Technical Specialist (Engineering and Critical Infrastructure)

Kyiv

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Kyiv
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Engineering
- Infrastructure and Urban-Rural development
- Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: Closed

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Today Ukraine is facing its most serious challenges since achieving independence in 1991. The ongoing war has already resulted in significant loss of life, unprecedented displacement, internally and towards neighbouring countries, and devastating destruction of infrastructure. The UN Ukraine Flash Appeal shows that at least 15.7 million people are in immediate need of emergency assistance and protection. Early projections indicate that if the war should continue in the medium to long term, up to 90% of the Ukrainian population could face poverty and extreme economic vulnerability, and the country’s socio-economic progress could be set-back by almost 20 years. In the short-term, 62% of the population is at high risk of falling into poverty. Ukraine’s economy is set to shrink by 45% this year due to the war and even with a moderate recovery in the next few years, by 2025 the GDP would still only be two-thirds of the pre-war GDP in 2021.
In addition, the country faces losses of many people’s lives and devastative destruction of infrastructures and economic bases. Currently, more than 50% of the energy infrastructure damaged, causing the massive disruption of energy supply nationwide with millions of people experiencing power outages and challenges in heating. Extensive scale of destruction of infrastructure, rehabilitating or constructing infrastructures and installing equipment with necessary supply of the materials is urgently required to restore or maintain lifeline and key basic services, followed by removal or mines and explosives as well as debris.

As of 1 June 2022, according to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) , 817,000 residential buildings, 1,885 education facilities, 581 medical facilities, and 820 cultural buildings were damaged or destroyed. In this regard, UNDP Ukraine invites applications from highly qualified and experienced professionals for the post of the Technical Specialist (Engineering and Critical Infrastructure). The incumbent will act as a technical specialist for the technical assistance to win initiatives related to social and critical infrastructure.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Technical Specialist (Engineering and Critical Infrastructure) will work under the overall guidance from and supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), with daily tasks and guidance received from the Programme Specialist, Inclusive Development, Recovery and Peacebuilding (Team Leader), and in close coordination with the International/National Project Managers. He/she will be based in Kyiv, with frequent travel to other regions of the country, including war-affected and liberated areas of Ukraine.
This post requires substantive technical specialist knowledge to recommend effective approaches and formulate new initiatives in the subject area. The incumbent will provide expertise and advice ensuring the impact, coherence, quality, transparency, and gender mainstreaming across the projects aiming at the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in Ukraine.
He/she will be responsible for the assigned thematic component implementation and achievement of results. In addition, the incumbent will provide technical advice and guidance on various aspects of engineering and related technical issues to the regional and local government clients, national level partners within the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, the State Agency for Reconstruction as well as EIB and the EU.

1. Provide technical support and oversight related to area of expertise at the different stages of construction projects:

Provide strategic guidance and advice to UNDP Country Office on ensuring a coordinated approach to efficient implementation of related engineering and infrastructural interventions.
Develop guidance and provide advisory support on project design and engineering, due diligence (social and environmental compliance with gender equality considerations), procurement, transparency, accountability, anticorruption compliance and other related processes.
Provide technical assistance to UNDP construction projects in terms of civil engineering requirements at contracting, implementation, supervision, and monitoring stages.
Advise on the international standards applicable (accessibility, inclusivity energy efficiency), to various buildings/facilities.
Prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment within all implementations, and promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behavior, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

2. Provide technical support and technical input to the Construction procurement process:

Oversee and provide guidance on necessary feasibility studies for identified social infrastructure sites; content of Requests for Proposals (RFP) for engineering design works, Terms of Reference (TOR) for consultants that include clear indicators for gender equality, and the promotion of a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behavior.
Ensure that all the technical inputs and cost estimates of construction projects and budgets are accurate and provided in a timely manner.
Develop specifications/TORs for projects that require the input of the Technical Specialist.
Arrange site visits for assessments, site handover, site meetings, and stage certifications as and when required.
Support International/National Project Managers in all tender processes for the procurement of contractors and professional consultancy services including development of TORs, participating in evaluations, and responding to bidder and procurement approving authority queries.
Ensure that engineering designs for restoration of critical infrastructure are prepared based on universal design and gender equality principles.

3. Provide supervision and oversight of UNDP Contractors in the relevant area of expertise:

Ensure that there is effective supervision, monitoring, implementation, and certification of the projects to ensure that the projects are completed in line with the quality and standards of the UNDP guidelines.
Ensure that there are effective quality control measures in place for the implementation and monitoring of the projects, and that the contractors comply with all architectural specifications and UNDP requirements.
Monitor contractors’ presence on the project site, measuring and assessing the work accomplishments as per the scope of work, Bill of Quantities (BOQs), and signed contracts.
Coordinate the training of the end users of the infrastructure, and ensure simplified preventive user manuals are in place.
Supervise, monitor, and evaluate the performance of contractors working on various work packages by measuring, assessing, and appraising the works in terms of design requirements.
Develop and undertake joint monitoring missions with key national, state and local counterparts in support of projects’ monitoring, impact assessments, and programme enhancement.
Conduct field visits to coordinate and monitor field-level activities of the project.

4. Contribute to Partnerships and Resource Mobilization in the relevant area of expertise:

Identify strategic opportunities and potential new areas of cooperation, including joint programming with UN agencies and other development partners.
Actively coordinate with other stakeholders on the subject matter, and contribute technical expertise to related work in regions of Ukraine.
Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, international financial institutions (IFI’s), government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.

5. Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Country Office (CO) focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Develop knowledge products including research, lessons learned, as well as good practice notes on emerging issues related to infrastructural rehabilitation and recovery in Ukraine.
Supervise outsourced research and dissemination of research findings.
Promote innovative programme areas and good practices in thematic area.
Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office and the organization.

Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively

LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility

LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination

LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy

Strategic Thinking

Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.

Business Management

Partnerships Management

Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Development

Knowledge Generation

Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

2030 Agenda: People

Gender

Gender Mainstreaming.

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness

Crisis management / Country Management Support

Crisis coordination.

Operations: Procurement

Contract management

Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, or Infrastructure Project Management, or Business Administration, or Social Science or any other related field OR
Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, or Infrastructure Project Management, or Business Administration, or Social Science or any other related field with additional two (2) years of relevant experience could be considered in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

Minimum of seven (7) years with a Master’s degree OR nine (9) years with a Bachelor’s degree of relevant managerial and advisory experience in the field of infrastructure rehabilitation, civil engineering, oversight of large international infrastructural projects.
Experience in working with conflict-affected populations, as well as implementing infrastructural recovery initiatives, is an advantage.
Management experience with international recovery and development programmes and projects (preferably with the IFIs and/or United Nations) is desired.
Experience in project development/design/management in the area of social infrastructure and/or urban development/renewal, or related area is desired.
Excellent knowledge of technical specifications and performance schedules of construction and installation is an advantage.
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems is required.
Fluency in English is required.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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This vacancy is now closed.