Construction Manager
Multiple locations
- Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
- Location: Multiple locations
- Grade: Mid level - IICA-2, International Individual Contractors Agreement
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Occupational Groups:
- Engineering
- Administrative support
- Architecture, Building and Property Management
- Energy
- Managerial positions
- Closing Date: Closed
Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS has been established in Sierra Leone since 2000 and currently has 50 personnel and 4 Interns in country, operating out of 3 main locations – in Freetown, Bo and Makeni.
During the last 15 years, UNOPS has delivered a variety of infrastructure projects nationwide, particularly in the fields of health and security infrastructure, and has procured a variety of vehicles, non-medical health related items and medical equipment.
Current projects include:
- Infrastructure Programme for Isolation Units; Construction of screening and isolation units for government hospitals under the Ebola Emergency Response Project (EERP) (with funding from the World Bank) and medical waste management and WASH (with funding from DFID) in support of the Ministry of Health.
- Procurement of non-health items and services to contribute to the Global Fund Programme in Sierra Leone, for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)
- Construction of the new Administrative Headquarters of the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) in Freetown, Sierra Leone for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is looking for experienced Construction Manager to lead our team across West Africa.
Whether it’s fighting Ebola by securing works contracts for new isolation wards, procuring life-saving medical equipment for the most vulnerable or helping establish West Africa’s largest renewable energy micro-grids, the work you do at UNOPS is about building a future we all can believe in.
If you have experience leading teams, are excited to expand our sustainable project management initiatives, are great at facilitating technical teams to develop specifications, are always ready to get hands on with the work and can lead partners through best practice in construction at Prince 2 Foundation and Project Management Professional certification level, then this is your opportunity.
Things happen quickly at UNOPS and we are looking for enthusiastic team players who are ready to not only keep up but blaze a path forward. The sub-regional office based in Accra, Ghana is UNOPS newest and covers the Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. As a central resource for the United Nations and its member governments, UNOPS is a global organization that is focused on making a local difference with some of the world’s top services in Project Management, Infrastructure and Procurement.
What drives us is a passion to fight inequalities and to provide opportunities to those most vulnerable. Come help us build the foundations for communities to function and people to live with dignity and respect.
In order to respond to the Ministry of Energy’s challenge of providing off-grid rural electrification solutions in Sierra Leone, UNOPS has been engaged to deliver the Rural Renewable Energy Project (RREP) with the objective of increasing accessibility to public services and enhancing economic growth in underserved rural communities.The present four-year project has been developed with the target outcome to increase rural renewable energy access through private sector involvement, and support institutional development/reforms on regulatory frameworks and business model approaches. The RREP will implement sustainable technical and financial solutions to establish electrification of villages through mini-grids, along with the technical assistance required to support the sustainable development of this off-grid renewable energy initiative.
The RREP is developed around technical solutions designed under three work packages (WP):
Work package 1 and 1+: Installing stand-alone 6kWp solar photovoltaic (sPV) systems in a minimum of 50 communities by July 2017 (with the ambition to scale up to 80 communities subject to availability of funds). The stand-alone 6kWp solar photovoltaic systems will provide electricity to the Community Health Centres, and subsequently be expanded into small mini-grids in the 50 villages by the end of 2017, to connect all other public institutions and households in the village. The 50 small mini-grids (< ~36kW) will be operated by private operators with commercial interests or local communities associations, both ensuring long term sustainability by December 2017.
Work package 2: The project will support a range of public-private sector business models for providing rural communities electrification through installation of environmentally and economically sustainable mini-grids (> ~36kW). A minimum of 40 mini-grids will be completed by October 2020, adding up to 5 MW to the country’s power generation capacity
Work package 3: Technical Assistance (TA) and institutional development (capacity building) to both government authorities and private sector, as part of the holistic approach to facilitate mini-grids development and long term sustainable operations.
In order to install the Photovoltaic systems, some preparatory civil works will be necessary, including:
- Construction of a platform to support the solar panels;
- Construction of lightweight structure with roof;
- Construction of an energy Kiosk;
- Rehabilitation of the electrical system in the CHCs and upgrade of the electrical system to one that can prioritize distribution to four separated/independent lines;
- Cabling and connections between the platform, the CHC and the Energy Kiosk.
- HV/LV distribution networks and individual household meters
The Construction Manager is part of the UNOPS supervision team and is required to manage and coordinate the day to day activities of contractors. The Construction Manager will be expected to build the capacity of UNOPS national supervision team, and the contractors personnel. This may include, for example, demonstrating to tradesmen best practice techniques for key technical trades. The Construction Manager will therefore have extensive practical experience of performing practical construction activities and of supervising works to ensure that both UNOPS Quality Assurance requirements are being met, and that the Contractor carries out his Quality Control functions effectively.
The Construction Manager will be based on site, under the direct supervision of the Technical Team Leader/Project Manager .Functional Responsibilities
- General construction
- Reporting
- Knowledge management
- Job Specific
1. General construction
- Assist the Project Manager to monitor UNOPS implementation plan including Quality, Health & Safety and Environment.
- Where required, assist the Contractor to manage, plan and coordinate monthly, weekly and daily construction activities including monitoring site safety and construction quality.
- Participate in construction approval and inspection activities.
- Liaise closely with engineering staff, ensuring engineering accuracy of construction activities.
- Identify and solve construction issues in a timely fashion, keeping the project manager and engineering staff informed.
- Liaise with, and provide support to, other offices within the country as required.
- Promote a collaborative, client focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Project Team.
2. Reporting
- Ensure accurate and timely reporting of progress and conditions on site through daily site records.
- Prepare and submit to the Technical Team Leader a weekly or monthly (or as requested) report within 5th day of the week-end, summarizing progress of contractor activities, quality control issues, resourcing and scheduling issues, and any other pertinent facts as required.
- Produce any appropriate documentation identified by the Project Manager in a professional and accurate manner
3. Knowledge sharing
- Contribute to the project evaluation process; highlight challenges associated with the project and feedback into a continuous improvement cycle.
- Provide training and knowledge transfer to national/contractor personnel including advice on good construction practices, environmental management practices, and appropriate health and safety standards during construction.
- Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building.
Specific duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Understand the technical specification and scope of work of each contractor that has been assigned to him/her by the technical team leader/Project Manager
- Assist the site supervisor in the implementation of Quality Plans for the project to ensure specified quality of the work is achieved
- Administer the contracts and supervise project activities to ensure the work complies with the design and specifications.
- Check contractor's claims and submittal against its accuracy and reality, and make recommendations to the technical team leader
- Verifying and revising contractor reports, proposal for changes and request for payment issued by the contractor and transmit them (for eventual approval) to the technical team Leader or, together with comments, or remarks
- Ensure the strict implementation of quality control standards and procedures on the sites and report regularly with coordination from Field Monitoring Engineers.
- Take necessary steps to ensure timely completion of contractors' work and control of project budget.
- Prepare and manage project documentation systematically, especially assuring the tidiness of the contractors' site registers.
- Take responsibility for UNOPS assets at project sites
- Ensure that the project activities are aligned with the overall project plan.
- Regularly update on the status of the project and propose workable solutions to correct for any delay
- Organizing and planning daily activities for site supervisors to follow
- Perform other functions as may be assigned by the technical team leader/project manager
- Report all errors, omissions, discrepancies and deficiencies to technical team leader and record them on the project site register/s.
Impact of Results:
The effective and successful achievement of results by the Construction Manager directly impacts the successful delivery of the project on time, budget and above all the expectations of all stakeholders. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.
| Expected results are:
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Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
- Master's Degree in Building Construction, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related relevant discipline /field is required.
- Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree with 7 years of relevant professional experience may be considered.
- Applicants with Technical/Professional Diploma Certification in building construction, carpentry, concreting, plumbing and electrical engineering with 9 years of experience may well be considered.
- Project Management Certification (for example PRINCE2®) or Project Management Professional (PMP®) is desirable.
Experience
- 5 years’ experience in construction management or similar, managing or supervising construction activities related to the project requirements on a range of large and diverse construction projects in a developed commercial/developing environment, requiring the coordination of multiple contractors and multiple trades simultaneously.
- Ability to deliver projects on time, within budget in a demanding cultural context with transitional government partners under challenging physical conditions and poor national infrastructure is desirable.
- Extensive experience implementing works under complex quality and safety plans is essential.
- Experience directing and mentoring technical trade personnel/staff is essential.
- Some experience in the UN system organizations and/or a developing country is desirable.
Language
Fluency in written and oral English is required.
Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset.
Competencies
| Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization. |
| Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion. |
| Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. |
| Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). |
| Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. |
| Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. |
| Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. |
| Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground. |
Contract type, level and duration
Contract level: IICA -2
Contract duration:One (1) Year
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
Background Information - UNOPS
UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.
Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.
With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.
A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.
Additional Considerations
- Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
- Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
- For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
- The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
- The UNOPS Personnel Management Framework has a policy on Harmonization between work and personal life.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
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