Civil Engineer-Retainer

Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMCO sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and South Africa. This includes primarily transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and several island states.

KEMC has its own Technical and Design Services Unit (TSU) which comprises a core group of technical staff supplemented by experts employed on a retainer basis.  The group conducts feasibility studies and assessments and engages in design and monitoring work.  The core group’s skills include Civil, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Architects, Design Associates and Quantity Surveyors.  Senior Civil Engineer-Retainer will provide additional capacity in core disciplines as well as bulk earthworks and design of dams.

Under the overall supervision of the TSU Manager, the Civil Engineer-Retainer will give his/her technical expertise as required to develop designs for new and rehabilitation works including the calculation of quantities. Travel will be expected to remote sites.

Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for the following substantive tasks. The tasks would involve  but not limited to:

• Review and analyse existing documents
• Review and analyse investigation reports
• Prepare assessments, designs, reports
• Calculate quantities
• Liaise with technical, procurement colleagues and client and funding representatives as required
• Co-ordinate the timely issue of drawings, specifications and quantities and respond to queries as required.

Technical tasks:

• Prepare design briefs and design reports that address specific clients and stakeholder requirements and specifications as and when necessary.
• Prepare comprehensive design documentation, specifications, bar bending schedules and other project documents to meet the required quality and detailing.
• Work closely with other technical professionals in the planning of projects, scheduling of tasks and developing an integrated design.
• Ensure the documents prepared meet the quality standard requirements.
• Responsible for timely delivery of the expected outputs for review by senior staff.
• Carry out civil and structural design services for projects according to the client’s design requirement and as per applicable international standards and codes of practices.
• Strong ability in producing civil and structural bill of quantities.
• Monitor delivery of services design documents. Highlight possible non or late delivery prior to the event.
• Carry out site inspections and assessments as required.
• Develop specifications, procedures and QA/QC protocols when required.
• Proactively assist senior staff in managing the design projects, ensuring that they meet the high standards expected by UNOPS, while delivering the program within its time and budget contraints.
• Liaise with clients and address requirements when required.
• Co-ordinate the works and submissions with all other disciplines.
• Carry out research and identify appropriate technologies/techniques/designs that can be incorporated in the project design.
• Carry out technical reviews as appropriate.

Final Product

Assist in ensuring high project design and construction quality, observing all local/international and UN standards applicable; and all relevant health and safety procedures..

• Advanced University Degree in Civil & Structural Engineering or other relevant discipline is desired. 
• University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of 5 additional years of relevant professional experience  in Civil & Structural Engineering or other relevant discipline may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Civil & Structural Engineering Design and implementation is required.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in construction activities such as managing bulk earthworks is required. 
• Experience working on projects in conflict/disaster prone areas is an asset
• Experience working in Africa and Indian Ocean Islands is an asset
• Experience working in civil works especially on dams is an asset

• Fluency in written and oral English language required.  

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) Contract level: LICA 9 (ICS 9)
Contract duration: 1 year renewable subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funds


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.
• 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.
• 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.

This position is based in a family duty station

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.