The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Addis Ababa, the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) delivers project management, procurement, and infrastructure services across Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan, with a primary focus on health, agriculture, and economic development. Established in 2009, HAMCO partners with governments and development stakeholders to implement impactful, results-driven initiatives that contribute to sustainable development. Since 2024, new projects have been aimed at expanding access to healthcare, education, energy, and livelihoods, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected regions. HAMCO also provides human resource management services, supporting the effective implementation of development initiatives. Key efforts include equipping research facilities, strengthening education and health systems, building vaccine research capacity, and enhancing resilience in communities affected by crisis. Through these interventions, HAMCO contributes to inclusive growth, regional stability, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Horn of Africa.

Established in 2005, UNOPS Sudan is a key partner in advancing community well-being through infrastructure, procurement, and project management services that support humanitarian, recovery, and sustainable development efforts. UNOPS contributes to improved access to clean water, supports peacekeeping operations, and assists in implementing the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement by helping operationalize the Permanent Ceasefire Committee for Darfur in collaboration with UNITAMS. Ongoing initiatives focus on enhancing access to water and strengthening health services across the country, with particular efforts in Kassala state to expand diagnostic capacity and upgrade healthcare infrastructure. Through these projects, UNOPS supports stability, resilience, and improved living conditions for communities across Sudan.

This position operates within a dynamic humanitarian and development environment supporting critical infrastructure projects across Sudan. The role is essential to providing technical expertise in design development, construction supervision, and works certification, ensuring project outputs are delivered within specified tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk, and benefits. The position requires frequent travel to project sites.

Oversight and works certification on behalf of UNOPS on the assigned sites. The Infra Lead Engineer manages projects or programs independently within existing frameworks, guidelines, and rules, adapting existing policies to meet emerging needs.

The Lead Infrastructure Engineer provides overall management responsibility, including technical assistance and expertise in technical assessments of needs, design development, design checks and reviews as well as construction management.

Project Delivery and Performance

• Ensure that the project(s) produces the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits.
• Ensure that the project produces a result capable of achieving the benefits to the satisfaction of UNOPS and the Client.
• Contribute to the overall business targets and needs.
• Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s) (including relevant milestones) and implement the approved plan within tolerances set by the Project Board.
• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life span.
• Manage the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plan.
• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers
• Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages
• Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly
• Control project and work packages changes
• Inspect and accept goods, services or works delivered by suppliers.
• Act as the Employer’s Representative within the FIDIC works contracts and lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluation. (where applicable)
• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to senior management/ Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved
• Identify and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS
• Identify and assess project risks and issues, and advise senior management and/or the Project Board on appropriate mitigation measures to maximize benefits for partners and stakeholders.
• Ensure timely delivery of project outputs in accordance with approved scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards.
• Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess project performance and inform management decision-making.
• Address delivery bottlenecks proactively and implement corrective actions to maintain project momentum.
• Ensure effective coordination between technical, procurement, finance, and ES teams to support project delivery.
• Perform any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

Oversight and Coordination

• Under the guidance of the Infrastructure Project Manager and UNOPS supporting teams, oversee the contractual clause out of project contracts.
• Reviewing/confirming materials quantities to allow facilitation of procurement including direct payment to material suppliers upon request by the contractor.
• Supported by the Infrastructure Project Manager(s) and the procurement team, ensure timely and cost-effective procurement.
• Oversight of construction activities to ensure that quality and timely delivery are achieved and to ensure HSSE compliance on site
• Ensuring that UNOPS system and compliance requirements are met in construction implementation and reporting
• Review and validate interim payment certificates, variations, and claims, in coordination with the Project Manager.
• Support the management of contractual risks, including delays, non-compliance, and performance issues, and recommend mitigation measures.
• Ensure proper documentation, record-keeping, and reporting in line with UNOPS requirements and audit standards.
• Support handover, testing, commissioning, and defects notification period (DNP) activities, as applicable.
• Facilitate coordination with HSSE, environmental, and social focals to ensure integrated compliance across all project activities.
• Establish and maintain Quality Assurance arrangements to ensure compliance with Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) obligations.
• Ensure that quality requirements are clearly defined, measurable, and embedded in contracts, work packages, and terms of reference.
• Promote a culture of quality and continuous improvement across project teams and suppliers.
• Support the resolution of quality-related disputes and claims in coordination with technical, legal, and contract management teams.
• Act as the Infrastructure Coordinator for the Sudan Country Office on behalf of the HAMCO Head of Infra, undertaking quality assurance over all infrastructure projects in portfolio

Monitoring and Reporting

• Maintain a monitoring framework aligned with the project logframe, KPIs, and reporting requirements.
• Collection of information on results achieved by the project
• Calculation of progress against project KPIs for the final project reporting
• Assessing project performance against KPIs for reporting
• Contribution of analysis and data to final project reports
• Monitor and report on quality performance indicators, non-conformities, and corrective/preventive actions throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support lessons learned documentation and knowledge capture to inform future projects.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations for corrective actions and continuous improvement.

Operational

• Support the development of comprehensive infrastructure designs and ensuring high quality of the construction, observing all local, international and UNOPS standards applicable and all relevant health and safety procedures - Includes assessments, concept designs and prototypes, detailed designs and design checks, detailed specifications, bill of quantities, O&M and tender documents for new construction and/ or infrastructure rehabilitation in consultation with the HAMCO Infra Unit, stakeholders,  State authorities and technical staff.
• Team management - manage and coordinate a team of infrastructure design specialists to deliver required design outputs.
• Packaging, submission and defense of the project technical design to acquire no objection from stakeholders and UNOPS certificates of design compliance.
• Liaison with local contractors engaged to carry out topographical and geotechnical investigations (if any) and direct supervision of the works, and provides technical input to the design development process.
• Undertake a baseline (Preliminary) survey and assessments, Collect site and operational data, assets maintenance records, beneficiaries, survey information and carry out project assessments for new works.
• Provide technical input to the preparation of costs estimates as well as project implementation schedules for the rehabilitation/ replacement/ extension/ new construction of various works.
• Facilitate the project implementation process with the state authorities and other project stakeholders.
• Support in carrying out the contractor’s evaluation and selection processes.
• Assist the Project Manager or PE to provide the technical input to the preparation of tenders, during bid evaluation process and in the preparation of the contracts award approval documents.
• As tasked by the Project Manager , supervise the construction works, and administer the execution of the work as per the contractual provisions and the design specifications;
• Support the overall management of the implementation of the work in the field that will ensure the constructions works are completed on time, within budget and up to quality standards;
• Timely actions on potential delays and/or cost overruns that can either be prevented or mitigated are to be quickly reported with recommended remedial actions to the Infrastructure Project Manager;
• Assist the Project Manager in the preparation of project / contracts related documentations such as periodic progress reports, site monitoring reports, stakeholder meeting minutes, Engineer’s Instructions and Variation Orders, Contractor’s bills review reports, certifications, client hand-over documents and contracts close-out reports.
• Assist in providing training and technology transfer to UNOPS personnel and contractor’s personnel and advise on good construction practices, good environmental management practices, and appropriate health and safety standards during construction;
• Represent UNOPS in project implementation activities in the field, as directed by the Infrastructure Project Manager in order to ensure that UNOPS procedures and the standards adhere to all project implementation activities.
• Represent UNOPS to the different related forums, coordinating with other stakeholders and ensuring UNOPS intervention if feasible and documented.
• Ensure systematic risk identification and mitigation throughout design and construction phases, including technical, environmental, social, and operational risks.
• Integrate climate resilience and sustainability measures into infrastructure design and construction, where applicable.
• Ensure implementation of quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) systems, including inspections, testing, and compliance verification.
• Support testing, commissioning, and handover processes, ensuring facilities are fully functional and fit for purpose.
• Ensure proper management of the Defects Liability Period (DLP), including follow-up on corrective works and final acceptance.

Required

• Master's Degree in Civil/ Structural Engineering, or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience

Desired

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil/ Structural Engineering, or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience

Required

• 5 years’ experience in Detailed Design and Implementation of Medium to Large infrastructure facilities - buildings, WASH, transport - Infrastructure

Desired

• Experience in design review and management, contract management and coordinating with relevant government technical departments
• Work experience in Sudan

• 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.

• 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.