Lead Civil Engineer

The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNOPS operations across 17 countries, ensuring high performance, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals. Operations currently span Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Across these countries, we work closely with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units: Afghanistan (AFCO), Myanmar (MMCO), South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), and the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC). Through these entities, we provide agile, client-focused service delivery across diverse sectors - including infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management - supporting the implementation of sustainable development solutions across the region.

The East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), headquartered in Bangkok, supports UNOPS operations across 24 countries in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and the Pacific. Established in January 2023, EAPMCO provides strategic direction, operational support, and quality assurance to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of projects across its portfolio. EAPMCO implements initiatives in priority areas such as energy transition, climate change, and sustainable development, drawing on UNOPS' core expertise in human resources, procurement, infrastructure, fund management, and programme management.

UNOPS has supported Papua New Guinea (PNG) since 2016, initially partnering with the Global Fund to strengthen public health services. In 2020, a dedicated country office was established to manage UNOPS’ growing portfolio, which spans infrastructure, procurement, and project management. UNOPS currently works with the Government of PNG, the World Bank, the European Union, and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand on initiatives in health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and sustainable energy, supporting the country’s development priorities through tailored, results-driven solutions.

The Milne Bay Project is a climate-resilient infrastructure initiative funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and implemented by UNOPS in Papua New Guinea. The project delivers practical, climate-resilient infrastructure solutions to address water, sanitation and power supply challenges across Rabaraba, Esa’ala, and the Deboyne Islands within Milne Bay Province.

The initiative aligns directly with key national and provincial development frameworks:

• PNG National Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Policy 2015–2030: Expands access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, reduces waterborne diseases, promotes integrated water resource management and empowers local community participation in service delivery. 
• District Service Improvement Programme (DSIP): Supports the Milne Bay Provincial Government’s efforts to deliver reliable, affordable power to target communities
• Medium Term Development Plan IV (2023 - 2027): Advances PNG’s vision for universal access to improved WASH and electricity services.

By prioritizing sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient infrastructure, the project contributes to multiple Sustainable Development Golds (SDGs) and aligns with DFAT’s strategic priorities. It focuses on empowering marginalized and vulnerable populations - including women, girls, persons with disabilities, and communities directly exposed to climate change, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events.

The   Lead  Civil  Engineer position   provides  technical  expertise  and  support  in the  planning,  coordination,  implementation,  and  monitoring  of  infrastructure  projects.  The  incumbent ensures  the  successful  delivery  of  infrastructure  projects,  adhering  to  quality standards,  timelines,  and  budgetary  constraints.  The  scope  of  the  assignment  includes  collaborating with  internal  and  external  stakeholders,  managing  project  operations,  engaging  with  stakeholders, managing finances, preparing reports, and working in complex environments with limited resources.

1. Technical  Design and Procurement Support

• Prepare  the  Design  Briefs/concept  design  report  and  support  the  Project  Manager  with  the  management  of  the  concept  design  review  process  as  directed  by  the  UNOPS  Design  Review  Manager. 
• Submit  Design  Briefs  for  all  planned  infrastructure  -activities  including;  conceptual  designs,  specifications, standards, budget estimates, timeframes and strategies for execution;  
• For  all  infrastructure  activities  approved  to  proceed,  prepare  Final  Design  documentation,  including:  Scope  of  Works  (SoW),  site  information,  budget,  specifications,  schedules,  Bill  of  Quantities (BoQ), calculations and construction drawings;  
• Submit  requisition  -  and  coordinate  with  Procurement  unit  to  complete  the  procurement  process,  including:  development  of  relevant  tender  documents,  evaluation  of  tenders  and  issuing of works contracts;

2. Construction works supervision

• Provide expert  opinion/advice  to  the  Project  Managers  and  the  other  engineers  on all engineering issues for assigned works.  
• Contribute to development, implementation, monitoring and updating of the Project plans and strategies in order to ensure delivery according to the scope budget and time.  
• Provide regular  reports to the Project Managers and provide inputs for the periodic  and final Reports to inform donors and the key stakeholders on Project progress.  
• Manage  contractors and contract execution to ensure delivery according to the  scope,  budget  and time and in compliance with the technical documentation.  
• Formulate and/or check and revise Terms of Reference, scope of works and all  technical documents/designs in line with national legal framework and UNOPS norms and standards.  
• Ensure that documentation on site is kept according to operating procedure for  planning and construction (daily logs, quantity books, approvals, act of  appointments,  tests, attest documentation).  
• Maintain the cooperation with the construction supervisors, contractors, designers  and local  authorities. 
• Ensure respect of Health and Safety procedures on the site and notify the Supervisor of any irregularities immediately after.  
• Perform other duties as assigned by the PM in the agreed time frame.

3. Quality Assurance

• Implement  quality  controls  (QC)  procedures,  to  ensure  all  infrastructure  activities  are  correctly  initiated,  managed,  monitored,  reported  and  closed  in  accordance  with  UNOPS  policies  and  procedures.  
• Supervise the quality of the construction materials and collected attest documentation.  
• Verify  and  contribute  to  technical  specifications  of  products,  apparatus,  services  and  associated quality material.  
• Ensure  the  contractor  provides  a  method  statement  for  works  prior  commencement  and  performs the quality check of the presented document.  
• During  the  Defect  Notification  Period  (DNP),  intervene  as  required  and  liaise  with  the  contractor  to fix in a timely manner issues that arise and are covered by the defect notification period.

4. Monitoring and progress control

• Conduct needs assessment of the Infrastructures that are to be reconstructed and  provide comprehensive needs assessment reports.
• Review and contribute to the Contractor's Quality Health and Safety, Social and  Environment plans and ensure its compliance.  
• Ensure on site works are provided in accordance to all  Health and Safety, Social and Environmental requirements, norms, national and international best practices 
• Hold site coordination meetings  with  the  contractors,  technical  supervisors  and  other stakeholders as necessary and provide minutes of meetings for construction-related meetings.  
• Provide Site Visit Reports on Project  related activities, specifying  work progress and  arising  issues 
• Contribute to development, implementation, monitoring and updating of the Project  plans and strategies in order to ensure delivery according to the scope budget and time.  
• Liaise with government  agencies, partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate  collaboration and ensure project objectives are met.

5. Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing  

• Assist with capacity building and training in sound engineering practice for national  and local government personnel;  
• Ensure that lessons learned and challenges are documented throughout the project  stages and shared with the PM; 
• Ensure final reports and handover reports are completed on time and to the required quality; 
• Update and maintain project documentation and filing system;  
• Performs any other related duties as may be assigned.  
• Participate in meetings, workshops, and consultations to gather feedback, address  concerns, and foster positive relationships.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required

Desired

• Professional engineering license or registration is highly desirable.  
• Additional  certifications  in  project  management  or  relevant  technical fields are a plus.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in civil engineering, infrastructure projects or similar fields.  

Desired

• Proven experience in managing and coordinating water and sanitation, structures and other infrastructure projects, including design and construction supervision
• Experience in production of drawings, BOQS, specifications and design reports .
• Experience in working with government agencies, international organizations, and other stakeholders involved in health  infrastructure projects.  
• Strong knowledge of project  management principles, including budgeting, scheduling, and quality control.  
• Proficient  in  using  computer-aided design (CAD) software and other engineering tools.
• Experience in managing FIDIC contracts.

• 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.
  

• 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.