Lead Architect / Urban Planner( (Retainer for 200 days in 2 years in Yaoundé, Cameroon and Antananarivo , Madagascar), Multiple positions

To expand our work in Madagascar and in Cameroon by strengthening our value proposition, fortifying our internal capacity to respond rapidly to funders’ and government’s requests, enhancing our added value in our contribution to UNCT in the UNSDCF process and to the country’s National Development Plans, UNOPS is recruiting a Lead Architect/Urban Planner to support technical proposals that will help to build further the pipeline in Madagascar and Cameroon.

Based in Kinshasa, DRC, the UNOPS Multi country Office (CDOH) in Central Africa covers eleven countries including DRC, RC, CAR, Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Burundi, and Madagascar. The office has developed strong working relations with the international partners, UN agencies including UN Missions and Governments across Central Africa over the years. It provides technical support and capacity building in strategic development areas including infrastructure construction and rehabilitation and development across health, education, public works, governance/public administration sectors; procurement, project management, amongst others.

CDOH Hub also implements more and more projects of procurement and distribution of various equipment and therefore needs Logistics skills to properly implement and monitor these projects. 

The UNOPS office in Cameroon opened in December 2019, and has several active projects, whose nature varies from construction, technical studies in different sectors, WASH activities, human resources management for other entities, and procurement including in the medical field (COVID-19).

The office is constantly working to expand its activities in order to support its partners in the implementation of their development programs and projects.

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Multi-country Office Director or Business and Partnerships Advisor for the Multi-country Office (CMCO) and in close coordination with the Regional Office and the Partnerships Group, the Architect/Urban Planner is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of the partnership and programme development plan for the offices and countries managed by the Multi Country / Country Director or the HQ Partnerships Group. This may also include new countries where UNOPS is planning to initiate or broaden operations.  Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for the following substantive tasks. The tasks would involve the following but not limited to:

• Design and produce architectural / urban planning drawings and

• Scope of works Review designs and modification as required

• Produce as-built drawings and to support handover and commissioning

• Assist contract division in preparing and evaluation of tender documents of electrical services (specifications, BOQs, rates) etc

• Ability to produce architectural and/or urban design in accordance with local and international standards Ability to embed sustainability solution in design and choice of material

• Ability to use architectural drawings software such as Autodesk –AutoCAD and Revit Demonstrated computer ability in using MS Office Suite

• Liaise with UNOPS design review team to enhance knowledge management.

• Review designs and modification for all Infrastructure projects in term of accuracy and suitability to

• overall design requirements, including Identifying improvements in the designs and be able to propose practical solutions

• Strong knowledge of local and international standards and codes

• Ability in specifying technical specifications of various service uses of facility, and associated quality material

• Periodically support site supervision and monitoring ensures that the work is done according to

• instructions, drawings and technical specifications as per contractual agreement and give the same support to site teams liaising with the Project Managers and Project Engineers.

• Support testing and commissioning for handover and acceptance of deliverable to clients 

• Prepares monthly progress reports as well as drawings when requested.

• Keep files for all design documentation, memos and instructions in correct format

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Architecture, Urban Planning, Engineering, Building Engineering or related field is required. 

• First level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in Architecture, Urban Planning, Engineering, Building Engineering, or related fields with 2 additional years of relevant working experience may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Technical/Professional Diploma in Architecture, Urban Planning, Engineering, Building Engineering, or related fields plus nine (9) years of relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

• Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience in architectural and/or urban planning and design, 
  engineering, construction planning and management or related field in combination with Master’s degree is required.

• Prior experience in contract management is preferred.

• Experience in design review is an advantage.

• Experience with one or more engineering software applications (i.e: AutoCAD, SAP2000, Prokon, ETABs) is an asset.

• Experience in Google suite and particularly dashboard production using Google Data Studio is an asset.

• Experience in infrastructure in developing country context is an asset.

• Written and spoken English and French is required.

1. Contract type ICA( Retainer)
2. Contract level I-ICA 2 (ISC 10) and
3. Contract duration : 200 days in 2 Years

• 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.

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.