Lead Civil Engineer, Multiple positions

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMC/East and Southern Africa sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and Southern Africa. This includes 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.

In 2020 KEMC established an Office in Lusaka, Zambia. The Government of Zambia (GoZ) has prepared the Irrigation Development Support Project (IDSP, P102459, IDA Credit #48740) in the amount of SDR74.70 million (US$115 million), approved in April 2011 by the World Bank. The Project’s original objective was to increase yields per hectare and value of diverse products marketed by smallholders benefitting from investments in irrigation in selected sites served by the project.” Originally the project had four components (i) Irrigated Agriculture Support Services, (ii) Public Infrastructure; (iii) Private and Cooperative Investment; and (iv) Management and Coordination. 

In March 2020, the government requested Additional Funding of US$ 30 million and a time extension of 24 months to allow: (i) the completion of the ongoing works under IDSP and cost replenishment (US$ 14 million); (ii) the implementation of Phase 2 of the remedial works for ten dams (US$ 15 million) and (iii) Drought Emergency Response (USD 1 million). 

Ten dams have been built on selected rivers in Zambia as a part of the Zambia Water Resources Development Project (WRDP). These are all earth fill dams, with walls varying in height from 8 m and 10.7 m. Four of the dams were pre-existing and were rehabilitated while the remainder were new dams. Most of the construction was completed between 2016 and 2018. In late 2018, work was stopped due to persistently poor performance by the contractors. A performance review of dam safety and safeguard concerns, including a review of all safeguard instruments, was undertaken for each dam site to guide the requirements for completion of remedial work under the Additional Financing. 

The dams now present risks to the local communities and the Government and the World Bank (“Funder”) want to have these dams secured and retrofitted. The remediation works will be financed by the WB through the IDSP. IDSP engaged UNOPS as implementing partner in a Phase 1 to provide services including  planning (support of surveillance and emergency preparedness) for 10 dams and design, updating of environmental and social safeguards documentation to comply with WB social and environmental policies for 10 dams and tendering of the works for 10 dams. 

In Phase 2, UNOPS will be implementing the identified solutions and lead on the remedial and rehabilitation works on the 10 dams.

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager, the Lead Civil Engineer  will give his/her technical expertise as required to lead the technical supervision and construction monitoring of  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:

• The Civil Engineer shall be responsible for the progress control and quality control of construction works. S/He will be responsible for supervision of all works of the contractor and thereby ensure onsite quality control of construction works

• Review and analyse existing documents

• Review and analyse investigation reports

• Supervise site engineers

• Calculate quantities

• Liaise with technical, procurement colleagues and client and funding representatives as required

• Monitor implementation progress to ensure quality, safety and efficiency

Technical tasks:

• Implement approved work packages (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Managers

• Manage the production of the required products, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary

• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers

• Prepare and review progress reports that address specific clients and stakeholder requirements when necessary

• Review contractor’s method statements, safeguards requirements and monitor compliance with approved documents

• Work closely with other technical professionals and contractors in the planning of work, scheduling of tasks

• Advise the Project Managers of any deviations from the plan.  Identify areas where alterations to approved design may be required and lead the process to secure approval through UNOPS’s agreed channels

• Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to clients and stakeholders is achieved. Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted

• Monitor and evaluate the performance of service providers

• Ensure the documents prepared meet the quality standard requirements

• Responsible for timely delivery of the expected outputs to project coordinator and manager

• Able to produce civils bills of quantities

• Highlight possible non or late delivery prior to the event

• Carry out site inspections and assessments as required

• Monitor contractor’s progress during Defects Notification Periods and compile reports 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 constraints

• Liaise with clients and address requirements when required

• Carry out technical reviews as appropriate

Personnel  Management:

• Lead and motivate the Construction teams

• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established

• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted

• Identify outstanding staff and bring them to the attention of the Supervisor

• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff). Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UN DSS standards

• Travel to remote sites is required

Final Product

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

• 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 is required;

• Advanced University Degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering or other relevant discipline is desirable.

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in Infrastructure Engineering Design and implementation is required with at least four (4) years’ experience in supervising and construction activities incorporating bulk earthworks is required;

• At least two (2) years experience in rockfill/earth fill dams construction or rehabilitation is required;

• Experience working on projects in Conflict and post-conflict and Post-disaster and reconstruction experience prone areas will be an advantage;

• Experience working in Africa and Indian Ocean Islands is an asset.

• 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.

The positions are based in non family duty stations 

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement Contract level: IICA 2
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

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.