Architect

Background Information – Kenya Multi Country Office (KEMC)

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMC sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and South Africa. This includes primarily transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and several island states.

The Technical Services Unit (TSU) engages in multidisciplinary design, assessments and advisory work, and manages relationships with other technical stakeholders such as specialist design firms for high risk structures.  

The Technical Services Unit office is based in Nairobi and personnel may be required to travel extensively to other UNOPS locations.

The Technical Services Unit (TSU) currently provides design services for infrastructure works to Project Managers. Recently the team has expanded its offering to include consulting services such as assessments, feasibility studies and advisory services on a wide range of infrastructure types.  

The TSU currently has 16 permanent and 60+ retainer personnel including architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, GIS and specialist infrastructure advisors (for dams, ICT and biomedical works) and CAD technicians as well as support personnel.  Current projects are underway / imminent in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique and Cameroon.

The TSU is a business unit for the Multi-Country office and comes under the direction of the Director for East and Southern Africa office (KEMC).

The Project Architect shall be responsible for undertaking all the tasks required to ensure timely, cost effective and quality delivery of the projects. He/she reports to the Lead Architect and may be required to undertake the following tasks with pre-agreed timeframes;

1. Project Development

• Assist in preparation of preliminary design documentation, preliminary cost estimates
  and other tasks as necessary.

2. Infrastructure Design and Development:

• Prepare concept design proposals for new projects. 

• Plan and produce design documentation for infrastructure projects.

• Revise design work for infrastructure projects as required.

• Timely production of conceptual and detailed architectural documentation for vertical structures in accordance with the UNOPS Design Planning Manual and/or applicable engineering code.

• Assist in carrying out site assessments as need arises and prepare subsequent reports.

• Attend co-ordination / consultative meetings if and when required.

• Brief and coordinate professionals from other disciplines, and review documentation produced for the purposes of delivering coherent technical packages of information

Others:

• Share ideas on best environmental practices, on streamlining UN sustainable procurement and infrastructure practices into TSU processes and controls during construction and mitigate environmental impacts of the works

• Actively engage in knowledge sharing for the improvement of the technical unit professional skills

• Minimum two (2) years of experience in architectural design is required;

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in coordinating  information and teams is required;

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in infrastructure is required;

• Experience in developing countries and knowledge in the country context related field is an added advantage;

• Experience in use of software such as AutoCAD/ArchiCAD or REVIT is desired;

• Experience in google suite applications will be an asset;

• For this job opening, fluency in English (write, read, speak) is required; 

• Knowledge of another UN official language is 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.
• 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
• This position is based in a family duty station.
• 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.

1. Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement ( IICA)
2. Contract level: International ICA 8/ ICS8
3. Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

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.

Kenya

The UNOPS Kenya office manages more than 60 projects in around 10 countries of eastern and southern Africa. UNOPS in Kenya helps partners achieve their project goals in sectors including: governance, education, health, the environment, grant management and rural development.