Lead Road Design Engineer

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.

This position operates within a dynamic project environment, leading the design of road and highway infrastructure for projects across the Horn of Africa. The role is critical for ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective road designs, with a strong focus on geometric design, accessibility, and integration with other infrastructure systems, contributing to the successful implementation of development initiative

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager - Infrastructure, the Lead Road/Highway Geometric Design Engineer will lead the design and coordination of road works, including geometric design, drawings, and documentation, in line with UNOPS guidelines, national road standards, and recognized international practices. The role ensures that all road designs are safe, functional, and compliant throughout the project lifecycle.

The contractor will be engaged on a retainer basis and will be required to provide services as and when needed.

1. SiteAssessment

• Lead the assessment and review of site conditions, terrain, and existing road infrastructure to identify design requirements and constraints.

• Conduct site visits and surveys prior to design development.

• Review topographic data, soil conditions, and existing alignments to support design decisions.

• Participate in feasibility studies and contribute to route selection and optimization.

2. Design Works

• Lead the preparation of road geometric design, including horizontal and vertical alignment.

• Develop road profiles, cross-sections, and typical sections.

• Design intersections, junctions, and access roads for project sites.

• Prepare design drawings, reports, and calculations for road infrastructure.

• Develop technical specifications and Bills of Quantities (BoQs).

• Ensure compliance with:

  • National road design standards

  • UNOPS guidelines

  • International standards

• Coordinate conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design stages.

• Prepare complete design packages and respond to review comments.

• Support procurement processes, including:

  • Preparation of bidding documents

  • Participation in pre-bid meetings

  • Providing technical clarifications

  • Evaluation of proposals

3. Construction Support and Quality Assurance

• Review road construction drawings and provide technical input during implementation.

• Ensure compliance of works with approved designs and specifications.

• Provide technical advice on construction methodologies and material selection.

• Support resolution of technical issues during construction.

• Contribute to preparation and review of As-Built drawings.

• Prepare progress and technical reports in line with UNOPS procedures.

4. Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Coordinate with multidisciplinary design teams.

• Ensure integration of road design with overall project infrastructure.

• Facilitate compliance with regulatory and approval requirements.

5. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Maintain proper documentation of design outputs, reports, and drawings.

• Contribute to knowledge sharing and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Support development of technical guidelines and lessons learned.

• Provide guidance to junior engineers and technical staff.

Required

• An advanced University Degree (Master's) degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or related field OR,.

• A first University Degree (Bachelor's) in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or related field will be considered with additional 2 years of work experience.

Required

• Minimum 5 years of experience (or more depending on academic credentials) in road/highway design

• Practicing Professional Highway Engineer licence 

• Proven experience in geometric design of roads

Desired

• Experience in similar infrastructure or access road projects

• Experience working with international standards

• Experience in construction supervision of road works

• Experience in preparation of:

  • Design drawings

  • Design reports

  • BoQs and specifications

Skills:

• Road/Highway Geometric Design

• AutoCAD / Civil 3D, MX Road, InfraWorks

• Road Design Software

• Technical Report Writing

• BoQ Preparation

• Stakeholder Coordination

• 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. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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.