General Information
Job Highlight
About the Region
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.
About the Country/Multi-Country Office
Based in Nairobi, UNOPS East and Southern Africa supports sustainable development across 14 countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Since 1995, UNOPS has expanded its footprint in Kenya, delivering services in project management, infrastructure, procurement, and financial management. Across the region, the office implements diverse, partner-funded initiatives that respond to national priorities. In Mozambique, this includes delivering specialized equipment (EU), supporting health services (UNICEF), promoting agro-processing (KOICA), and advancing peacebuilding efforts through a Multi-Donor Fund. UNOPS also supports agricultural input distribution and the Northern Crisis Recovery Project, both funded by the World Bank. In Malawi, efforts include developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres in partnership with the EU and the British Council. These initiatives reflect UNOPS’ commitment to strengthening national capacities, enhancing service delivery, and supporting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.
Job Specific Context
The Driver, under the guidance and supervision of the relevant Project Managers (PMs) and Project Support Officers (PSOs), is responsible for providing reliable and safe driving services to the project team and visitors. This role requires the highest standards of integrity, discretion, a strong sense of responsibility, excellent knowledge of security issues, and adherence to protocol.
The successful candidate will demonstrate a client-oriented approach, high sense of responsibility, courtesy, and tact, along with the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
Role Purpose
The Driver ensures the safe and reliable transportation of authorized personnel. The incumbent demonstrates professionalism, courtesy and discretion in performing their responsibility, including the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Functions / Key Results Expected
1. Driving Services
Provide safe, reliable and timely transportation of authorized personnel and, where applicable, cargo or hazardous goods.
Collect and deliver mail, documents and other items as required.
Meet and assist assigned personnel at the airport, including facilitating immigration and customs formalities.
Maintain accurate daily vehicle logs and provide input for maintenance plans and usage reports
2. Vehicle Maintenance and Documentation
Perform routine checks (e.g. oil, water, battery, brakes, tires, etc) and ensure vehicles are kept in good working condition.
Carry out minor repairs and coordinate major repairs as needed.
Keep assigned vehicles clean and roadworthy at all times.
Ensure availability and safekeeping of all required documents and supplies, including insurance, registration, logs, maps, office directory, first aid kit, and spare parts
3. Accident Response
Take immediate action in line with organizational rules and regulations in the event of an accident.
4. Administrative and Facility Support
Assist Administrative or Support Services with procurement processes, including obtaining quotations for office supplies.
Inspect, distribute and maintain inventory records of office supplies and equipment.
Support facility management by arranging minor repairs, liaising with artisans and maintaining a roster of service providers.
Monitor and support the maintenance of office equipment to ensure optimum performance, including timely follow-up on utility services.
Respond promptly to repair and maintenance requests raised by authorized personnel.
Skills
Competencies
Education Requirements
Required
Secondary school (or equivalent) with 2 years of relevant experience OR
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 0 years of relevant experience is required.
Driver’s training with a valid driver’s licence is required.
Experience Requirements
Required
Relevant experience is work in safe driving, defensive driving and minor vehicle repair.
Knowledge of driving rules and regulations is required.
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 |
| Luganda | Native | Required |
Additional Information
- UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- 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.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
- UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
- We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
- UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
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.