Construction Engineer

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Afghanistan

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, the UNOPS Afghanistan office supports national reconstruction and development efforts by providing projects with goods and services - from stand-alone, one-off solutions to long-term management and capacity development support.  Based in Kabul, UNOPS in Afghanistan has sub-offices in every region of the country. The team implements projects in support of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, in a wide range of sectors including infrastructure, education, environment and agriculture, and governance and rule of law.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Reporting to the Programme Manager DFAT Green Zone (PM), the Construction Engineer DFAT Green Zone (CE) will be responsible for successfully delivering the project’s construction activities.   Specifically:

• Provide regular updates and communication with contractor, the PM, Government stakeholders, other team members and UNOPS Procurement, Human Resources, QA/QC and Project Management Office (PMO).
• Engaging the PRINCE 2 project management methodology, prepare for and contribute to Project Boards, Highlight Reports, Exception Reports, Exception Plans, Stage Plans, Risk Register, delivery plans and Issues Register and update oneUNOPS and Keepsite as required.
• In consultation with the beneficiaries, the PM and other team members, manage any required design changes, modifications or changes to implementation schedules.
• Thoroughly understand the terms and conditions, Engineer’s Requirements, Terms of References, delivery schedules and other provisions of the construction contracts and ensure that contracted works proceed in accordance with these provisions and requirements.
• Ensure that the contractors fully understand and implement the provisions of UNOPS policies and requirements with regard to Health, Safety, Social and Environmental (HSSE) Management.
• Ensure that the contractors fully understand and implement the provisions of UNOPS policies and requirements with regard to Gender.
• Thoroughly understand and apply instructions and guidance from applicable norms and standards including the UNOPS Design Planning Manual, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), International Building Code (IBC) and applicable Afghan National codes.
• Amicably and efficiently resolve disputes, confusion or impasses which may arise with contractors and beneficiaries.
• As directed by the PM, engage with and brief the AFOC Head of Programme, the AFOC Partnerships Development Unit and the AFOC Country Director regarding progress and events related to the Project’s construction activities.           
• Act as the Project’s Officer in Charge (OIC) when required during periods of absence of the PM.

Education, Experience and Language Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Engineering, Construction, Architecture or discipline related to construction and infrastructure.
• First Level University Degree in Engineering, Construction, Architecture or discipline related to construction and infrastructure with an additional five years of relevant experience maybe accepted in lieu of the Master’s Degree requirement.
• Experience delivering construction and/or infrastructure projects in a development or post conflict environment.
• Minimum 10 years leading, managing and overseeing multidisciplinary project implementation teams and construction contractors.
• Previous experience managing construction projects in Afghanistan desirable.
• Five experience liaising with donors and providing effective communication with clients or beneficiaries.
• Prince 2 Foundation highly desirable, if not PRINCE 2 Practioner.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (I-ICA) Contract level: IICA-3
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance’

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 

• 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.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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.  

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.