Lead Specialist – Water Sector Resilience Expert

About CDRI

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a global partnership of national governments, UN agencies, multilateral development banks, private sector, and academic institutions. It aims to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems against climate and disaster risks to ensure sustainable development.

Strategic Context

CDRI’s Strategic Work Plan 2023–2026, CDRI focuses on:

• Building a strong coalition with global leadership.
• Advancing research and peer learning to promote risk-informed policies.
• Enhancing the capacity of governments, private enterprises and communities to implement resilient infrastructure and recovery programmes at scale.

The CDRI Secretariat, based in New Delhi, coordinates and implements the Coalition’s strategic priorities and activities.

Role Purpose

The Lead Specialist – Water Sector Resilience Expert will lead the formulation, design, and implementation of water sector resilience initiatives under CDRI’s Critical and Social Infrastructure Programme. The expert will support technical assistance and capacity-building efforts to strengthen climate and disaster resilience in water-related infrastructure systems across member countries.

Program Development

• Design and implement water resilience projects across supply, sanitation, stormwater, and integrated water resource systems.
• Align initiatives with global frameworks: Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework, SDGs.
• Develop adaptive pathways and technical roadmaps for disaster-prone regions.
• Drive cross-sectoral collaboration with transport, power, and urban development.

Technical Assistance

• Provide technical leadership for resilience planning, design, and assessments.
• Lead studies, promote innovation, and address gaps in codes/standards.
• Mobilize experts to support national and subnational efforts.
• Embed lifecycle and resilience considerations into infrastructure planning.

Capacity Building

• Support communities of practice and develop training modules.
• Partner with academic and policy institutions.
• Document and disseminate case studies and policy guidance.

Management

• Manage programmes and reporting, contribute to strategic planning.
• Represent CDRI in international forums and stakeholder consultations.
• Oversee program execution, KPIs, and project milestones.

Essential Skills

• Expert knowledge in water systems planning and design (e.g., flood, stormwater, sanitation, WSUD).
• Experience with water continuity planning and emergency systems.
• Familiarity with nature-based solutions, smart systems, GIS, and spatial tools.
• Collaboration with institutions like UN-Water, IWA, ADB, World Bank.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sectoral coordination.

Qualifications

• Master’s in water resource engineering/management, environmental science, hydraulic engineering, infrastructure or urban planning, or related fields.
• International education background preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience, with at least 4 years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience in water infrastructure resilience, DRR, and climate adaptation.
• Proven work experience in multiple geographies across at least two UN regions.
• International project experience across at least 5 countries and 2 UN geographic regions is required for international hire eligibility.

Languages

• Fluency in English (oral and written).
• Proficiency in another UN language is an asset.

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