Topographical Surveyor (Homebased Retainer), Multiple positions

Background Information – East and Southern Africa Multi Country Office (ESAMCO)

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the East and Southern Africa Multi Country Office (ESAMCO), manages a growing portfolio of engagements. The ESAMCO sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and Southern Africa. This includes transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi.

• Review background documentation, existing maps, and satellite imagery before mobilization.

• Coordinate with Project Managers and Technical Teams to define survey objectives, priorities, and technical requirements.

• Prepare and submit a fieldwork plan outlining methods, schedule and risk controls.

• Work with Project Managers to secure necessary permits or access permissions.

• Conduct initial site inspections to assess terrain features, access constraints, and health and safety risks.

• Use suitable methods and calibrated equipment to collect accurate data, including:

• Comply with all site safety protocols and use appropriate personal protective equipment. 

• Identify and manage hazards related to terrain, weather, traffic, and utilities

• Process field data using approved software tools to generate:

• Ensure internal quality control and data integrity checks are applied

• Prepare clear and comprehensive reports including:

• Submit all data and deliverables in accordance with project timelines and formats.

• Ensure compatibility with Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Building Information Modelling (BIM), and Geographic Information System (GIS) platforms used by the design team.

• Maintain an organized archive of raw data, processed files, and field notes.

• Provide as-built surveys to verify construction against original designs.

• Support construction layout and setting-out tasks when requested.

• Assist in cut-and-fill or volume calculations for earthworks when requested.

• Contribute to design reviews by providing insights on site-specific topography constraints.

The Topographical Surveyor will be expected to provide:

• Topo-survey maps, with appropriate scales, projections, and formats.

• Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), submitted in the required format and resolution.

• Comprehensive survey reports, detailing methodology, findings, and analysis.

• As-built Drawings, documenting completed works against surveyed data.

• Fluency in written and oral English is required. 

• Fluency in French will be an asset.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) - Retainer Contract. 
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist - 8 (ICS 8)
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.

• This is a Home-based Retainer position restricted to candidates who are residents of, or legally authorized to work in East African countries.

• It may be the responsibility of the selected candidate to make arrangements, to a standard deemed acceptable by UNOPS, for a secure internet connection, laptop and or equipment necessary for work (as defined by UNOPS).

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.