Site Engineer, Multiple positions

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Ghana Operational Hub (GHOH), located in Accra, Ghana is responsible for projects in Anglophone West Africa, covering Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.  GHOH 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.

The Duty Stations are controlled by the Gambia County Office based in Banjul.

The Site Engineer will assist the Engineering Team and the Project Manager in the day-to-day supervision operations covering the rehabilitation of rural gravel feeder roads.  He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organizations performance and delivery goals.

The Site Engineer will be responsible for coordinating, planning, organizing, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on the construction of the Rural Gravel Feeder Roads.

The Site Engineer is responsible to understand the project initiation documents (PID) and technical documents related to the rural gravel feeder roads.

The PID records basic information needed to correctly define and plan the project.  The PID is assembled from a series of other documents, including the business case, the terms of reference, the communication plan, the risk register, the project tolerances, the project plan, and any specific project documents.

The technical documents related to the rural gravel feeder roads consist of the drawings, bills of quantity, specification, health and safety documents and environmental documents that define the rural gravel feeder roads to be reconstructed.

The overall objective of the project entitled "Reinforced Access of the Most Vulnerable Populations to Markets and Socio-economic facilities through a Feeder Road Rehabilitation Programme" is to enhance socio-economic development around the road network in the Gambia, West Africa.  The project involves the reconstruction / rehabilitation of 104km of rural gravel feeder roads using a mix of traditional works contracts and labour based methods through Contractors.

The project is financed by the European Union (EU) and is being implemented by UNOPS.

UNOPS will be tendering and supervising the works contracts for the roads.

General Construction

• Plan, coordinate and implement work activities with the Engineering Team as per approved contract
• Provide supervision of project work progress for on-time project delivery
• Take timely action to prevent potential delays and/or cost overruns that can be avoided
• Report and recommend remedial actions regarding potential delays and/or cost overruns to the Engineering Team
• Provide supervision of project for quality implementation, ensuring that construction is as per works drawings, specifications and associated quality criteria
•  Utilise relevant quality tools and templates for checking and reporting on quality, in a manner that tracks nonconformances and manages them efficiently to ensure continuous improvement, with a target towards minimising and eliminating rework
• Monitor contractor presence on the project site, including Bill of Quantities (BoQ) as per approved contract
• Provide data and information about project work to Engineering Team for reporting purposes
• Provide monthly report to the Engineering Team detailing all project matters including quality, health and safety, environmental and financial, as well as any issues relating to possible delays, cost overruns, variations and any other matter as agreed.

Design Management (as necessary during Construction)

• Assist the Engineering Team to outline design requirements (e.g. timeline) to procure design services, including concept, preliminary and final stages where applicable.
• Assist the Engineering Team to manage the design plan ensuring deliverables are available on time, and to the required quality.
• Prepare revisions or new items for the BoQ for comment and approval by the Engineering Team.
• Assist the procurement team with technical assistance in preparation of tender documentation and bid analysis where required
• Provide requiste input to Engineering team in the development of “As built” drawings

Construction Supervision

• As tasked by the Engineering Team, supervise construction works and administer works execution as per the contractual provisions and the design specifications
• Ensure quantity/quality assurance as well as control and time schedule consistency

• Verify that works are consistent with the project technical specifications and inform promptly of eventual deviations.
• Support the overall management of works implementation to ensure constructions works are completed on time, within budget and to quality standards.
• Provide regular supervision of the project work progress and quality for on time delivery.
• Assist the Engineering Team in the preparation of project/contracts related documentations such as periodic progress reports, site monitoring reports, stake holder meeting minutes, engineer’s instructions and variation orders, contractor’s bills review reports, certifications, client hand-over documents and contracts close-out reports.
• Oversee surveying works, engineering control of the works etc.

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Site Engineer directly impacts on achievement of the projects and consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

The Site Engineer is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle. S/he must be able to apply, with directions, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria:

Stakeholder Management:

• Establish solid working relationship with the project team, client and key stakeholders
• Assist the management of communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover completed products (completed roads in this Project)

Delivery and Performance:

• Assist in the development and maintenance of project plans
• Implement approved project plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Engineering Team
• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life cycle.
• Manage the production of the required products, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary
• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers.
• Assist in Identification and management of risks so that maximum benefit to client and stakeholders is achieved
• Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted
• Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers

Procedures:

• Follow the Project Management Cycle Instructions and ensure that all organizational policy is complied with (Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions)

• Assist in the Preparation/adaption of the following plans:  I. Project Initiation Documentation; II. Stage/Exception Plans and relevant Product Descriptions
• Contribute and assist in the preparation of the following reports:

                                i.            Highlight Reports

                               ii.            End Stage Reports

                             iii.            Operational Closure Checklist

                             iv.            End Project Report

                               v.            Handover Report

• Ensure that all expenditure comply with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR).
• Understand the unique structures of the UN and budget appropriately for personnel

Knowledge Management:

• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice (internal UNOPS groups set up for sharing of information)
• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies
• Complete lessons learned as per reporting format
• Incorporate lessons learned from others as per planning format

Core Values and Principles:

• Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

                                I.            Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles in day to day project management

                              II.            Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place

                            III.            Champion and communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders

• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity

                                i.            Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans

                               ii.            Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff

                             iii.            Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts

• Partnerships and Coordination

                                i.            Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system.  The UNDAF is a Country specific document detailing the activities under UN Agencies that contribute to the Country Development Plans.

                               ii.            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

                                i.            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 to a supervisor

• Excellence

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

General:

Ensure that the project(s) produce(s) the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits.

A.  Education

• Candidates must hold a Master’s Degree in Engineering or other relevant discipline is required.
• Applicants with Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or equivalent in a related field of study with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of Master’s Degree requirement.

B.  Work Experience

• A minimim two (2) years of professional work experience in the supervision of infrastructure projects.
• At least two (2) years work experience in the use of Health and Safety systems and procedures is an asset.
• Work experience in Africa is desirable
• Work experience in UN Organisations or International Organisations is desirable

D. Certifications

• PRINCE2® Foundation is desirable
• Certification in Health and Safety to BS OHSAS 18001:2007 is desirable

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

• 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.
• 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.  
• The UNOPS Personnel Management Framework has a Policy on Harmonization between work and personal life.

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.