Construction Manager, (P_4), Cayes/Haiti #17797

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Chief education, the incumbent will be responsible for managing the Construction Unit and all construction activities in the Country Office primarily focusing on School infrastructures; although, if required, provide technical guidance and support to UNICEF Programmes/Operations on construction and rehabilitation activities for other sectors including Health, WASH and Child Protection as needed.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, 

UNICEF launched a humanitarian response to assist children and women affected by the Earthquake, focusing on the following priority areas:

• • Providing protected and reliable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities;
  • Providing access to education services in safe and protected environment (capacity development, disability inclusion and building back better -i.e. school reconstruction);
  • Restoring access to primary health services and treatment for acute malnutrition as IYCF;
  • Strengthening the child protection response (including GBV), including disability inclusion in humanitarian action
  • PSEA and AAP mainstreamed in the response (Community engagement, feedback and complaint mechanisms, IA hotline etc).

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Chief education, the incumbent will be responsible for managing the Construction Unit and all construction activities in the Country Office primarily focusing on School infrastructures; although, if required,  provide technical guidance  and support to UNICEF Programmes/Operations on construction and rehabilitation activities for other sectors including Health, WASH and Child Protection as needed.

Summary of Key Functions/Accountabilities

• Preparation of construction units workplan
• Provide Management and Oversight to construction activities, including collaboration with UNICEF Programmes/Operations and coordination with Government counterparts
• Following up with contractors and CSO partners
• Preparation of design and technical documents
• Support to procurement process
• Monitoring of construction projects

Preparation of design and technical documents

• Ensure scope of construction works are clearly envisaged to the requirements of Programme/ Operations, budget and site limitations.
• Advocate and ensure the application of UNICEF norms and standards (child-friendly, accessibility, MOSS, MORSS, etc.) to construction projects, taking into consideration the local environment and available materials; ensure compliance with green building standards, if required, in coordination with DFAM Field Support Unit.
• Ensure technical documents related to construction (design, drawings, technical specifications and bills of quantities) are clear and adherence to UN/UNICEF and national standards, complete and compliant to programmatic and construction needs, eco-efficiency and accessibility requirements; ensure endorsement of these technical documents by relevant ministries.
• Ensure all permits required for construction activities are obtained prior initiating works.

Provide Management and Oversight to construction activities, including Collaboration with UNICEF Programmes/Operations and coordination with Government counterparts

• Provide Management and Oversight to construction activities through provision of technical support and assistance  to Programme/ Operations sections and Government counterparts; provide solutions to relevant issues; provide guidance in developing child-friendly community infrastructure development program proposals; ensure construction activities are incorporated in relevant Programme AWP/Planning documents.
• Coordinate construction project proposals, planning, and preparation of relevant terms of reference; analyze the project context and suggest the appropriate implementation and procurement modality.
• In collaboration with the Government and other counterparts, lead processes to develop and produce innovative cost-effective construction designs using local construction materials, based on best practices in construction and building design.
• In collaboration with Programme and Operations sections, ensure budgetary oversight of construction related activities as per the rules/regulation of UNICEF.
• Ensure Programme/Operations sections are informed of projects' progress; suggest appropriate actions to overcome technical obstacles; review relevant sections of project reports required for donors, management, annual reports, etc.

Preparation of construction unit workplan

• Develop the work plan for the Construction unit; determine priorities/targets and performance measurements and monitor work progress to ensure that results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
• Ensure effective and efficient management of the Construction unit human and financial resources; ensure appropriate staffing deployment and timely recruitment according to project’s needs.
• Supervise and coach unit staff; conduct weekly unit meetings; ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities. In collaboration with the Construction Unit in Supply Division and DFAM Field Support Unit, ensure knowledge sharing and learning is prioritized in order to continuously build capacity of individuals and the team.

Support to procurement process

• Ensure LPA requests and CRC submissions with supporting documents related to construction activities are complete and clear for reviewing.
• Set strategy to explore the local market and the availability of potential construction companies and engineering firms; advocate for establishing local Long-Term Arrangements for engineering services (design and site supervision) and review relevant terms of reference.
• Ensure tender documents in relation to construction works and engineering services are complete and coherent; ensure clarity of technical information prepared for the bidders' conference; validate answers on technical questions raised by the bidders during the tendering.
• Provide guidance to Supply section on organizing bidders' conference and site visits; organize and lead the evaluation of technical proposals received and review the evaluation report; provide support to Supply section on the analysis of financial proposals.

Monitoring of construction projects

• Organize the kick-off meeting of construction works in coordination with the construction company, the engineering firm and relevant government counterparts.
• Ensure overall follow-up to construction activities by coordinating regular site visits and regular technical meetings including joint monitoring with relevant Government technical services; review monitoring and site supervision reports, minutes of technical meetings to ensure work compliance with norms, standards, and timeline, provide solutions on obstacles related to technical matters/project management; ensure minimum quality and precautions on health and safety standards are met on construction site.
• Ensure availability of effective monitoring and supervision tools, to enable the in-house engineers and engineering firms to easily assess the quality of works, progress, and performance of construction companies during the entire duration of the project; ensure multi-layered approach to construction supervision and quality assurance is applied; ensure documented hold and inspection points are used where applicable, and take lead to release hold points.
• Coordinate certification of payments/ variations after verification; monitor overall construction expenditures and progress certificates; prepare and submit financial status reports on construction activities.
• Coordinate contract management for construction activities with Supply section in relation to amendments, variations, duration extensions, applying liquidated damages, etc. Ensure all documents/ information required for contract management are available, complete and properly archived.
• Organize and coordinate substantial and final reception of works after verifying the correction of all defects during the DLP; ensure reception of works is certified through the issuance of relevant certificates.
• Ensure contract close-out in VISION along with completed Contract Performance Evaluation; review the final completion report with the lessons learned and submit to the Construction Unit (SD) and AMS/NYHQ as necessary.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher)* in civil engineering, construction engineering, architecture or other relevant area, or relevant first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) in conjunction with a valid relevant professional certification is required.

• *A first level university degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant technical field (as identified above), in conjunction with additional two (2) years of relevant work experience may be taken in lieu of an advanced university degree.

• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience, at the national and/or international levels, in project management, site supervision, quality assurance and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
• Understanding of development and humanitarian work.
• Emergency experience an advantage.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

• Fluency in French and English Haitian Creole is required; knowledge of Haitian Creole is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF core and functional competencies required for this post are:

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.