Senior Associate Construction Management Engineer (Internal Vacancy Announcement), Multiple positions

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.

The Norwegian Embassy in Nepal has requested UNOPS to assist the Government of Nepal in the reconstruction of earthquake-affected educational facilities. UNOPS proposes to construct 24 new school classroom blocks and toilet blocks in existing damaged schools in the areas of Nepal which have experienced significant destruction and received limited reconstruction help so far. The project is to be implemented from December 2018 to December 2022.

The project includes school selection based on needs and close collaboration with the Government of Nepal’s National Reconstruction Agency and Ministry of Education. The schools selected will be rebuilt to international standards, both from a structural and functional point of view. UNOPS will commit to quality learning spaces which offer all the Government of Nepal-defined Minimum Enabling Conditions (gender inclusion, accessibility, water and sanitation facilities, electricity provision, furniture).

The Senior Associate Construction Management Engineer (District Engineer) (National) will be responsible for the following but not limited to:

District Level Construction Management and Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC):

• Support the Construction Manager in the day to day supervision, progress and logistics management of the construction sites in accordance with the drawings, technical specifications and instructions by managing the team of Engineers and Site Supervisors.

• Responsible for the Quality Assurance of the construction works being undertaken under the project for that particular District in Nepal with support from the team of Junior Engineers and Site Supervisors.

• Facilitate the collection of material samples, witnessing quality control tests and submitting the report to the Construction Manager.

• Monitor and report site safety and environmental impacts of construction.

• Support the Construction Manager in discussions with Contractor’s District level staff and workers when required.

• Undertake the joint measurement of work done with the contractor’s representative at periodic intervals.

• Check and recommend contractor’s payment certificates under work contracts.

• Support contractors in terms of technical matters, HSSE management system & quality control etc… as required.

• Keep site records relating to materials, labor and plants and equipment at sites and in the District office.

• Collect data and photograph from the field as well as generate graphs and charts to assist the Construction Manager in preparing reports;

District Level Stakeholder Management:

• Maintain close collaboration with the District Level Project Implementation Unit in Nepal which is the local Government stakeholder in the District. Have regular meetings with them to keep them abreast of the progress of the construction activities in the District.

• Maintain a good working relationship with the School Management Committees of each school in the District through the support from the Junior Engineers and Site Supervisors. Have regular meetings with them to keep them abreast of the progres of the construction activities for their particular school.

• Maintain good collaboration with the local Municipalities and their Leaders. This is required as they are the ones to support when roads are blocked during landslides and provide the necessary logistics to clear roads, especially for the contractors plant and equipment.

Office Management at District Level:

• With the assistance from the Project Manager and Construction Manager, establish a District office, set it up and manage it as the responsible person for that particular District office. 

• Maintain the required expenses for the running of the project office in the District which include managing the rental payment, utilities, cleaning services, furniture and any other necessary requirement as advised by the PM or CM.

• Managing the logistics of the District rental vehicle including the driver.

Personnel Management at District Level:

• Manage the team of Junior Engineers and Site Supervisors in the District including their day to day work, performance appraisals, technical support and guidance and keeping them engaged and motivated in their jobs.

• Support the Construction manager in bridging the gap between the central office staff and the District office staff in every aspect of the Projects’ required deliverables i.e finance, procurement, HR, administration, security and logistics.

Reporting:

• Manage the preparation of weekly plans and reports from the Junior engineers and Sit Supervisors in the District and in-turn collate those to prepare the monthly report to be submitted to the Construction Manager.

• Support the Construction manager and the Project manager in preparation of the monthly reports to government stakeholders with the help of progress updates and photographs when required.

• Support the Construction manager and the Project manager in preparation of the Annual and Semiannual reports to the Donor with the help of progress updates and photographs when required.

Education

• University (Bachelor's / first level) Degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or other relevant discipline is required.

• An advanced University Degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or other relevant discipline is an asset and may substitute some years of required experience.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 4 years (or 2 in combination with an advanced University Degree) of relevant experience in detailed assessment, pre-feasibility study, school building survey and building construction is required;

• Previous experience in using assessment tools is required.

• Previous experience in organizing questionnaire surveys and field assessment is required.

• Experience working in community also in coordination of different local level government institutions is an added advantage. 

Language skills

• Excellent written and oral command of English and Nepali languages.

• Teamwork Skills

• Excellent and proven technical, organizational, leadership and teamwork skills.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to write technical reports in English language;

• Proficiency in Google Suite and AutoCAD.

• Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is an advantage.

• The post is open to Nepali National only.
• 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
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.