Construction Management Engineer

Background Information - Ghana Multi Country Office (GMCO)

GMCO is responsible for managing strategic and operational risks associated with a subset of the regional portfolio of engagements, developing and delivering cost effective services contributing to partners’ sustainable results and achievements of UNOPS management results.

• Liaise and develop engagements, and deliver services responding to partner needs.
• Leverage advice and integrate delivery modalities of the three Delivery Practices and the Global Partner Service Office.
• Maintain appropriate arrangements and capacity for direct transactional support for delivery of the sub-regional portfolio.

The Construction Management Engineer will be based in the office as well as conduct missions to the site, under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (Technical Team Leader). 

Engineering and construction:

• Coordinate the work of the Consultant/Retainer in design development and documentation as well as  the associated Design Review process and certification 

• Liaise closely with Engineering personnel, ensuring accuracy of construction activities including the administration of the contracts as it relates to claims 

• Liaise closely with Engineering personnel to identify and solve construction issues in a timely fashion, consulting and keeping the Technical Team Leader informed

• Understand the technical specification and scope of work of each Contractor and where required assist the Contractor to manage, plan and coordinate monthly, weekly and daily construction activities including monitoring site safety and construction quality

• Participate in supporting construction approval and inspection activities

• Liaise with, and provide support to, other offices within the country as required.

Reporting:

• Actively support the Technical Team Leader and all relevant stakeholders with the supply of data and information including, but not limited to, project implementation and completion reports and and other related documents

• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of implementation plan progress as well as  conditions on site through daily/ weekly site records.

• Prepare and submit to the Technical Team Leader a weekly or monthly (or as requested) summarizing progress of contractor activities, quality control issues, resourcing and scheduling issues, and any other pertinent facts as required.

• Produce any appropriate documentation identified by the Technical Team Leader in a professional and accurate manner

Work package Performance and Delivery:

Understand the full scope of infrastructure works under WP1 and WP1+, as well as WP 2 and activities and resources required to deliver them to the available timeline and budget 

• Assist the Technical Team Leader to develop and monitor Work Package implementation plans including

• Overall Infrastructure Work delivery plans, stage plans within tolerances set by the project board and in line with overall Project Plan

•  Quality, Health & Safety and Social & Environment plans

• Risk and Issues plans

• Infrastructure Human Resource  plans and Budgets

• Support the Technical Team Leader to manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of work package activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products

• Liaise with any external suppliers or other managers

• Support the Technical Team Leader to manage the production of the required products, overall progress and use of resources and suggesting corrective action where necessary 

Knowledge sharing:

• Ensure highest standards of knowledge management, ensuring quality and complete archiving of project Infrastructure products 

• Contribute to the project evaluation process; highlight challenges associated with the project and feedback into a continuous improvement cycle.

• Provide training and knowledge transfer to national/contractor personnel including advice on good construction practices, environmental management practices, and appropriate health and safety standards during construction

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building.

 
Personnel Management: 

• Support to motivate the technical team

• Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established 

• Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards

Core Values and Principles:

• Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

1. Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles in day to day project management
2. Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at workplace
3. Champion and communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders

• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity

1. Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans
2. Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff
3. Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts

• Partnerships and Coordination Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system

1. Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners) 

• Accountability for results  and the use of resources

1. The project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency and results. If a project or processes is not in line with this, it is the responsibility of the PM to raise the issue with  a supervisor

• Excellence

1. Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

Ensure that the project(s) produce(s) the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. The Construction Management Engineer  is also responsible for the project producing a result capable of achieving the benefits defined in the Business Case(s). Contribute to the overall business targets and needs.

1. Accuracy of Infrastructure Work package planning and delivery (according to approved plans);

2. Timeliness and accuracy of reporting on Work package performance.

3. Full compliance (and evidence) with HSSE and Quality Management System for Infrastructure Work package, demonstrated through completeness of records according to the document management guidance

4. Identification and implementation of continuous process improvement.

5. Close out of all Defects Rectifications on Infrastructure Work package and final completion certificates/handovers 

6. Zero audit observations related to the delivery of WP 1/1+ and WP 2 or any other assigned work packages

A.  Education

• Advanced University Degree (Master's or equivalent) in Civil Engineering  or related field.

• University Degree (Bachelor’s Degree / first level) in Civil Engineering  or related field with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of Advanced Degree requirement.

• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying  experience  may be accepted in lieu of University education.

• PRINCE2® Foundation or equivalent project management accreditation is required    

• A minimum of two( 2) years experience working with Government institutions and/or donor funded projects is required. 
• A minimum of two (2) years  experience in Infrastructure development and management with focus on Quality, Health, Safety, Social and Environmental  is required.
• Knowledge of and/or  experience in the Energy Sector (including renewable energy) is desirable.
• A minimum of two (2) years experience in Project Management as it relates to project planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting is required.
• Competent in the use of all commonly used computer software – spreadsheet, scheduling tools (MS project)  and other computer programmes is required.
• Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is an advantage.

• Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement 
• Contract level: IICA 1/ ICS 9
• Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• Freetown is a Family Duty Station
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types.
• 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.

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.

Africa Region

AFR helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region.