Water Engineer- Retainer, Multiple positions

UNOPS is implementing a number of infrastructure projects in Lebanon, including, rehabilitation and construction of buildings, public spaces, roads retrofitting, supply and installation of Solar PV Systems, rehabilitation of water networks infrastructure, solid waste management, etc..

The detailed designs for the projects are prepared by UNOPS who also supervises the execution of the works as per its applicable standards and procedures.

The functions/duties/key results of the assignment 

The incumbent will operate under the direct supervision of Project Managers, Head of Programmes, Programme Management Advisor or their assignees, and in close coordination with the Programme and Partnerships teams, providing technical expertise to support the design, implementation, supervision, and documentation of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene-WASH projects. Responsibilities include ensuring high-quality design documentation, transparency, integrity, and compliance with technical requirements, specifications, timelines, and budget constraints. The incumbent will utilize specialized engineering software and applications specific to WASH systems.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Participate in preparing needs assessments for WASH infrastructure, including water pumping stations, storage facilities, transmission, and distribution networks, producing detailed reports.

• Participate in preparing/reviewing designs for water supply systems, wastewater management, drainage networks, sanitation facilities, and water metering systems (including district water metering).

• Support in developing/reviewing Terms of Reference, drawings, technical specifications, scopes of work, bills of quantities, cost estimations, and design calculations for WASH projects.

• Assist in preparing tender documents for consultancy, supply, and construction works and contribute to proposal evaluations.

• Collaborate with project team members to support project planning, scheduling, and integrated design development for WASH interventions, including water pumping and transmission networks.

• Conduct site inspection visits and support in preparing detailed site visit reports, noting progress, issues, and photographic documentation (before, during, and after), along with lessons learned.

• Support in overseeing contract deliverables, ensuring they align with contract terms, high international standards, and organizational requirements.

• Participate in coordinating system testing, commissioning, training, and final handover to beneficiaries, with a focus on water pumping, storage, and metering systems.

• Support in ensuring contractors’ compliance with Quality Management Plan and Health, Safety, Social, and Environmental (HSSE) plans specific to WASH projects.

• Participate in coordinating and documenting meetings with contractors, technical supervisors, and other stakeholders, contributing to meeting minutes for WASH-related discussions, including issues related to water transmission, distribution, and metering systems.

• Support in preparing/reviewing comprehensive design documentation, including design briefs, reports, calculations, drawings, specifications, and schedules in accordance with beneficiary requirements and international standards.

• Assist in reviewing the technical accuracy and suitability of designs for water pumping stations, storage tanks, transmission and distribution networks, and metering systems, offering practical solutions where applicable.

• Support in ensuring all tasks meet applicable Quality Management Plan (QMP) and Quality Control (QC) standards.

• Produce/review high-quality AutoCAD drawings and maintain accurate site records for all memos, instructions, and materials related to WASH projects.

• Assist in archiving and managing engineering documentation related to WASH projects.

• Assist in scheduling and tracking tasks related to WASH projects, maintaining organized records and documentation.

• The incumbent may be assigned additional relevant tasks as necessary to support project objectives and organizational goals.

Final Product

Deliver delegated tasks by the supervisor on time and as per the required cost and quality parameters. Ensure that WASH projects are designed and implemented with high quality, adhering to applicable local, international, and organizational standards. Ensure adherence to relevant Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental procedures, as well as Protection against Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) measures throughout the project implementation, in line with the country’s PSEAH action plan

Education 

• A Bachelor's degree in Civil/Mechanical/Water Resources Engineering or a related field is required. 

• Membership in the Lebanese Order of Engineers (Beirut or Tripoli) is mandatory.

• Possession of Project Management Certificates is an asset.

Work Experience 

• 2 years of experience in the design or works execution supervision of WASH-related projects is required.

• Experience in water pumping stations, storage facilities, transmission, and distribution networks is required.

• Experience in waste water and drainage systems is required.

• Experience with water metering systems, including district water metering, is highly desirable.

• Experience in using engineering design software, particularly AutoCAD, is required.

• Demonstrated ability in using MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) is highly desirable.

• Experience with scheduling software such as Primavera or MS Project is highly desirable.

• Work experience with international organizations and/or UN agencies is well regarded.

Certifications (Desirable)

The below certificates are highly desirable:

• Certification in Water Distribution or Pumping Systems Design (e.g., from ASCE, AWWA, or other recognized institutions).

• Certification in hydraulic modeling software such as EPANET or WaterCAD.

• Training in water metering and district metering systems.

Languages

• Fluency and communication skills in English and Arabic are required.

• Working knowledge of the French Language is an asset

• 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.

• This position is open to national of the country only. 

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.