Contract Management Specialist - Infrastructure

Based in UNOPS Headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, the UNOPS Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) unit provides strategic project implementation advice and operational support services to field offices under the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR), Asia Regional Office (AR), Middle East Regional Office (MR), Africa Regional Office (AFR),  Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office (LCR), the Peace and Security Cluster, and UNOPS HQ units in the areas of Project Management and Infrastructure, Procurement, Legal, Finance, Human Resources and Administration.

The Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) is a unit with the purpose of serving the operations of the entities under its coverage, primarily with advice and solutions to everyday implementation challenges. The unit also acts as a mechanism, in collaboration with the relevant practice leads, for identifying areas within management and delivery practices, where policy and process enhancements can be introduced to meet implementation needs.  

As part of the SSC IPAS Project Management and Infrastructure Unit (IPAS PMI), the incumbent will be responsible for the provision of expert advice to both internal and external stakeholders.

Under the direct supervision of the Infrastructure & Project Management Advisor, the Contract Management Specialist will be entrusted with the following duties and responsibilities:

• Advise  the delivery teams on how to effectively use UNOPS FIDIC-based Professional Services / Works Contracts.
• Lead the management of Claims and Variations.
• Provide advice on contractual compliance matters.
• Provide guidance on dealing with price increases and change management processes.
• Provide commercial and contractual support to country offices on the development of projects particularly during the pre-engagement phase.
• Provide guidance on the approach to the division of a project into its component work packages and support appropriate alignment to effective measurement of works.
• Provide support in the revision and drafting of contracts with vendors.
• Provide advice to the country offices on the management of contractual matters during implementation
• Act as the focal point for operational contract management issues as well as in establishing and maintaining a mechanism to capture key issues, challenges, gaps and possible areas of improvement.
• Undertake other tasks for the IPAS Project Management and Infrastructure unit including the review of engagements.

The incumbent will also provide advice on implementation strategy and specific contract related risks that may affect the proposed approach whilst liaising with the relevant policy units (Procurement, Legal, IPMG) to align policy, rules and regulations with UNOPS works contracts.

When required, the incumbent will support with the development and delivery of potential training to country offices as required as well as in the development and improvement of organizational directives and administrative instructions pertaining to infrastructure.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent such as MEng, MASc) in Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Contract Law, or similar is required.
• A combination of a Bachelor’s Degree (Bachelor's or equivalent such as BEng, BASc) in Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Contract Law, or similar in combination with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing contracts ranging from complex heavy engineering and infrastructure projects to small operation, maintenance or construction projects is required.
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC contracts is required.
• Sound experience in the compilation, assessment and settlement of claims under the FIDIC form(s) of contract is required.
• Working experience in construction sites is required.
• Experience working in a development context is desirable.
• Knowledge of other engineering contract forms is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, required.
• Fluency in French and/or Spanish, both written and verbal, desirable.

• 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.
• 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.

• Contract type: ICA
• Contract level: I-ICA 2
• Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

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.