Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist

Jerusalem Office – UNOPS Project Management and Infrastructure Centre of Excellence

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. 

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it. 

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Since the opening of the Jerusalem Office in 2006, UNOPS has significantly strengthened its operations in Palestine. Our expert knowledge, skills and management systems contribute to the sustainable development of public infrastructure in Gaza, and the West Bank, including Area C and East Jerusalem.

The Infrastructure Specialist is responsible for the following functional areas:

1. Advisory services and business development

• Provision of high quality, Infrastructure standard advisory services to UNOPS team, clients, partners, governments, etc. 

• Provide technical advice and support during the development of infrastructure projects and programmes including negotiation with potential partners, particularly for engagement opportunities of high value and/or risk to the field programme offices.

• Provide expert advice and support in formulation of new initiatives, projects and programmes related to sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure. 

• Support the delivery of infrastructure and project management services and provide support to UNOPS partners in line with the UNOPS corporate strategy. 

• Advise UNOPS Jerusalem country office on opportunities for expanding UNOPS project management portfolio as well as maximizing value for clients by providing institutional and industry knowledge of project services with clients.

• Where required, provide support to Developers/ Programme /Project/ Team Managers in the preparation of work plans, project documents, contract management.

2. General construction and project management 

• Support infrastructure Project Managers plan and coordinate work activities.

• Review Bill of Quantities (BoQ) prior to procurement actions, when needed

• Support Project Managers develop and monitor their respective Quality, Health and Safety, Environment plans.

• Support Project Managers provide data and information about project work for reporting purposes.

• Provide monthly reports to the Head of Programme for all infrastructure project matters including progress,  quality, health and safety, environmental, as well as any issues relating to possible delays, cost overruns, variations and any other matter related to infrastructure projects.

3. Feasibility study/needs assessment

• Support Project Managers complete needs assessment, organize preliminary studies and monitor/supervise consultants.

• Support the review of requests for new construction and rehabilitation works.

• Review assessments and reports with recommendations for follow up actions.

• Assist the Project Manager in redacting the tender dossier, with particular focus to the technical documents (drawings, BoQ, technical specification and standards)

4. Design Management

• Assist the Project managers to outline design requirements (e.g. timeline) to procure design services, including concept, preliminary and final stages where applicable.

• Assist the Project Managers to manage the design plan ensuring deliverables are available on time, and to the required quality.

• Support project teams to conduct preliminary reviews of designs for completeness and accuracy according to the UNOPS starndards

• Assist the procurement team with technical assistance in preparation of tender documentation and bid analysis where required.

5. Construction supervision

•  Ensure consistency in project documentation (implementation Plan, Schedules, Quality Management Plan, etc) 

• Verify that works are consistent with the project technical specifications and inform promptly of eventual deviations.

• Support the overall management of works implementation to ensure construction works are completed on time, within budget and to quality standards.

• Provide spot checks of supervision of the project work progress and quality for on time delivery. 

• Assist the Project Managers  in the preparation of project/contracts related documentations such as periodic progress reports, site monitoring reports, stakeholder meeting minutes, engineer’s instructions and variation orders, contractor’s bills review reports, certifications, client hand-over documents and contracts close-out reports.

6. Technical expertise

• Provide technical and advisory support for effective project formulation, project development, project initiation, project planning and risk management for infrastructure projects.

• Provide technical advice to incorporate elements of inclusive infrastructure into infrastructure projects and programmes.

• Propose initiatives to improve Health, Safety and Environment in projects and practices. 

• Provide advisory services and technical assistance, including analysis, to ongoing projects to support the successful delivery in time, cost and quality of UNOPS infrastructure projects, with full compliance with the UNOPS policies and guidelines in infrastructure and project management.

• Conduct expert reviews and provide practical advice on tender documentation, works contracts, schedules, risks, budgets and other infrastructure project documentation in line with the UNOPS standards and guidance materials.

• Provide expert advice to support the technical reviews and/or development of construction designs as well as to improve them and ensure the infrastructure design is resilient and inclusive. 

• Provide technical expert advice to infrastructure projects and programmes that may need support in an effort to be brought ‘back on track’.

7. Knowledge management 

• Assist in providing training and technology transfer to national personnel and contractor’s personnel and advice on good construction practices, good 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.

• Master’s/Advanced degree in Civil Engineering or relevant discipline is required. Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering or other Engineering relevant discipline might be accepted with additional 2 years of relevent experience 

Work Experience

• 5 years (or more depending on educational qualification) of relevant experience in engineering design, implementation  and organizational capacity development in infrastructure in different sectors, in both technical and strategic level, is required.

• Experience in working on projects along themes: resilient infrastructure, reconstruction, Climate Change and Risk Management is required

• Excellent understanding of designs and building codes and quality standards in the construction of public infrastructure from various countries, and of implementation/enforcement challenges is required

• International organisations experience is desired;

• Experience in engaging and negotiating with government in developing countries; is highly desired

• Experience facilitation, development and delivery of technical trainings and workshops is desired

• Excellent understanding of participatory processes and national capacity building approach, desired.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required

1. Contract type: International Individual contract IICA  
2. Contract level  I-ICA 2- ICS 10
3. Contract duration Ongoing ICA – ‘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 (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.