magnitude) struck north-central Venezuela, causing widespread damage to critical infrastructure and basic services across several states. UNICEF estimates that 1.8 million people, including 680,000 children, require humanitarian assistance, and plans to reach approximately 280,000 people through its emergency response.

As the WASH response expands, the volume of operational information generated (by government counterparts, UN agencies, NGOs and other partners) increased significantly. Timely collection, analysis and dissemination of information on partner activities, geographical coverage, service gaps, population needs and response progress is urgently required for operational decision-making and advocacy.

Current UNICEF WASH capacity is focused on coordination, technical support and response implementation. As the response transitions from emergency assistance towards recovery and restoration of basic services, UNICEF is supporting government institutions to rehabilitate and restore essential WASH infrastructure in affected areas.

How can you make a difference?

Existing staff do not have sufficient dedicated capacity to manage the increasing requirements associated with a large-scale, multi-state emergency response. The Administrator WASH Officer will provide technical support for planning, design, procurement, contracting, implementation and monitoring of WASH interventions. The position will serve as a key link between Programme, Supply, Operations, counterparts and contractors to ensure the timely and quality delivery of rehabilitation and restoration works.

Key functions/accountabilities include:

1. Programme development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support for programme implementation
4. Humanitarian WASH preparedness and response
5. Networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: TOR- WASH Officer, (NO-2), TA, 6 months, #00138219, Caracas –Venezuela, LACR.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A completed first level university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) in one of the following fields is required: Civil Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering or another relevant technical field is required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 2 years of professional work experience in WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.
• Skills: Ability to prepare technical reports, cost estimates, technical specifications and inputs for WASH related programmes is required. Hands-on knowledge of the planning, implementation and monitoring of WASH infrastructure projects, ensuring alignment with programme objectives, timelines, budgets and quality standards is essential. Ability to maintain project tracking tools and monitor progress across design, procurement, contracting and implementation stages is required. Experience in the review of technical specifications, bills of quantities (BoQs), cost estimates, drawings and other technical documentation required for WASH infrastructure projects is a must.
• Language Requirements: Fluency/Proficiency in both Spanish and English is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian).
• Experience in WASH related emergency or humanitarian response is highly desirable.
• Relevant experience in UN/UNICEF is desirable.
• Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 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.