Civil Engineer - Retainer

The Technical Services Unit (TSU) engages in multidisciplinary design, assessments and advisory work, mostly in East and Southern Africa.

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 17 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, safeguards, biomedical works inter alia) and CAD technicians as well as support personnel.  Current projects are underway / imminent in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Djibouti 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 Civil Engineer (retainer)  shall  be called on on an ad-hoc basis to support various projects by providing a mix of assessments, analysis, design documentation and reporting.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment 

Under the overall supervision of the Civil Engineer in Nairobi, Kenya, the Civil Engineer will give his/her technical expertise as required to deliver any analysis and or designs assigned, conduct assessments and or monitor site works, and provide high quality related documentation. He or she will be responsible for on time delivery, and may be called on to coordinate inputs from other disciplines such as hydrologists, geotechnical engineers and surveyors. The projects may be in international locations.

Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for the following substantive tasks. The tasks would involve the following but not limited to:

1. Review and analyze existing documents and reports

2. Prepare in a timely fashion high quality assessments, concept and detailed design documentation and reports

3. Calculate civil engineering quantities

4. Research and document market data to enable the TSU quantity surveyor to prepare accurate cost estimates for the local area

5. Supervise associate civil engineer(s)

6. Respond to technical queries

7. Support the production of clear design briefs,

8. Liaise with local stakeholders such as local authorities, surveyors, site engineers.

9. Work closely with other professionals and contribute to the planning of tasks and preparing an integrated design package

10. Carry out site inspections and compile reports on progress and defects for monitoring

11. Monitor contractor’s works and report back on the technical aspects to the civil engineer or project manager

12. Ensure that UNOPS health and safety standards are clearly communicated and documented for site works (including assessments and implementation works)

Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Assist with projects evaluation process; highlight challenges associated with a project and feedback into a continuous improvement cycle.

• Contribute to training and knowledge transfer including advice on good construction and engineering practices, environmental management practices, and appropriate health and safety standards during construction.

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Civil & Structural Engineering from an accredited university is required.

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: L-ICA-8
Contract duration: ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

• This is a local position, therefore it is only open to Madagascar nationals.