Lead Electrical 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 "Procurement, Shipment and Delivery of 16 High-Voltage Transformers" project is a strategic initiative under the broader National Energy Access and Transformation (NEAT) project, funded by the World Bank and implemented by UNOPS in partnership with PNG Power Limited (PPL).

UNOPS provides end-to-end procurement and project management services, including technical procurement, contract administration, quality assurance, third-party verification, logistics, and delivery. The project includes all services necessary to ensure the safe and timely arrival of equipment to PPL. The two main outputs are:

• Procure and deliver 16 high-voltage transformers:
  • Lot 1 (7 transformers): Port Moresby (Boroko, Konedobu, Waigani, Bomana) and Lae (Gusap).
  • Lot 2 (9 transformers): Madang (Meiro, Walium), the Highlands (Ramu 1), Rabaul (Ulagunan, Kokopo, Kerevat, Rabaul), and Lae (Taraka).
• Logistics and transport: Shipment from the  port in the country of origin to PNG, customs clearance, and land transport to substation sites, including insurance, handling, third-party verification, and oversight.

Under the direct supervision of the Lead Electrical Engineer, Project Manager a.i., the retainer will strengthen client-side technical assurance by independently reviewing and verifying the manufacturer's design submissions, identifying technical deficiencies, inconsistencies and non-compliances, and providing written recommendations for corrections in the design calculations/drawings to the Technical Lead / Project Manager before the relevant design documents are accepted for progression to manufacture.

The role will be home-based and is not a full-time position. Retainers are engaged to carry out tasks on an intermittent basis, called upon to work when needed or as planned. There are no guaranteed minimum working hours or days.

1. Technical Design, Project Delivery and Performance

• Review and independently verify manufacturer design calculations, detailed engineering drawings, and technical data sheets to ensure full compliance with IEC 60076 standards, contractual technical specifications, and project requirements before manufacturing begins.
• Provide timely, expert technical recommendations to the Technical Lead / Project Manager to resolve design deficiencies or inconsistencies, preventing delays in production and equipment delivery.

2. Technical Procedures and Compliance

• Adhere strictly to UNOPS operational, engineering, and technical review procedures while evaluating supplier submissions.  
• Thoroughly review detailed design calculations and engineering drawings, cross-checking calculations against drawings, approved data sheets, and technical specifications to ensure complete alignment and quality.
• Ensure all technical evaluation processes align with applicable international standards and contractual agreements. 

3. Monitoring and Reporting

• Prepare concise technical review reports, marked up drawings/documents, and written recommendations highlighting deficiencies, non-compliances, or required corrective actions for the project team.
• Prepare a comprehensive Final Design Review Close-Out Memorandum detailing overall design compliance, major resolved issues, remaining implementation risks, and quality recommendations for the Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) stage.

4. Stakeholder Engagement 

• Collaborate closely with UNOPS project team to align on technical requirements and design acceptance.
• Provide clear technical guidance and clarification to suppliers/manufacturers regarding design adjustments and non-compliance issues.

5. Quality Assurance

• Act as the client-side technical assurance specialist to verify that high-voltage transformers meet all structural, electrical, and operational quality benchmarks. 
• Assist in defining parameters and standards for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and technical verification protocols to guarantee long-term operational reliability.

6. Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Document best practices, lessons learned, and standard technical checklists for high-voltage transformer design reviews.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering or a closely related discipline 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.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in the design, engineering, manufacture, technical review or testing of high-voltage power transformers or related areas.
• Experience with transformer manufacturer design documentation and calculation methodologies.

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country;
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts;
• Experience in power transformers with a voltage up to 132 kV and MVA class comparable to those being procured under Lot 1;
• Demonstrated practical experience preparing and reviewing detailed transformer design calculations;
• Practical knowledge of the IEC 60076 series, particularly IEC 60076-1, IEC 60076-2, IEC 60076-3, IEC 60076-5, IEC 60076-10, and IEC 60076-22;
• Practical knowledge of IEC 60137 and IEC 60214-1; and
• Familiarity with transformer manufacturing and Factory Acceptance Testing.

• 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.