Global Technical Lead – Sanitation and Menstrual Health Markets
Geneva
- Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
- Location: Geneva
- Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
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Occupational Groups:
- Public Health and Health Service
- Environment
- Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Managerial positions
- Closing Date: 2025-11-25
General Information
Job Highlight
About the Region
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) unites the New York Portfolios, including the Peace and Security team (PSC); the Geneva Office; and the Vienna-based Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) teams, to maximize global impact, foster efficiencies and streamline global programmes. Leveraging our collective expertise and networks, GPO supports UNOPS' strategic priorities and the SDGs across over 130 countries. We deliver project management, fund management, advisory services, project implementation, and HR services, working closely with major global partners. Our thematic focus includes sustainable development, climate action, health, peace & security, and humanitarian action.
About the Country/Multi-Country Office
As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR.
About the Project Office
The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund.
The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund is a UNOPS Trust Fund committed to saving lives and improving the wellbeing of people by improving access to sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health hygiene. The Fund will invest in country led programmes to accelerate progress and sustainable impact toward the achievement of SDG 6.2.
The Fund will maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of international development assistance and national investment. Staff at the Fund manage grants, coordinate with partners, support countries, monitor and evaluate results, report on progress, manage donor relations and raise funds.
At the core of the new architecture is a country funding model designed to be an efficient and effective mechanism that can operate at scale and deliver impact and supported by a suite of policies that define how funding is to be invested. The SHF uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and the long term sustainability of its programs.
About the Group
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From Geneva, UNOPS strives to facilitate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations. UNOPS provides quality services, integrated solutions and management support to UN agencies, initiatives and partners in a strategic, cohesive, cost-effective and results-oriented manner. Geneva is also home to UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Regional Office. |
Job Specific Context
The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund.
The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund is a UNOPS Trust Fund committed to saving lives and improving the wellbeing of people by improving access to sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health hygiene. The Fund will invest in country led programmes to accelerate progress and sustainable impact toward the achievement of SDG 6.2.
The Fund will maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of international development assistance and national investment. Staff at the Fund manage grants, coordinate with partners,support countries, monitor and evaluate results, report on progress, manage donor relations and raise funds.
At the core of the new architecture is a country funding model designed to be an efficient and effective mechanism that can operate at scale and deliver impact and supported by a suite of policies that define how funding is to be invested. The SHF uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and the long term sustainability of its programs.
Role Purpose
As the technical lead, the role plays a critical role in delivering on SHF’s mandate by ensuring sound technical advice and input to SHF proposals and programmes, including the MPTF. In addition to technical leadership, the role heads the multi-disciplinary technical team covering both sanitation and menstrual health, fostering integration across these areas. The role ensures SHF’s programmes are innovative, inclusive, and context-responsive, and that SHF is recognized as a catalytic, trusted partner within the UN system, donor community, and broader market ecosystem.
Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the role plays a critical part in supporting strategic decision-making and representing SHF in high-level partnerships and donor engagements. This role serves as SHF’s senior lead for technical knowledge, advice and excellence, complementing the strategy and performance team to ensure SHF delivers its mission effectively and sustainably.
Functions / Key Results Expected
1. Strategic Technical Leadership
- Under the guidance of the ED, drive the implementation and evolution of SHF’s strategy (2026–2030), ensuring relevance, ambition, and accountability and ensuring strong technical expertise and innovation.
- Provide visionary leadership as SHF’s principal technical authority on sanitation, ensuring the SHF maintains its position as a thought leader and trusted partner.
- Oversee the technical direction and strategy for both sanitation and menstrual health portfolios, integrating market systems approaches and evidence-based design.
- Lead the development of technical guidance, investment frameworks, and tools to inform global strategy implementation and country program developments.
- Shape SHF’s technical contributions to global and regional agendas, ensuring alignment with international standards and emerging best practices
- Embed cross-cutting priorities such as GEDSI, climate resilience, and pro-poor approaches across all technical workstreams.
- Ensure alignment with international standards and evidence-based practices, working in close coordination with UN organizations and other partners.
- Leads the preparation of high-quality information for the Board, including reports, analyses, and strategic information ensuring evidence-based decision-making, transparency, and accountability.
2.Team Management and Supervision
- Lead, manage and mentor the technical team, ensuring coordinated delivery across sanitation and menstrual health workstreams, ensuring high-quality delivery of technical support to countries and partners
- Promote a shared technical vision and standards across the team, while fostering innovation and adaptive learning.
- Facilitate team learning, accountability, and performance management, promoting a collaborative and inclusive working culture.
- Model and promote a culture of integrity, inclusion, respect, and accountability across the organization. Uphold principles of equity, inclusion, and sustainability.
- Align team efforts with broader organizational priorities and technical objectives.
3. Technical Support and Quality Assurance
- Oversee technical inputs and provide advice on MPTF and regional / country-level proposals, grants, and implementation plans, with a focus on scalable, market-based solutions for sanitation and menstrual health.
- Provide thought leadership and strategic direction for investments, including through the MPTF, in sanitation and menstrual health markets, with a focus on access, equity, sustainability, and market systems strengthening.
- Ensure that all technical support is rights-based, gender-transformative, and contextually relevant.
- Lead quality assurance processes for technical deliverables, diagnostics, and investment packages.
4. Market Systems Development and Innovation
- Act as SHF’s lead technical advisor on sanitation, representing the Fund’s technical perspective to partners, donors and external stakeholders
- Provide technical expertise and advice on specific country programmes and initiatives, and where relevant, ensure SHF technical expertise is well understood and represented in country level engagements.
- Guide development and scaling of catalytic, market-based solutions in sanitation and menstrual health, ensuring these remain central pillars of SHF’s technical work.
- Research, analysis and advice on the design and scaling of innovative financing, private sector engagement, and supply chain strategies to improve access to affordable, quality sanitation and menstrual health products and services.
- Support ecosystem building for sustainable markets, including support to SMEs, social enterprises, and public-private partnerships.
- Stay abreast of emerging trends and technologies and facilitate their integration into programming.
5. Resource Mobilization and Partnerships(Business Development)
- Play a strategic role in advancing SHF’s resource mobilization and leveraging efforts, by actively prospecting new opportunities, cultivating and sustaining partnerships, and driving the diversification of funding streams, together with the Executive Director and the Head of Strategy and Performance.
- Represent the Fund in global and regional technical fora related to sanitation and menstrual health, including working groups, donor platforms, and inter-agency task forces.
- Actively contribute to SHF’s resource mobilization strategy, cultivating donor partnerships and diversifying funding sources.
- Foster innovation in financing, product development, distribution models, and regulatory systems.
- Champion partnerships that bridge the public and private sectors to unlock market-based solutions that serve the most marginalized.
- Build strategic partnerships with global experts, implementing partners, research institutions, and relevant private sector actors.
- Support South-South learning and facilitate knowledge sharing across regions and partners.
6. Learning, Monitoring and Strategic Advisory
- Support the Fund’s role as a knowledge hub through contributions to research, MEL and knowledge management.
- Contribute to the monitoring and learning agenda to generate evidence and document best practices in market-based approaches to sanitation and menstrual health.
- Advise senior leadership on technical risks, opportunities, and priorities.
- Support the integration of sanitation and menstrual health within broader health, education, and gender strategies.
Skills
Competencies
Education Requirements
Required
An advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Public Health (with WASH and reproductive health focus), Environmental Health, Sanitation Engineering, International Development, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Economics, Energy or related disciplines is required.
A bachelor’s degree in Public Health (with WASH and reproductive health focus), Environmental Health, Sanitation Engineering, International Development, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Economics, Energy or related field combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree
Experience Requirements
Required
A minimum of 10 years progressively responsible experience working in the development sector in areas including WASH, off-grid energy or other development sectors with decentralised service provision.
Within the 10 years, a minimum of 5 years working experience in sanitation markets in lower and middle income countries, developing strategies for scaling up access to safety managed sanitation systems
Proven track record in mobilizing capital and investment
Experience developing market systems approaches, innovative financing, technology development and private sector engagement.
Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy skills, and ability to represent SHF externally as a global technical voice is required
Demonstrated experience leading high-performing teams and delivering results in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Experience managing and mentoring multi-disciplinary teams is required
Demonstrated understanding of public-private partnerships, inclusive markets, and gender-transformative approaches
Experience working within or alongside UN systems, global funds, or large-scale donor-funded programs
Desired
Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
Language Requirements
| Language | Proficiency Level | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| English | Fluent | Required |
Additional Information
- Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
- Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
- Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
- We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
- For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
- For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
- For more details about the contract types, please click here.
- All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
- It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.