Civil Engineer - Contracts

The EU funded Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade project, STREIT, aims to contribute to the sustainable and inclusive economic development in East Sepik and Sandaun Provinces. It will target integration with and support to the broader work of FAO and other project partners to support cocoa, vanilla and fishery value chains. The ILO has been tasked to implement the project transport infrastructure component, thereby improving access to communities and markets, in particular those linked to the value chain development. 

By applying local resource-based approaches in the infrastructure works, the ILO also seeks to (i) increase participation of local communities in the planning and implementation of works, (ii) increase the creation of jobs and income by applying employment-intensive work methods and (iii) secure the involvement of the local construction industry. The dimensions of increased employment and income opportunities and more private sector business prospects are expected to create additional synergies with the sustainable and inclusive economic development ambitions of the project.

The ILO activities will also place emphasis on strengthening the capacity of local institutions responsible for the improvement and maintenance of PNGs transport infrastructure, introducing approaches relying to the extent possible on the use of local resources such as local entrepreneurs and communities. All activities will be gender-mainstreamed targeting women, youth and disadvantaged groups.

The project will be delivered by a team based in Wewak, PNG, with support from the office in Port Moresby, the ILO Office in Suva, Fiji, and ILO expert teams in Bangkok and Geneva.

The ILO technical assistance forms an integral part of the STREIT project delivered by a host of UN agencies under the overall coordination of FAO. Reporting directly to the Infrastructure Specialist, the Civil Engineer - Contracts will be part of the ILO technical team which constitutes a portion of a larger project team provided by several UN agencies tasked to deliver all the components of STREIT.

Within this framework the Civil Engineer - Contracts will take the lead in the planning and implementation of the procurement activities related to the infrastructure works. In close collaboration with the Field Engineers and the project finance and administrative staff, he/she will guide and support the establishment and operationalisation of systems and procedures related to procuring works and services in line with work plans, projects documents, ILO policies and strategies, and prevailing administrative and financial procedures.

In collaboration with local authorities, technical agencies, partner UN agencies and local communities, the Civil Engineer-Contracts will engage in a number of activities, including but not limited to:

• Oversee the procurement processes for the infrastructure works to assure quality and transparency and to monitor and support the preparation of tender documents, contracts and other procurement-related documents and reports. Provide guidance to technical, administrative and finance staff on the procurement of works and services;
• Assemble/develop appropriate and practical contracting arrangements including sample contract documents and work specifications for the project infrastructure works to be carried out by domestic private contractors and local communities
• Oversee the preparation of bidding documents, tender announcements and other documentation related to individual tenders of civil works, including documentation related to designs and bill of quantities and the processing and award of contracts, securities, variation orders, quantity surveys, interim payments and final completion certificates;
• Organise tenders, conduct pre-bid meetings and bid opening sessions, review and evaluate bids and bid securities for infrastructure rehabilitation works;
• Liaise with PROCUREMENT and ILO finance units on procurement schedules, contracting arrangements, contract value thresholds, tenders, evaluation of bids, award of contracts, progress and payment of works and final completion certificates;

• Oversee the preparation of purchase orders in ILO ERP system, and prepare submissions to ROAP and Headquarters Procurement Review Committee for contracts exceeding local signature authority;
• Liaise with local government authorities on access to construction sites, material quarries and the protection of cultural and religious sites;
• Participate in the timely measurement and inspection of works and quality control of materials and when necessary recommend remedial action. Ensure adherence to contractual agreements, recommend amendments and extensions and advise concerned parties on contractual rights and obligations. Organise site meetings, and participate in the enforcement of social and environmental safeguards at the work sites;
• Review payment certificates and facilitate regular payments to contractors, oversee records of payments and commitments to contractors and maintain status of active and completed works in the contracts register and prepare cash-flow projections;
• Prepare annual procurement schedules for civil works and consultant services, plan associated procurement actions, including analysis of a wide range of procurement issues, and identify possible courses of action;
• Provide specific recommendations for follow-up action and technical assistance that will be required regarding: (i) training of project technical staff and counterparts,  (ii) training of contractors; (iii) the institutionalisation of sound contracting practices within government technical agencies;

• Assess current technical and administrative capacities of Government counterpart agencies in regard to tendering and contracting of labour-based and equipment-based infrastructure works;
• Assist in the design and introduction of public disclosure and complaints mechanisms;
• Engage in community consultations prior and during works implementation and participate in the mobilisation of communities for the maintenance works;
• Participate as a resource person and instructor in training of government counterparts, contractors and communities in tendering and contracting arrangements;
• Develop qualification criteria for contractors for types of works and different sizes of contracts. Assess current capacity and skills, equipment holdings and technical staff among local contractors and advise on appropriate contract packaging when tendering works
• Carry out other duties as may be assigned by the Infrastructure Specialist.

University degree in civil engineering.

• 5 years of experience – including hands-on operational experience as well as managerial experience – with contracting and contract management systems for transport infrastructure works, some of which cover the rural roads sub-sector, including contracting modalities engaging small local contractors and communities;
• Experience in the effective planning and implementation of employment-intensive (labour-based) public works is considered a valuable qualification criteria;
• Understanding of skills development and institutional strengthening within the construction industry;
• Knowledge of community and project stakeholder consultations and mobilisation in the context of rural infrastructure works;
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of relevant internationally recognised contractual frameworks, including the FIDIC Short Form of Contract.

Excellent command of English (oral and written). 

• Ability to independently initiate and lead the preparation and management of work activities with a clear focus on reaching defined outputs in a timely manner as agreed in project documents and work plans;
• Proven ability to interpret project information to identify and analyse challenges as a basis for finding appropriate solutions and provide technical guidance and support to staff and beneficiaries;
• Proven ability to establish priorities and to plan, organise, coordinate and monitor project activities;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Ability to build and maintain interrelationships and networks with government and international agencies working in related fields;
• Good understanding of gender and minority issues, gender mainstreaming and equal opportunity principles and approaches;
• Well-developed and effective communication skills (verbal and written), including ability to present plans, results, reports and guidelines, conduct presentations by clearly formulating positions on issues, articulating options concisely, making and defending recommendations, ability to convey difficult issues to project partners and government officials;
• Computer literacy.