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Cultural Heritage Advisor

Tirana

  • Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Location: Tirana
  • Grade: Mid level - IICA-3, International Individual Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Engineering
    • Culture and Sport
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background Information - Job-specific

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organisations.  With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where 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.

Background: VIEMCO


The Vienna Multi-Country Office (VIEMCO) was set up in August 2019 as a part of the UNOPS Europe & Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, VIEMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on:


  • Infrastructure

  • Procurement 

  • Project Management (full service, back on track)

  • HR and Transactional Services

  • Grant Management 

  • Technical and Advisory Services


Background: Project


UNOPS, through ECR VIEMCO, is partnering with the Government of Albania and the European Union, as well as with the UN system, to facilitate the post-earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction of a large number of key cultural heritage sites, museums, and cultural hubs and to promote tourism and economic development of the sites. 


On 26 November 2019, Albania was hit by its most deadly earthquake in a century. The earthquake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale and caused significant casualties and property damage, resulting in 51 deaths, over 1000 injured, and nearly 14,000 people displaced. To measure and assess the economic damage, a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) was conducted, estimating the total economic losses at nearly EUR 1Billion.  

The PDNA documented the destruction of public and private infrastructure. Of particular concern was the destruction of cultural heritage monuments and property, as 53 cultural heritage properties were significantly damaged by the earthquake. This project seeks to remediate the effect of the earthquake on Albania’s cultural heritage through the rehabilitation of monuments, as well as contribute to Albania’s socio-economic recovery through the construction and upgrade of these sites. It will be important also to support improvements in the capacity of institutions responsible for the management of these cultural monuments and sites to better accommodate tourism. A final outcome of the project is the effective communication of project results to the wider public and developing and implementing an advocacy platform resulting in better recognition of the important role of culture in the social and economic well-being of Albanian citizens.

Functional Responsibilities

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the overall authority of the Senior Programme Manager and in close coordination with the Infrastructure Project Manager, the incumbent shall provide technical assistance, advice and supervisory management to the following activities:

  • Conduct assessments of the existing cultural sites along with other experts, and provide recommendations for site selection based on project and client criteria for rehabilitation/ revitalization;

  • Provide inputs into the design stage of each site, including approval of work scope and consideration to ensure all planned works meet necessary cultural heritage local and international standards;

  • Conduct supervision of sites in coordination with UNOPS project engineering team to ensure all required heritage and restoration standards and good practices are being followed;

  • Prepare management plans for each site to support the economic tourism benefits in coordination with the Ministry of Culture.

Functional responsibilities:

  • Engaging in the preparation of the ToR to engage a technical team that will develop a detailed Conservation Plan of the Sites and Monuments affected by the Earthquake;

  • Carrying out site visits to the identified sites;

  • Conducting preliminary assessments for cultural heritage sites which include:

  • Visually inspecting the sites;

  • Identifying basic cadastral information and other related for the sites;

  • Photographic documentation of the current state of the sites;

  • Undertaking desk review of the brief history of the sites and identifying historical documentation whenever possible;

  • Assessing the state of the building, describing and documenting the pathology and proposing priority conservation measures (with estimated budget).

  • Collating the assessment into a report format to be submitted to UNOPS;

  • Making presentations to UNOPS and stakeholders;

  • Obtaining, archiving and sharing feedbacks if needed from the presentations and collating these feedbacks for the archive;

  • Updating the preliminary assessments accordingly;

  • Finalising each preliminary assessment report and submitting for approval;

  • Engaging in the preparation of the ToR for an international bidding process to develop the physical rehabilitation of Sites and Monuments affected by the Earthquake, following the approval of Phase I-B of the conservation assessment of the site;

  • Engaging in the preparation of the ToR and reporting on a field mission to the selected sites to provide technical assistance to a capacity-building initiative to improve the design of culture-based creative industries;

  • Engaging in the preparation of the ToR for a bidding process and selection of contractors for the rehabilitation of Sites and Monuments affected by the Earthquake;

  • Engaging in the preparation of the inception report after six months of its legal start date. The report will show the assessment process and confirm and/or redefine the particular sub-project;

  • Engaging in the preparation of the quarterly reports to all members of the Steering Committee. The progress reports are to be submitted within ten working days after the end of the reporting period.


Heritage and Conservation Design Management:


  • Monitoring the designs that are undertaken by contracted designers for selected cultural heritage sites. This includes monitoring the timelines of the submissions of outputs for each design. Information regarding the requirements of each output and the overall process of the designs will be shared with the supervisor;

  • Reviewing each submitted output and making recommendations to the Infrastructure PM during design phase and implementation of works. The Cultural Heritage Expert will review each submitted output and will ensure that the designers’ recommendations are well described, efficiently and scientifically supported, objectively corroborated, that the conservation principles are followed, and references of up-to-date standards/norms are included, etc.;

  • Organising presentations in consultation with the UNOPS focal person for the stakeholders;

  • Obtaining collated inputs from the relevant body for each submitted output and recording these and communicating to the designers;

  • The Cultural Heritage Expert has the responsibility to ensure that all outputs are finalized by the designers according to the feedback provided to the designers by the UNOPS during all the previous stages; 

  • In addition, the expert is responsible to comment on the quality of the conservation studies (designs) and the compatibility with the available budget and to check the overall consistency between all submitted documents;

  • At the end of each design of a site to collate a brief report to UNOPS.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

  • Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) or higher in a heritage related field which may include conservation architecture, heritage management, civil engineering, archaeology is required.

Work Experience

  • Proven experience (7 years) in preservation, management, promotion, design and development, reporting and monitoring of cultural heritage is required.

  • Familiarity with budgeting and coordinating built heritage projects, including archaeological preventive screening/surveys/conservation and management, development of estimates and coordination of field personnel is highly desirable.

  • In-depth understanding and knowledge of cultural heritage and World Heritage conservation desired.

  • Experience of developing management plans for sites of culture and heritage for sustainable tourism is considered an advantage.

Language

  • Fluency in English is  required. 

  • Knowledge of Albanian language is considered an advantage.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Regular, International Individual Contract Agreement (IICA)
Contract level: ICS-11 / 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 

Additional Considerations

  • 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
  • For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
  • 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 vacancy is now closed.
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