Lead Civil Engineer (Retainer)-UNOPS

Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering
Tigray, Ethiopia
March 11, 2025
Part Time Temporary
Urgent
Application deadline closed.

Job Description

Together, we build the future UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We are proud of our people. The UNOPS family brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners. Spread across 80 countries, our workforce is rich in diversity and culture – with inclusion at its core. We understand the importance of balancing professional and personal demands and offer several flexible working options. Explore what we offer: https://bit.ly/3fpqivR

Duty station: Multiple duty stations in Tigray, Ethiopia.

Functional Responsibilities

The Lead Civil Engineer will be responsible for the below listed responsibilities.

1. Work package Performance, Delivery and Reporting:

  • Support the Portfolio Senior Manager to develop and monitor Work Package implementation plans including:
    Overall Infrastructure Work and plant system delivery plans, stage plans within tolerances set by the project board and in line with overall Project Plan
    Quality Management Plans
    Health & Safety and Social & Environment (HSSE) plans
  • Support the Portfolio Senior Manager to manage the Project implementation and use of resources, and propose corrective actions as needed
  • Actively support the  Portfolio Senior Manager to ensure accurate and timely reporting of work package progress as well as conditions on site through daily/weekly site records.
  • Prepare and submit to the Portfolio Senior Manager reports (weekly/monthly or as requested) detailing progress of work-package activities, quality control issues, resourcing and scheduling issues, and any other pertinent facts as required.
  • Support the Portfolio Senior Manager to ensure stakeholders are aware of work package activities, progress, exceptions as required
  • Identify and escalate issues and risks affecting work-package implementation and proactively contribute to mitigation and turn around planning as needed
  • Produce any appropriate documentation identified by the Portfolio Senior Manager in a professional and accurate manner.
  • Contribute to monthly reports and quarterly assurance reports.
  • Liaise with any external suppliers or other managers.

2. Feasibility study/needs assessment
Support the Portfolio Senior Manager:

  • To Carry out Technical Assessments of infrastructure needs with recommendations for viable interventions
  • to prepare presentations and reports on the findings of the conducted Technical Assessments
  • To Manage technical studies required to support detailed design development (Geotechnical, Topographical, Hydrological etc.) and manage the performance of the retainers hired to prepare the design packages.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field is required.
  • A Bachelor’s degree (first level) in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field, combined with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.
  • Project Management certification (e.g., PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner) is desirable.

Experience

  • A minimum of five (5) years of experience working in infrastructure projects is required.
  • Experience working in civil infrastructure and project management is an asset.
  • Experience in designing civil infrastructure is an asset.
  • Experience in Health and Safety, Social and Environmental management and protection is desired.
  • Experience in Social & Environmental assessment and planning is desired.
  • Experience in the supervision of construction activities and/or system plants is an asset.
  • Work experience in post-conflict/fragile environments and hardship is desirable.
  • Competence in the use of all commonly used computer software spreadsheets, scheduling tools, MS Project, Google Suite, AutoCAD, and other computer programs is an added advantage.
  • Some experience in UN system organizations and/or in a developing country is desirable.

Language

  • Fluency in written, reading, and oral English is required.
  • Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
Contract level: LICA/ICS -10
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable 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 .

** IMPORTANT INFORMATION **
Retainer positions are not full-time positions. They constitute a contract whereby the Retainer may be requested to provide a specific output/deliverable within a specified period of time, on short notice. When holding a retainer contract, individuals may receive ad-hoc requests from the UNOPS project teams or country offices, and the quantity of requests will vary depending on the current needs. UNOPS shall have no obligation to obtain any minimum quantity of services from the Individual Contractor during the duration of the retainer ICA. It is possible to have multiple consultancy contracts with or outside UNOPS, as long as it is declared to the UNOPS Ethics Office. Read more about the ICA retainer modality here.

Application period: 07-Mar-2025 to 11-Mar-2025.