Canal Blocking Construction Manager (Re-advertised)

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Indonesian peat lands play an important role in the fight against climate change, with an estimated 80 billion tons of carbon stored. In addition, they are also critical for biodiversity conservation, water resource management, and livelihoods for communities. In the past 15 years, an estimated 3 million hectares of Indonesia’s peat lands have been lost to fires, driven by land clearing for agriculture, abetted by limited enforcement and insufficient fire prevention and control during the dry season. As a result, remaining peatlands continue to be degraded due to logging drainage and burning.

In the framework of the USAID OFDA funded, Generating Anticipatory Measures for Better Utilization of Tropical Peatlands (GAMBUT) project, UNOPS, IPB and Columbia University are currently testing technically sound peat rehabilitation methods in Central Kalimantan. Quick and effective rewetting and restoration of peatlands is essential to prevent further degradation, land subsidence and fire outbreaks and causes major haze related air pollution. 

GAMBUT Project used the FRS to identify district with high risk of fire, and selected Barito Selatan District to be the focus location for the rewetting activity. Based on the district government’s recommendation, the GAMBUT team and a soft soil engineer accompanied by the district government then went on an assessment and developed plans which were endorsed by the government.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and technical inputs from CTA, the Construction Manager is responsible for managing all day to day construction activities. These will include:

• Ensuring that the implementation is done according to the approved design.
• Estimating the volume of works and providing technical inputs in the preparation of the Project Service Agreement and other relevant documents.
• Managing, planning and coordinating monthly, weekly and daily construction activities.
• Monitor construction site quality, health and safety and environment plans.
• Managing construction quality activities.
• Leading/participating in construction approval and inspection activities.
• Liaising closely with the contractor’s engineering staff ensuring engineering accuracy of construction activities.
• Mentoring and directing contractor’s supervision staff including teaching dimensional control, best practice, etc
• Conduct regular contractor coordination meetings.
• Identifying and solving construction issues in a timely fashion and keeping the Project Manager and Chief Technical Advisor informed.
• Managing and coordinating negotiations with all interested parties including contract disputes and claims.
• Identify and solve construction issues in a timely fashion, keeping project manager and engineering staff informed.
• Liaising with and providing support to government counterparts as required.
• Prepare daily site report, fortnightly progress report and completion reports detailing pertinent facts on quality control, assurance, resourcing and scheduling issues.
• Performing other related duties as required.

a. Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in civil engineering and/or project management or other relevant field is required.
• A relevant first university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) with 2 additional years of relevant work experience is acceptable in lieu of an advanced degree.

b. Work Experiences

• Minimum 5 years of experience in technical design and/or site supervision of environmental projects or community development works is required in combination with master’s degree or 7 years of relevant experience in combination with a first university degree.
• Minimum 1 year experience in supervising/managing canal blocking construction is required.
• Extensive experience implementing works under complex quality and safety plans is essential.
• Experience directing and mentoring technical trade staff is essential.
• Knowledge of compacted peat method is highly desirable.

• Ability to deliver projects on time, within budget in a demanding cultural context with transitional government partners under challenging physical conditions and poor infrastructure is required.
• Experience in the usage of MS Word and Excel is required.

• Experience working with village committees in Central Kalimantan is an advantage.Knowledge of local condition and culture is an asset.

c. Language

• Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia is required.
• Basic knowledge of English is required.

• Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural hazards and humanitarian crisis).
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural environment.
• Cope effectively with competing demands and work under pressure of frequent and non-negotiable deadlines.

• 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.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• 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.