Associate Quality Assurance Engineer

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.

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the Government and people of Afghanistan through delivery of projects and services in line with the government’s national priorities. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS AFCO is implementing a number of projects in a range of sectors including infrastructure (roads, bridges, justice and security, health, and water supply) development, procurement services, HR services, capacity building, and humanitarian protection, amongst others, on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan, the international donor community, and other UN agencies.

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to the achievement of the development outcomes sought by the Government of Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the reconstruction and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO’s services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve significantly the lives of all Afghans in need

1. Purpose and Scope of Assignment 

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager, Kabul Security Cluster and Lead Quality Engineer for RSHQ,  the Associate Quality Assurance Engineer  will assist with the technical oversight of all projects under the cluster. S/He is expected to perform the following, but not limited to, duties and responsibilities:

• Assist with the preparation of Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) plans for new construction and rehabilitation works.

• Monitor the implementation of the works by conducting site visits and provide guidance for improvement and good results.

• Conduct all quality inspections and prepare required site instructions and reports. Supervise the quality control functions/activities of the project or its parts, including quality control inspection schedules and the collection of quality records. 

• Assist with the Control and appraise work progress, review contractors’ work plans and provide recommendations to the KSF Project Manager on ways to overcome issues, challenges and needs.

• Conduct quality control reviews and prepare related reports for design and construction of works as required and facilitate the compilation of inputs for monitoring and evaluation.

• Assist with guidance on project QA/QC plans and protocols for construction, construction equipment and materials.

• Assist in the establishment of quality procedures including time limits for inspection, sampling and testing of works and materials.

• Recommend specific quality standards and construction schedules, which are appropriate to all levels of RSHQ construction projects.

• Provide technical input and assist Procurement with all contractual matters for the completion of the respective contracts.

• Review all standards to be used during laboratory tests, QA/QC testing schedules and procedures.

• Review contractor practices and conventional methodologies and make recommendations where remedial action is required.

• Check accuracy of outputs produced in compliance with established quality standards.

• Recommend assistance to contractors to ensure that the most economical and appropriate quality materials and methods are utilized.

• Recommend solutions to quality issues and identify where improvements or rectification is warranted.

• Plan for health and safety and environmental management in coordination with the programme and Country Office teams.

• Ensure UNOPS standards of Health and Safety, and environmental management across all project locations are systematically applied at all times.

• Conduct other tasks as assigned by the Project Manager.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Establish procedures with time limits for inspection, sampling and testing of works and all other QC/QA requirements of KSF Projects and Tasks.

• Implement and monitor quality assessments.

•  Prepare monthly/weekly QA/QC reports 

Education 

• A high school diploma is the minimum academic requirement required for this role, plus 6 years of relevant professional experience. 

• Masters  Degree in Engineering, or construction or Project Management or other relevant disciplines in infrastructure.

• Bachelor’s degree with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant professional experience in Engineering, or construction or Project Management or other relevant disciplines in infrastructure.

Certification

⦁ PRINCE2® Foundation is an added advantage

⦁ PRINCE2® Practitioners is an added advantage

⦁ AutoCAD certification is desirable.

Work Experience 

• Minimum 6 years of progressively responsible experience in construction activities with emphasis on materials testing, quality control and assurance, laboratory testing and a firm understanding of requirements and specifications of testing and materials

• A minimum of two years’ experience mentoring and providing capacity building in the normative and procedural aspects of QA/QC in construction.

• Experience in monitoring and evaluation, reporting and coordination in either UN, International NGOs, Public or Private sector organizations is desirable.

• Previous experience in mentoring and training counterparts is desired.

Languages 

⦁ Fluency in English (reading, writing, speaking) is required.

⦁ Ability to speak/read/write Dari and/or Pashto would be advantageous

Key Competencies 

• Proficiency in design software such as Sketchup, AutoCAD, Autodesk Structural Bridge Design, and or other structural design software would be advantageous.

• Proven organisational, negotiation and problem-solving skills

• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of MS Office and a Google suite  are required.

• Knowledge, understanding and experience of operational support needs is required.

• Working knowledge of English, both written and spoken. Able to communicate fluently and effectively both verbally and in writing. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including patience, diplomacy, willingness to listen and respect colleagues must be capable of working as part of a team.

• Able to work under pressure.

• 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
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.