Lead Biomedical Engineer

South East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across  North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia - 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines.  EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: SEMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia,  EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Mekong, and EAPMCO Philippines.

In 2022, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 95.7 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.  

The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.  

UNOPS in Lao PDR

Established in 2017, but with a portfolio tracing back to 2007, UNOPS Lao PDR provides expert support to the Government of Lao PDR to ensure sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure activities in projects. With funding from various partners, such as Japan, the US, Korea, Luxembourg, Russia, the UK, and the Global Fund, UNOPS has implemented projects in the areas of health, rule of law, and sustainable tourism sectors. UNOPS EAPMCO is in the process of expanding its area of engagement in partnerships with different development partners, focussing on programs in the area of infrastructure development, fund management, and expert advice, with a focus on health, environment, governance, and digital transformations. For that, UNOPS is looking for qualified and committed experts who can contribute to fulfilling UNOPS mandate in the country and support the Government of Lao PDR in meeting its development aspirations.

Project Background Information

The project consists of the rehabilitation of the Mittaphab Hospital (Hospital 150) in Vientiane, capital of Lao PDR. By providing support to the Government, the project will contribute to enhancing the healthcare system of Lao PDR. With the overarching aim of rehabilitating the Mittaphab Hospital to ensure that quality health care to patients can be provided, the project scope consists of:

1. Coordination with the Ministry of Health and the hospital to validate the feasibility study completed in 2018 (this activity is completed);

2. Design, procure and execute the rehabilitation works;

3. Procure and install medical equipment in the rehabilitated services;

4. Design and implement a capacity building programme comprising Hospital Management, Hygiene, Waste Management, Infection Prevention and Maintenance Training.

The following specific works and installations are included in the project:

• Installation of a new medical gas plant (oxygen, vacuum and medical air) with piping to the wards, operating theaters, ICU and emergency department

• Refurbishment of 13 Operating Theaters, including 6 fully re-equipped

• Air Handling Units (AHU) for sterile environment (operating theaters)

This project is being funded by the Russian Federation, with an overall budget of ~13M USD and a duration of 6 years. The client is the Ministry of Health of the Government of Lao PDR and more specifically the Mittaphab Hospital as final user. The project team includes a Senior Project Manager, a Lead Construction Manager, a team of Biomedical, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, a Project Management Support Associate, as well as a complete support team from the UNOPS EAPMCO office.

The Lead Biomedical Engineer will be part of the project team implementing the project. Under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager, the person will be responsible for the management of all the tasks associated with the needs assessment, evaluation, installation, training, commissioning and testing of the medical equipment, furniture and appliances that are to be acquired as part of the project. The Lead Biomedical Engineer will also support the capacity building component of the project.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for for the following key tasks:

1. Needs Assessments and Evaluation

• Conduct technical assessments and stakeholder consultations to identify health system service gaps and needs within health systems, including but not limited to provisions of medical equipment systems and supplies, department and section planning, facilities classifications,  operational processes,  and reporting.

• Conduct assessments and evaluations to determine medical equipment requirements, needs and others considering factors like technology advancements, regulatory compliance, and clinical demands.

• Evaluate the medical assets/system's operational performances and produce reports (efficiency, reliability and safety)) and follow up on any warranty maintenance and servicing as required.

1. Medical Equipment Specification and Cost Estimates

• Definition and review of medical equipment technical specifications, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards, clinical requirements and facility constraints.

• Definition and development of equipment lists and layouts, considering factors like workflow optimization, space utilization, and control measures.

• Collaborate closely with design teams to review and plan for the integration of medical equipment in health facilities.

• Preparation of cost estimates for medical equipment (including devices, systems, tools, supplies, furniture, etc.), considering scheduling, procurement costs, installation expenses, and ongoing maintenance and operation requirements.

1. Technical Support

• Support in Drafting Terms of Reference (TORs):

  • Collaborate with project teams to develop Terms of Reference (TORs) for consulting services within the healthcare sector/services (scope includes but is not limited to developing, rehabilitation, and equipping healthcare facilities).

  • Provide expertise in defining the scope, objectives, methodologies, and deliverables for various consulting assignments, including feasibility studies, pre-design assessments, detailed design projects, and other related initiatives.

  • Ensure alignment of TORs with project goals, regulatory requirements, and best practices in healthcare infrastructure development.

• Review and Verification of technical  Deliverables:

  • Assist in reviewing and verifying deliverables submitted by consulting firms engaged in health sector projects.

  • Conduct thorough assessments of reports, design documents, technical specifications, and other outputs to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established standards and contractual agreements.

  • Provide feedback and recommendations to consulting firms for improvement, if necessary, to enhance the quality and relevance of deliverables.

1. Implementation Support

• Project implementation coordination (site visits and surveys) with government entities, ministries of health and other project stakeholders to ensure alignment with project objectives and timelines.

• Participate in scheduled site visits for inspection purposes during implementation phases to ensure adherence to specifications, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Conduct market surveys and research to identify medical equipment and health facility installation vendors and suppliers 

• Participation in technical evaluation assignments for medical equipment and health facility installations to assess the feasibility, compatibility and compliance with project requirements.

• Verification of supplied medical equipment for compliance with specifications before installations and addressing any discrepancies or issues identified.

• Review shop drawings provided by the contractors and suppliers for compliance with design specifications and regulatory standards

• Supervise equipment installation, testing, commissioning and handing over of goods and works to the beneficiary to ensure proper functioning and integration within the health facility infrastructure.

• Support the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and operation manuals for medical equipment and health facility installations to guide the end-users effectively

• Support in organizing and conducting the training of end-users on record keeping and basic operations and maintenance activities of medical equipment and health facility installations

• Check and certify supplier payment claims for medical equipment supplied ensuring accuracy and compliance with the contractual agreements

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in Biomedical Engineering or a closely relevant discipline, is required.

• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Certification or specialized training in hospital planning, medical waste management, or medical equipment specification and installation is highly desirable.

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in hospital planning, medical waste management, medical equipment specification, and installation and/or in related fields in combination with an advanced degree in a relevant field is required.

• Experience in Southeast Asia and the Pacific is an added advantage 

• Experience in demonstrating familiarity with regional healthcare systems, regulations and practices in the Southeast Asia and the Pacific region is an asset

• Experience in the rehabilitation and construction of healthcare facilities is an asset.

• Experience working with a variety of health sector stakeholders, particularly governments and development partners is an asset.

• Full working knowledge of English is required

Contract type: International ICA

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.