Senior Architect - Retainer

General Context

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peace building, 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. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments. A flexible structure and global reach means we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.

Background Information – UNOPS Ethiopia multi-country office

Established in 2009, UNOPS Ethiopia Office has been providing services to various partners, including the government of Ethiopia, UN agencies such as WHO, UNHCR and WFP, and other international organizations. Since 2014, the UNOPS Ethiopia multi-country office manages and coordinates the UNOPS activities in Ethiopia, as well as Sudan and Djibouti.

The UNOPS Ethiopia multi-country office team is composed of approximately 100 national and international women and men, and offers a broad range of services such as infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial and human resources management.

The Senior Architect provides technical assistance and expertise with reference to the feasibility/design/construction requirements as well as field coordination, ensuring high quality and consistency of work. The Senior Architect promotes a collaborative, client focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Project Team. He/She will also provide mentorship to junior team members ensuring knowledge transfer for capacity development.

Summary of Key Functions

1.       General Construction

• Plan and coordinate work activities with the Infrastructure Team Leader.
• Establish technical specifications and detailed product schedules and bills of quantities;
• Advise on good project management, design and construction practices;
• Take timely action to prevent potential delays and/or cost overruns that can be avoided.
• Advise remedial actions regarding potential delays and/or cost overruns to the Infrastructure Team Leader.
• Provide supervision of project work progress and quality for on-time project delivery.
• Advise on good environmental practices and controls during construction and mitigate environmental impacts of the works ;
• Prepare project related documentations such as periodic progress reports, site monitoring reports, stakeholder meeting minutes, engineer's instructions and variation orders, contractor's bills review reports, certifications, client hand-over documents and contracts close-out reports.
• Manage final hand over and acceptance report based on technical specifications against the approved project.
• Ensure UNOPS FIDIC contracts are administered appropriately.
• Ensure proper liaison, coordination and exchange of information with the Municipal Authority
• Accompany all site visits by any Authority and Donor representatives.
• Provide a monthly report to the Infrastructure Team Leader detailing all project matters including quality, health and safety, environmental and financial, as well as any issues relating to possible delays, cost overruns, variations and any other matter as agreed with the Infrastructure Team Leader and as required by UNOPS standard procedures.
• Coordinate and lead meetings when required;
• Coordinate among all project partners and stakeholders to ensure streamlined and efficient implementation of all project activities and help achieve the project’s goals and expected results.
• Support the preparation of an institutional framework, a functional programme, a management structure, an operational plan, and a branding and marking strategy for the ETOH.
• Perform any other duties deemed necessary by the Infrastructure Team Leader.

2.       Feasibility /needs assessment

• Complete needs assessment, organize preliminary studies and monitor/supervising consultants.
• Lead the review of requests for new construction and rehabilitation works.
• Carry out assessments and prepare reports with recommendations for follow up actions.
• Advise the Infrastructure Team Leader in redacting the tender dossier, with particular focus to the technical documents (drawings, BoQ, technical specification and standards).
• Provision of assistance with regard to the hub’s  Procurement in Tendering and Awarding of contract;

3.       Design Management

• Outline design requirements including concept, preliminary and final stages where applicable.
• Design and drawings of new and existing buildings and infrastructure, for rehabilitation and construction;
• Develop proposals for new projects, and is responsible for the relevant preliminary design drawings and design documentations;
• Develop design concepts and presentations required to ensure timely, cost effective and quality delivery of the work;
• Ensure the revisions of details, design and drawings if and when required during the project lifespan;
• Manage the design plan ensuring deliverables are available on time, and to the required quality.
• Prepare a design brief after a site reconnaissance and meetings with Partners outlining the design program, timeframe and budget estimates;
• Ensure testing and commissioning for handover and acceptance of deliverable is done to clients.
• Produce architectural design concepts based on a design brief by UNOPS and conduct presentations to partners;
• Produce architectural design development drawings that include plans, sections, elevations and details of working drawings using CAD software in accordance with local and international standards;
• Review the design drawings for the projects from the field in term of accuracy and suitability to overall design and construction requirements, including Identifying improvements in the designs and be able to propose practical solutions;
• Review the accuracy of the bill of quantities of the projects proposed matching the international standards;
• Review and approve the Bill of Quantity (BoQ).
• Lead the ongoing Programming, Design, and Construction Administration effort;
• Lead the provision of design development and Tender/Construction Documents (Drawings, Specifications, Bill of Quantity) -with appropriate presentations for review and approval);

4.       Construction supervision

• Supervise design and construction works, and administer works execution as per the contractual provisions and the design specifications.
• Ensure that works are consistent with the project technical specifications and inform promptly of eventual deviations.
• Ensure constructions works are completed on time, within budget and to quality standards.
• Periodically support site supervision and monitoring to ensure that the work is done according to instructions, drawings and technical specifications as per contractual agreement and give the same support to site teams liaising with the Project Managers and Project Engineers.
• Advise and work with the procurement team with technical assistance in preparation of tender documentation and bid analysis where required;
• Review and advise on contractor shop drawings;
• Provide construction oversight and contract management;
• Ensure as-built drawings and maintenance manuals for the finished materials used in the works;
• Ensure sustainability solution in design and choice of materials are embedded;
• Accompany all site visits by any Authority and Donor representatives.
• Check and approve interim and final payment certificates;

5.       Knowledge management

• Provide training and technology transfer to national personnel and contractor’s personnel and advice on good design and construction practices, good environmental management practices, and appropriate health and safety standards during construction
• Guide and advice UNOPS design review team to enhance knowledge management;
• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building.
• Establish system for maintaining design and construction records and contributes in the production of “As Built” drawings and details for all design documentation, memos and instructions in correct format;
• Ensure the maintenance of accurate, quality and completion documentation as identified in responsibilities above.

IV. Impact of Results

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Senior Architect directly impacts on achievement of the projects and 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.

Education:         

• A Master’s degree in Architecture Engineering, Building Engineering or related field is required.
• A combination of Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.
• Project Management certification is desirable (for example PRINCE2® Foundation)

Experience:       

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, including architectural conceptual design, preparation of scheme and final architectural design drawings, and specification is required.
• Experience in designing of community facilities such as health centers, schools, administrative buildings or similar within an international environment is required.
• Experience in AutoCAD and other CAD Visualization software is required.
• Experience in supervision of construction activities is required.
• Demonstrated International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) contract knowledge is desirable.
• Experience in proposal development will be an advantage.
• Work experience in post-conflict/ fragile environments is desirable.

• Full working knowledge of English is essential.
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset.

1. Contract type: Local ICA
2. Contract level: Local ICA Specialist, LICA 11
3. Contract duration: One year retainer contract (renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability'

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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.