Senior Associate - Geospatial

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMC 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 transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and island states.

The Technical Services Unit office is based in Nairobi and personnel may be required to travel extensively to other UNOPS locations.

The Technical Services Unit (TSU) engages in multidisciplinary design, assessments and advisory work, and manages relationships with other technical stakeholders such as specialist design firms for high risk structures.  

The Technical Services Unit (TSU) currently provides design services for infrastructure works to Project Managers. Recently the team has expanded its offering to include consulting services such as assessments, feasibility studies and advisory services on a wide range of infrastructure types.  We want to continue and further expand technical services to our partners and clients at a wider field of operations.

The TSU currently has 16 permanent and 40+ retainer personnel including architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, GIS and specialist infrastructure advisors (for dams, ICT and biomedical works) and CAD technicians as well as support personnel.  Current projects are underway / imminent in Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, ESwatini, Zambia, Mozambique and Cameroon.

The TSU is a business unit for the Multi-Country office and comes under the direction of the Director for East and Southern Africa office (KEMC).

Under the overall supervision of the TSU Manager, the Senior Associate Geospatial, will be responsible for the following substantive tasks;

• Coordinate and monitor field data collection with the support of field personnel

• Identify datasets and employ appropriate geostatistical and spatial analysis techniques as required.

• Develop geodatabase and shapefiles as required

• Develop an infrastructure database in collaboration with engineering colleagues, including data entry and data management

• Produce GIS dashboards

• Assist in providing information for evidence-based master plans by verifying existing terrain and use the information for mapping

• Develop drawings and databases that will provide information on utilities network infrastructure

• Any other duties as directed by the Technical Services Unit manager.

• Secondary school education is required;

• University Degree in Geographic Information Systems and/or relevant field is an added advantage

• Seven (7) years experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is required;

• Experience developing and maintaining databases and MIS’s is desired;

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of database development is desired;

• Advanced knowledge of GIS and google suite products is desired;

• Proficient in the use of GIS/RS software such as ArcGIS, Erdas Imagine is desired;

• Knowledge of UN core values, rules and regulations 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.

• This is a local post. As such, it is only open to Kenyan Nationals or persons with valid residence permits
• The position is based in a family duty station.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement Contract level: Local  ICA 7
Contract duration: 1 Year renewable subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funds

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.