Civil Engineer - Replaced by VA/2023/B5416/26085 - Civil Engineer

Depending on the business needs, this position could be International ICA or Local ICA. If a local position is defined, the salary scale will be determined in line with UNOPS HR policies.



The Civil Engineer provides assistance and technical expertise in terms of design adjustments, construction, supervision and coordination in the field, ensuring high quality and consistency of work.

In the project team, the Civil Engineer may supervise a diverse results-oriented technical team, including quality laboratory, surveying, and field inspectors. He/she could also provide guidance to other team members ensuring knowledge transfer for capacity building. The Civil Engineer will perform his/her duties at the construction site and will be supervised by the Project Manager.

Duties and responsibilities:

1. Management of design adjustments.

2. General construction

3. Construction supervision

4. Contract management

5. Knowledge management


a) Design Adjustment Management

• Support the Project Manager in the identification of omissions, defects and/or possibilities for optimization of the design of the works.

• Support the Project Manager in the elaboration of proposals for design adjustments, based on what is indicated in the first point of this section.

b) General construction

• Support the Project Manager in the control, management and monitoring of the approved contract with the construction company.

• Ensure a permanent UNOPS presence on site throughout the construction phase.

(c) Construction Supervision

• Review the UNOPS Construction Stage Quality Management Plan. He/she shall propose appropriate adjustments to the Project Manager if omissions, shortcomings and/or opportunities for optimization of the UNOPS Quality Management Plan are identified,

• Develop the necessary templates and procedures to ensure the proper implementation of the UNOPS Construction Stage Quality Management Plan.

(d) Contract Management

• Ensure that UNOPS contracts based on those of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) are properly managed.

• Under the supervision of the Project Manager act as a negotiator between stakeholders to manage and propose solutions within the contractual framework to operational and non-performance issues.

e) Knowledge management

• Contribute to the project evaluation process, highlight project related challenges and provide constructive feedback in a continuous cycle of improvement.

• Provide training and transfer of technological know-how to national and contractor staff, advice on good construction and environmental management practices, and appropriate health and safety standards during construction.

a. Education 

• An advanced university degree (equivalent to a Master's degree) is required, preferably in one of the following disciplines: Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and/or related areas.

• A university degree (equivalent to a Bachelor's degree) will be accepted, preferably in one of the following disciplines: Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and/or related areas, provided that a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience is accredited.

b. Work Experience 

• Minimum 2 years of experience (or more depending on academic credentials) fulfilling supervisory and/or contractual management and/or design review roles as a Civil Engineer in infrastructure projects.

• Knowledge in quality control of materials is required.

• Experience in elaboration and implementation of quality control plans is required.

• Experience in FIDIC contract management is desirable

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement 

Contract level: ICS 9 equivalent to IICA 1 International ICA and Local ICA 9. The UNOPS Office is looking for international/candidates and/or Costa Rican nationals or with a work permit. If a local position is defined, the salary scale will be determined in line with UNOPS HR policies. 

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.

UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate with special needs upon request

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) 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.