Lead Quality 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
UNOPS strategy for Afghanistan is aimed at providing maximum support to the Government and people of Afghanistan though the delivery of projects and services in line with the government’s own priorities. The UNOPS Afghanistan has been established as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS AFGHANISTAN is implementing a number of projects in a range of sectors including infrastructure (roads and schools) development, capacity building to various ministries, and environmental protection, among others, on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan and the donor community.

The functional objective of UNOPS Afghanistan is to deliver projects in an efficient and effective manner, to achieve the development outcomes sought by the Government of Afghanistan and the donor community, where capacity building is always considered and encouraged. The aim of UNOPS Afghanistan is to provide implementation services to the Government of Afghanistan, the donor community and partner agencies in the reconstruction and development of the country. In doing so, UNOPS aims to exceed client expectations in the delivery of quality services throughout the country.

In order to ensure sound projects and financial management of bilaterally funded projects in AFOC, and support the development of further projects in the portfolio, UNOPS is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Programme Manager, RSHQ.

Established in 2015, Resolute Support (RS) is a NATO-led, non-combat mission with a mandate to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF), who assumed nationwide responsibility for Afghanistan’s security following the conclusion of the previous NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission.  

The purpose of RSHQ is to help the Afghan security forces and institutions develop the capacity to protect its citizens in a sustainable manner and to manage/improve security enhancements with Kabul city.  The purpose of the UNOPS/RSHQ engagement is to support NATO for both the ANA Trust Fund and Kabul Security Force funding streams; for procurement of goods and services, contract management, maintenance of equipment(s), physical security enhancements, construction projects and construction work packages, as well as coordination and facilitation of RSHQ operations, programs and activities (non-kinetic only).

The UNOPS/RSHQ engagement is a complex and challenging programme which is set to expand significantly during 2020 and beyond.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Lead Quality Engineer reports to the Senior Program Manager and is a sub-set of the AFOC QA/QC unit. The Lead Quality Engineer is responsible to assist in the management of the QA/QC plans, strategies, and reports for all RSHQ works conducted under the program. He/she will be expected to perform the following duties and responsibilities, but not limited to:

●      Guide and advise in the drafting and development of the Quality Management Strategy and QA/QC Plan which should be aligned with the requirements of AFOC QA/QC Plan.

●      Provide advice and guidance regarding the RSHQ projects’ QA/QC plans and protocols for construction, construction equipment and materials.

●      Establishment of quality procedures including time limits for inspection, sampling and testing of works and materials for RSHQ projects.

●      Recommend specific quality standards and construction schedules which are appropriate to all levels of construction projects.

●      Review all standards to be used during laboratory tests, QA/QC testing schedules and procedures.

●      Review contractor practices and conventional methodologies and make recommendations where remedial action is required.

●      Check accuracy of outputs produced in compliance with established quality standards.

●      Recommend assistance to contractors to ensure that the most economical and appropriate quality materials and methods are utilised.

●      Recommend solutions to quality issues and identify where improvements or rectification is warranted.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

●      Establishing QA/QC Procedures for RSHQ projects.

●      Implementation and monitoring of quality plans for RSHQ projects.

●      Providing weekly/monthly/as required QA/QC report to the Senior Program Manager.

●      Providing monthly QA/QC reports to appropriate stakeholders, namely RSHQ including NATFO.

●      Oversight of construction supervisors and inspectors implementing QA/QC policies and procedures and carrying out regular monitoring and reporting of contactor activity in accordance with the direction of AFOC Head of QA/QC.

Education

●      An Advanced-level University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Engineering, preferably in civil engineering, construction or a related field. A combination of a Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

●      Professional certificate in a relevant field desirable.

Experience

●      Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in developing and applying QA/QC strategies, plans and procedures in construction projects.

●      Knowledge of UN/UNOPS rules and regulations highly advantageous.

●      A minimum of two years’ experience mentoring and providing capacity building in the normative and procedural aspects of QA/QC in construction.

●      Experience with UN projects will be an asset.

●      At least two years’ experience working in post conflict or developing countries.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency (oral and written) in English is essential.

Contract type: International ICA Contract level: IICA-2
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.
• 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
• 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.