Electrical Engineer (Solar Energy Systems) - Retainer

Background Information - UNOPS

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.

Background Information - Job-specific

The UNOPS Hub in Amman implements projects on behalf of UN agencies and bilateral donors and in close coordination with the Government and national authorities. With an established presence across the region, the office runs operations including large-scale procurement, project development and technical management, and provides financial, human resources and infrastructure-related services. 

The functional objective of UNOPS Hub in Amman is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner and in line with the principles, rules and regulations of UNOPS, to achieve the outcomes sought by the clients.

UNOPS has been active in the region, delivering projects in support of the Government of the different countries and partners. UNOPS has significantly scaled up its presence in the Region to support the humanitarian response.

The candidate is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS. 

UNOPS is committed to achieving a fully diverse workforce.

Background Information - Project-specific

The UNOPS Hub in Amman implements projects in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen, in partnership with bilateral donors, national governments, and other UN agencies.  With an established presence across the region, the office runs operations including large-scale procurement, project development, and technical management, and provides financial, human resources, and infrastructure-related services. The functional objective of UNOPS Hub in Amman is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner and in line with the principles, rules and regulations of UNOPS, in order to support the response to the current needs and national priorities in the region.

The EE-SES shall be responsible for ensuring optimized designs of Solar System, he/ she shall be able to support the procurement unit in drafting invitations to bids as well as evaluating tenders. The EE-SES will report directly to the Project Manager or the Head of Program.

The functions/duties/key results of the assignment 

The EE-SES shall coordinate any support to any of the tasks assigned to him/her.

The EE-SES shall provide his/her technical expertise as required to perform and coordinate any pertinent electrical solar and renewable energy systems intervention assigned to him/her.

The EE-SES is expected to  perform site assessment (if needed), supervision, testing and commissioning and related documentation tasks. 

The EE-SES is expected to contribute to the preparation of the specification and BOQ ensuring that they are of high quality, transparent and cost effective The tasks would involve, but not limited to, the following: 

• Design of the Electrical, solar and renewable systems’ including all types of Photovoltaics components and services of projects assigned to him/her;

• Assist in producing Terms of References for Consultancy Services; designs, Electrical Drawings, Technical Specifications, Scope of Works, Bills of Quantities, Cost Estimations, Design Calculations, related reports for Works and Supply of Goods Contracts;

• Assist Project Managers in the preparation of Tender Documents (Concerned with Consultancies, Supply of Goods, and Works) and evaluation of Proposals;

• Review the design of electrical components of projects;

• Work closely with the procurement unit in planning and defining the tender’s requirements, as well all participating in tenders evaluation.

• Assist in monitoring and supervising and execution of contracts to ensure adherence with the signed contracts, high international quality standards and UNOPS requirements;

• Any other relevant task that might be assigned to the Electrical/ Solar Energy Engineer.

Specifically, the Solar Energy Engineer will be responsible for the following substantive tasks:

Technical tasks:

• Assist in conducting research  , feasibility studies  and needs assessment activities to identify and select beneficiaries of the project;

• Prepare design briefs, design reports comprehensive design documentation, calculations, drawings, specifications, schedules and other project documents of solar/ electrical engineering systems (Medium Voltage and Low Voltage) for projects utilizing research, development, relevant international standards and codes and good engineering practices and according to the client’s design requirements;

• Review electrical and solar systems designs for Infrastructure projects in terms of accuracy, suitability to overall design requirements, including identifying improvements in the designs and participate in proposing  practical solutions;

• Carry out research and identify appropriate technologies/techniques/designs that can be incorporated in the project design;

• Perform the tasks in accordance with the applicable Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC) protocols and regulations and requirements;

• Provide the Project Manager and Project team with all information to execute the project in a timely manner and within the budget allocated;

• Carrying out tenders evaluation and support the PM and procurement unit to identify project needs

• Support in supervising the  testing and commissioning activities related to solar energy systems.

Administrative tasks:

• Assist in archiving and documenting Electrical/solar Energy design and  engineering related material archiving; and

• Assist in performing scheduling requested tasks related to the projects.

Final Product

Deliver delegated tasks by the supervisor on time and as per the required cost and quality parameters. Ensure that projects design and construction are prepared and performed with high quality, while observing the applicable local, international and UN standards and ensure adherence to relevant Health, Safety, Security and Environmental procedures.

• Bachelor Degree in Electrical or Renewable Energy Engineering.

• Possession of Project Management Certificates is an asset.

• General professional experience: At least 4 (four) years in one or more of the following fields: 1) Low and Medium Voltage Networks (Utility Distribution Systems), 2) Power Generation (Conventional or Renewable Technologies), 3) Energy Audit, is required.

• Specific professional experience- 1: At least 2 (two) years of professional experience in the preparation of feasibility studies and complete design documents (Drawings, Technical Specification, Bills of Quantities, Cost Estimations, etc..), and implementation supervision of grid connected Hybrid Solar PV Projects  preferably with Storage Systems and off-grid PV systems.

• Specific professional experience- 2: At least 1 (one) year of professional experience in L the Middle East and Developing countries in the field of  Solar PV Projects, is an asset.

• Experience in computer design software, particularly “AutoCAD” (latest Version) is required.

• Experience in computer scheduling software, particularly Primavera and/or MS Projects is an asset.

• Experience in Solar PV Software (PV-GIS / PVSYS) is required.

• Demonstrated computer ability in using Electrical Engineering design software and Applications is an asset.

• Demonstrated computer ability in using MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Power Point, etc.) is required.

• Experience in Energy Audit and data analysis is an asset.

• Work Experience with an international organization and/or UN Agencies will be well regarded.

• Excellent presentation, report writing, fluency and communication skills in English and Arabic are required.

• Certified Solar Energy Engineer is an asset.

1. Contract type: ICA Retainer
2. Contract level: Local ICA Specialist - Level 9
3. Contract duration: 12 Months (with possibility of extension)

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.