Architect (Urban Planner)

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 Nepal context: 

During 2015 – 2021 UNOPS Nepal has engaged closely with the Government of Nepal and several development partners in the reconstruction efforts of the government of Nepal including assessment of damaged buildings and enrolment of beneficiaries into housing grant schemes. UNOPS supported homeowners engaged in the reconstruction process, modernization and improving policing services, retrofitting damaged houses and reconstruction of disability-friendly schools, and delivering some essential equipment to support COVID-19 response efforts. The functional objective of UNOPS Nepal is to deliver its projects efficiently and effectively in alignment with government priorities following UNOPS rules and regulations, to achieve the outcomes sought by the clients and funding partners, and contribute to the achievement of SDGs.

While ensuring gender, diversity and inclusion is mainstreamed in all its projects, UNOPS Nepal is currently working on several new engagements to support the government of Nepal under Health, Rule of Law, Climate Change, DRR, Urban development, procurement support among others and create new opportunities and jobs for the people of Nepal. 

Assignment Context:

In alignment with government priorities, the UNOPS Nepal country office looks forward to providing long-term strategic and advisory support to the country by enhancing the capacity of national and sub-national governments and partners within all three tiers of government. By prioritizing evidence-based planning, capacity building, and developing model projects for creating sustainable and inclusive cities, UNOPS Nepal country office also aims to build strong relationships with urban municipalities at the local level. Aiming to create a sustainable city by promoting a green and resilient, climate adaptive, and socially inclusive development approach the assignment will focus on prioritizing the municipalities for its future interventions.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Urban Planner in collaboration with the team members and the project stakeholders will perform the following tasks: 

Policy Review and Recommendations:

• Review of federal and municipal policies and urban plans such as Risk Sensitive Landuse Plans, Integrated Urban Development Plans, and DRR and climate resilient Plans to identify gaps and best practices;

• Support in preparation of policy and urban planning documents.

Developing Prioritization Study Report:

• Work with government agencies and their Mapping Departments to assemble relevant information for project purposes;

• Review and analyze municipalities’ plans and policies produced by public sector and agency bodies focusing on climate adaptation and the GESI component.

• Enumerate and map existing settlements and integrate key studies to develop municipality plans including identified sites for basic infrastructure. 

• Collaborate with the competent authority (such as local, district, provincial, or national directorates) to support the land use planning of the selected land parcels and subdivisions into residential plots and map out the supporting infrastructure required.

• Work on participative urban planning and design tasks assigned by the Project Manager.

Participatory design

• Support co-design and participatory process in the project municipalities with stakeholders including students of architecture and urban planning and design; 

Knowledge Management:

• Organize activities such as urban design studio, urban design competition, facilitate research grants for students, workshops, and other events focussing on inclusive and climate resilient public open spaces;

• Develop knowledge products and materials of the project;

• Document the knowledge and implementation process of the project;

• Coordinate with academia, professional networks and other relevant stakeholders in organizing knowledge sharing sessions and preparing knowledge outputs; 

Translation:

• Translate technical documents between Nepali to English, and vice versa;

Coordination:

• Participates in field assessments as needed and when required; mission reports, technical recommendations, guidance, and design for cost-effective works.

Reporting and Communication:

• Assist in generating regular project reports by the contractual agreements; maintain updates and progress reports as required by UNOPS standard procedures.

• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks by synthesizing lessons learned and dissemination of best practices in the design of building infrastructure.

• Collect feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize them productively.

• A bachelor’s degree in urban planning and design, architecture, or physical planning from a recognized University is required;
• Master's degree in urban planning and design, architecture or physical planning from a recognized University or equivalent is desirable but not required.

• A minimum of two-year experience in urban planning and design is required;
• A minimum of two years of experience in organizing, facilitating, and moderating knowledge-sharing events on architecture, urban planning, and design is required.
• Experience working with the UN system or other Humanitarian/Development organizations in Nepal will be an asset;
• Experience in researching and publishing on architecture and urban planning and design for UN system, the Government or other organizations; 

• Fluency in English, and Nepali is required.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreements (LICA)

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.