Project Officer – WASH and Water Management (Local Agent Group I)
We are
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. It plays an important role in international affairs through diplomacy, trade, development aid and working with global organizations. Abroad, the EU is represented through more than 140 diplomatic representations, known also as EU Delegations, which have a similar function to those of an embassy.
The EU Delegation to the Pacific in Suva, Fiji works in close coordination with the Embassies and Consulates of the 27 EU Member States. We are a fully-fledged diplomatic mission and represent the European Union in dealings with the Government of Fiji and of the 12 other Pacific Island Countries, The Section of the EU Delegation called “Regional Partnerships in the Pacific” oversees the EU’s bilateral and regional development assistance benefitting the 13 Pacific Island Countries, the three French Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in the Pacific and (as of 01/09/2026) Papua New Guinea.
We offer
The post of Project Officer (Group I) is offered in the Delegation’s Regional Partnerships Section, under a fixed-term employment contract of 2 years. For internal candidates holding an indefinite-term contract, alternative contractual arrangements may apply in accordance with institutional policies. The team consists of 50+ people and there are occasional atypical working hours, in the evening/morning, to accommodate online meetings with headquarters and stakeholders based in Europe.
The recruited person will be attributed functions depending on the needs of the Delegation which may evolve over time. The successful candidate will serve under the supervision and responsibility of the Head of Regional Partnerships and a Team Leader, providing support, expertise and assistance with managing projects and programmes focused on WASH and water management in the Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea and/or the three French Overseas Countries and Territories.
The following main tasks and duties are currently required:
- Technical and Financial Oversight of Programmes
To ensure compliance, efficiency, and impact of EU WASH and water-related interventions through technical and financial monitoring. Guarantee that WASH and water infrastructure projects under the EU’s Pacific portfolio are fully aligned with the Global Gateway Strategy’s core pillars—sustainable infrastructure, digital connectivity, and climate resilience.
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Programme Implementation Monitoring:
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Conduct field visits to assess progress in WASH infrastructure development in the countries where the programs are implemented.
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Verify adherence to EU WASH standards.
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Assess climate resilience integration in WASH projects.
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Monitor inclusivity measures (gender-sensitive WASH facilities, disability-accessible infrastructure and other safeguards).
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Identify technical risks and propose mitigation strategies during early stages of new programs.
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Technical Assistance and Quality Assurance:
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Review engineering designs, Bills of Quantities, and procurement plans for WASH infrastructure.
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Ensure that proposed WASH technologies meet local contextual needs and EU environmental safeguards to ensure sustainability.
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Oversee laboratory testing of water quality.
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Financial Oversight:
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Conduct financial spot checks on disbursements, ensuring alignment with EU contract terms and value-for-money principles.
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Review procurement processes when needed.
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Support external audits.
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Track co-financing contributions (from other partners or donors) and ensure leveraging of EU funds for maximum impact.
- Blending Public-Private Investment
To facilitate blended finance, PPPs (Public-Private Partnerships), and private sector engagement to sustain WASH service delivery, while leveraging Team Europe initiatives and facilitate co-financing arrangements (EU Member States, EIB, EBRD, etc.). Seek the pooling of resources for large-scale WASH programmes from EU Member States’ development agencies and international development banks.
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Investment Analysis and partnerships:
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Map private sector actors with potential for WASH-related investments.
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Assess bankability of WASH projects for commercial financing or impact investment, taking always into account the eventual participation of EU private companies.
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Facilitate dialogue between government and private investors to de-risk WASH investments.
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Explore innovative financing instruments to attract EU private capital.
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Infrastructure Development Support:
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Advise on scalable WASH infrastructure models suitable for Pacific Island contexts.
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Promote circular economy approaches to enhance sustainability and cost recovery.
- Project/Programme Management
- Manage end-to-end project lifecycle (planning, execution, monitoring, closure).
- Oversee financial compliance (e.g., contract verification, payment certification, and system updates in OPSYS/CRIS and other European Commission tools).
- Monitor evaluation reports and implementation of recommendations.
- Assist with procurement (drafting ToRs, launching tenders).
- Build partnerships with donors and local stakeholders.
- Policy Analysis
- Strengthen WASH governance, policy frameworks, and institutional capacity in the Pacific.
- Develop and maintain a consistent view of bilateral relations with the countries in which the Delegation is implementing or preparing programmes.
- Contribute to the policy dialogue at country level in the fields covered by the section. Provide relevant and timely input and feedback to the Team Leader.
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Representation, Negotiation, and participation
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Assist the Head of Regional Partnerships and Team Leader in developing close contacts with local stakeholders, including in Governments and Administrations. Provide background and feedback for negotiations, including with local private sector representatives.
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Lead or assist in stakeholder meetings. Documenting action items and follow-ups.
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External Communication
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Contribute to the achievements of the Delegation's communication and visibility strategy objectives, including by organising visibility events.
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Contribute to policy and implementation information to the communication material published by the Delegation (including on the Delegation Website and Facebook page).
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Produce and disseminate the results of projects at workshops, seminars, conferences and other public events.
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Extract and disseminate best practices and facilitate exchange of experiences
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Contribute to the production of EU Delegation reports and publications.
The base salary will depend on relevant and verified employment experience, typically starting from FJD 7966 monthly. There is a competitive benefits package, subject to certain conditions, including personal leave days and public holidays, health insurances and a retirement savings plan.
The expected start date will be as soon as possible.
Minimum requirements / eligibility criteria (necessary for the application to be considered)
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Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in in one of the following fields: Civil/Environmental Engineering, Architecture, Public Health (with focus on water, sanitation, and hygiene), Water Resources Management, Economics, Public Administration, or Business Administration;
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Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience;
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Working knowledge (C2) of English;
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Right to residence and work in Fiji;
- Medically fit to perform the required duties;
- A clean police record and should be able to produce a clearance report when requested.
Assets/selection criteria (basis for awarding points to select the best applicant)
- Higher University Degree than a Bachelor in the WASH field
- Experience in WASH management in emergencies, climate-resilient WASH, or utility management.
- Experience in an international environment or working with EU-funded programmes
- Knowledge of other European language, in particular French
- Knowledge of AI tools and technologies
How to apply
The applicant must apply by sending
- a cover letter, signed
- a Curriculum Vitæ (to include, at the minimum, exact job titles, employers names and detailed tasks descriptions) using one of the Europass templates available at:
all documents to the following email address:
And mention in the email’ subject:
"512773 Project Officer – WASH and Water Management + NAME OF APPLICANT"
no later than 4pm Fiji time on Monday 13/07/2026.
Caution: The applicant must verify that he/she fulfils all the conditions. The absence of one of these conditions or documents is a reason for the rejection of the application
The process
After the deadline for applications, the eligible applications will be admitted to the Selection by the Committee set up for this purpose.
Depending on the number of applications received, successive phases of Selection may include shortlisting of candidates based assessment of the information provided in the cover letter, CV, practical testing, and interviews. At least, the five (5) best candidates will be invited to the final interview.
Only candidates admitted to each successive selection phase will be contacted individually. The Delegation will not supply additional information or discuss the selection procedure. During the selection process, please do not contact the members of the Selection Committee, but address your questions and comments to the Delegation’s Administration.
The successful candidate will be subject to a medical check and background check.
Candidates who wish to lodge a complaint regarding the recruitment process may submit a written communication to the functional mailbox to which they sent the initial application. Upon receipt, the Delegation will review the matter and, where appropriate, consult Headquarters before providing a response.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
The European Union is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EU is committed to promoting gender equality, preventing discrimination on any grounds and ensuring a zero tolerance approach to any form of harassment. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds. We aim at a service which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.
If pre-selected, candidates with disabilities are invited to contact the Delegation: eeasjobs-096@eeas.europa.eu in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure equality of opportunities with other candidates.
If a candidate with a disability is selected and recruited, the EEAS is committed to appropriate measures in order to accommodate his or her special needs to the working place or working conditions in accordance with Art 4 of the Decision ADMIN(2025)13 of the Director-General for Resource Management of the European External Action Service on providing reasonable accommodation for local staff with disabilities working in Union Delegations.
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