Heritage Specialist (Homebased Retainer)

Background Information: Technical Services Unit (TSU)

The Technical Services Unit (TSU) engages in multidisciplinary design and design review, assessments and advisory work for infrastructure related UNOPS projects.  The team currently comprises approximately 20 permanent and 60+ retainer (consultant) personnel including architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, GIS and specialist infrastructure practitioners (for dams, ICT, safeguards, biomedical works inter alia) and CAD technicians in addition to support personnel.  

Current / recent projects are based in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Madagascar.  These projects comprise a range of types of horizontal and vertical infrastructure.

The Unit is based in Nairobi, but works extensively in other locations, via travel and by using the network of retainer (consultant) personnel based elsewhere in Africa and beyond. The team has been increasingly tasked with advising on wider issues within the built environment, such as peer reviewing designs, mapping, data analytics, safeguards and infrastructure carbon.

The TSU is a business unit for the Multi-Country office and comes under the direction of the Director for East and Southern Africa Multi Country Office (ESAMCO).

• Review documents and policies produced by the conservation and heritage centres and agency bodies, and advise the design and project management teams accordingly.

• Lead liaison with heritage bodies and other stakeholders in heritage-specific matters.

• Prepare concept design proposals for conservation and restoration projects. 

• Prepare concept brief and designs.

• Develop, in a timely manner, design documentation for conservation projects in accordance with applicable codes and standards till issuance of design review certificate.

• Revise documentation for conservation and restoration projects as required.

• Carry out site assessments as need arises and prepare subsequent reports.

• Attend coordination meetings if and when required.

• Collaborate with other disciplines when required and incorporate documentation produced for the purposes of delivering coherent technical packages of information.

 Education:

• An advanced university degree (e.g., Masters) in Heritage/Conservation Architecture or a related subject is required. 

• A first-level university degree (e.g., Bachelor) in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

• Professional registration with a recognized institution is required.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in conservation architectural design is required.

• Experience and knowledge of various vernacular architecture approaches is a distinct advantage, particularly in Africa.

• Experience in restoration of heritage buildings and sites  is a distinct advantage.

• Experience in use of software such as AutoCAD/ArchiCAD or REVIT is desired;

• Experience in google suite applications will be an asset.

Language:

• Proficiency in English is required.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) Retainer Contract. 
Contract level: LICA 10/ICS 10
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability.

A retainer contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a “unit price” per day worked. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after completion of work.

As per UNOPS policy, in duty stations where the NPO (National Professional Officer) category has been established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), a home-based contract must be issued as a Local ICA Specialist position.

• 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.